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OUR YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND IS WAITING FOR YOU Bear Butte State Park Rising from an ocean of prairie, the Black Hills are an “island oasis.” Laced with fishing streams, picturesque lakes, and scenic highways, these mountains are intimate and approachable—and ready to take your breath away with their untouched, raw beauty. BIKING Visitors are discovering the pleasures of biking in the Black Hills. Almost every town boasts a bike path, plus the famed George S. Mickelson Trail is always nearby and easily accessible. Wide-shouldered highways accommodate those looking to venture into the Hills. CAMPING The outdoor life is the good life when you take advantage of one of the Black Hills’ exceptional campgrounds— with sites to accommodate more than 25,000 guests. Shady and wooded with cool nights and spacious arrangements, it’s the perfect outdoor environment. GEO-CACHING If the coordinates N 44o 17.849W 103o 48.471 mean anything to you, you’re probably into geo-caching. The website www.geocaching.com lists 160 caches hidden within 45 miles of Rapid City, and hundreds more throughout the Black Hills. GOLFING Black Hills golf courses twist deep into pine forests, cross rushing trout streams, and open up to distractingly spectacular mountain vistas. Golfers are sure to be on the top of their game on any one of the distinctive golf courses. Roughlock Falls in Spearfish Canyon HIKING An hour’s walk, a day’s hike or a backpacking excursion— the Black Hills National Forest and the surrounding state and national parks offer nearly 400 miles of both nature walks and bonafide hiking systems on about 75 trails. Contact the Black Hills National Forest office at (605) 673-9200 for trail maps and more information. HORSEBACK RIDING Whether you’re an old cowhand or a young kid who loves horses, Black Hills outfitters and guest ranches have a horse for you or bring your own! Nearly a dozen operators provide guided trail rides. Local dude ranches provide days of horse activities. There are hundreds of miles to explore on horseback. FISHING More than 300 miles of meandering streams and 18 mountain lakes offer every option. From fly-fishing to ice fishing, brook, brown, and rainbow trout are ready to bite. Deerfield and Pactola Reservoirs, Stockade Lake, Sheridan Lake, Rapid Creek, French Creek, Spearfish Creek, Spring Creek, and Castle Creek all provide the best locales. Most winters, we’re on the ice from December through early March. Fast-flowing, spring-fed streams never freeze up, even in the coldest winter months. Since trout are cold-water fish, fly-fishing goes on throughout the season. NORDIC SKIING Moderate elevations and temperatures provide great cross-country skiing throughout the winter and into spring. Best of all, there are hundreds of miles of trails from which to choose. Some of the most popular trails are found at Big Hill, just south of Spearfish; Eagle Cliff, near Lead; Beaver Creek, just east of Four Corners, Wyoming; Bear Mountain southwest of Hill City; and Bearlodge Trails in Wyoming. Equipment rental is available at numerous area outfitters. ROCK CLIMBING Whether tackling a few granite spires in the Sylvan Lake district, dancing up well-featured routes of the Rushmore area, or basking in year-round climbing options in Spearfish Canyon, the Black Hills are a rock climber’s paradise. And don’t forget to plug some gear on the 835-foot face of Devils Tower! Contact Sylvan Rocks Climbing School & Guide Service for professional instruction. ROCK HOUNDING When geology students from across the nation can be found poking around in the Black Hills, you know you are in a rock-rich location. Rock beds are scattered near the towns of Kadoka, Interior, Scenic, and Fairburn. SKI RESORTS The highest vertical drops this side of the Rockies, an average of 200 inches of snow, stunning scenery and two ski resorts offering a full slate of services and amenities – what more can you ask for? Terry Peak Ski Area, summit 7,076 feet, boasts trails that measure over 20 miles. Five chair lifts serve the 1,100- foot vertical drop. Deer Mountain Ski Resort, elevation 6,752, has 1,000 vertical feet of skiing and the Zero Gravity Tube Park. Both resorts offer lessons, equipment rental, and both are equipped to manufacture snow. SNOWMOBILING The Black Hills are a winter sports paradise with more than 350 miles of super groomed trails and 1.3 million acres of national forest lands. No wonder Snow Goer Magazine has ranked the Black Hills as one of the top three U.S. snowmobiling destinations. Detailed trail maps and markers make a day of exploring fun and safe for all skill levels. The trail system opens December 15 and runs through March 31. SNOWSHOEING Snowshoeing is a great way to explore the wintertime beauty of the Black Hills backcountry, but doesn’t require the expertise or expense of skiing or snowmobiling. In Lead, the Black Hills Trails Office, (605) 584-3896, even provides snowshoes for free check-out as well as guided hikes along the Mickelson Trail. WATERSPORTS Fourteen man-made lakes scattered throughout the Black Hills provide boat launching, water-skiing, tubing, sailing, paddleboats, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, wind-surfing, cliff-jumping, swimming and even scuba diving. WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY Almost any excursion into the Black Hills offers opportunities to view and photograph wild animals up close. Mountain goats, bison, bald eagles, prairie dogs, elk, bighorn sheep, wild horses, and many more species call the Black Hills home. Visit www.blackhillsbadlands.com to learn more about the unique outdoor activities you can enjoy in the Black Hills.
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