2019-12-20 04:19:02
DISCOVER NATURE’S ULTIMATE PLAYGROUND Explore the raw beauty of picturesque lakes and waterfalls, rivers prime for fishing, trails begging to be hiked and biked and mountainsides home to quiet campgrounds and lush playgrounds. When friendly faces, equipment rentals and lessons are available all across the region, it’s easy to add a bike ride, fishing trip, round of golf or kayaking excursion to your Black Hills and Badlands vacation. CAMPING Sleep under the stars at one of the Black Hills and Badlands’ exceptional campgrounds. You’ll find sites that accommodate more than 25,000 campers, dispersed and tucked away in ponderosa pines at state and national parks, up against granite boulders and alongside streams and lakes at privately owned campgrounds and RV parks and even luxurious glamping sites. HIKING & BACKPACKING Let your legs move you through the Black Hills’ hidden gems, protected wilderness areas, granite outcrops and grass prairies. Black Hills National Forest, and the surrounding state and national parks, contain more than 450 miles of trails begging to be explored by intrepid hikers of all abilities. For trail maps and more information, contact the Black Hills National Forest office at 605-673-9200. BIKING The Black Hills are a bicyclist’s paradise, offering riders every type of terrain imaginable from the 109 mile long, crushed limestone surfaced George S. Mickelson Trail to wide-shoulder highways, in-town paths and rugged mountain bike trails. Start your trip in one of the trails’ anchor towns where lodging properties and local outfitters offer rentals for riders. HORSEBACK RIDING Saddle up at a sprawling dude ranch or trot along rugged, winding trails on a guided ride. Stunning scenery and trusted trails make the Black Hills and Badlands the perfect place for horseback adventures. The region has a variety of horse camps and miles of trails to explore. Outfitters and guest ranches have a horse for you, or you can bring your own! FISHING With 18 fishable lakes and more than 300 miles of fishable rivers and streams — it’s no wonder that casting a line is one of our most popular activities. Find walleye, trout, northern pike and more, ready to bite at our larger lakes, Sheridan Lake, Rocky Point, Pactola, Angostura and Deerfield reservoirs, as well as many smaller bodies of water, including Stockade, Sylvan, Center, Legion and Bismarck lakes. HUNTING Take part in the time-honored tradition of hunting in western South Dakota. Friendly hosts, private lodges and more than 30 developed camping areas welcome both residents and non-residents to this world-class hunting haven. Hunt big and small game, including turkey, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mountain lions, rabbits and game birds. For licensing and tag registration, contact the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks at 605-223-7660. ROCK CLIMBING Tackle granite spires in the Sylvan Lake district, dance up routes in the Rushmore area, bask in the year-round climbing of Spearfish Canyon or plug gear on the 835-foot face of Devils Tower. With hundreds of plotted climbing courses for all skills levels, the Black Hills are a rock climber’s dream. To learn more about outdoor activities in the Black Hills and Badlands, visit blackhillsbadlands.com/outdoor-recreation.
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