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Watch the video to get a glimpse of these awe-inspiring marvels. Visit travelsouthdakota.com/explore-with-us/great-8 Badlands National Park GREAT PLACES THAT PUT SOUTH DAKOTA ON THE MAP. Spectacular landscapes. Dazzling caves. Colossal carvings of legendary leaders. In South Dakota, our special places are larger than life, and they’re ready to surprise and amaze you. So bring your imagination—and your sense of wonder—and discover the greatness that lies within our beloved lands. MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL Towering high above the treetops and juxtaposed against wide-open blue skies, Mount Rushmore is an impressive tribute to freedom and democracy in America. This awe-inspiring granite sculpture features 60-foot faces of four United States presidents that played an integral role in the birth, expansion, development and preservation of the nation: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Visit the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center and Museum to peruse in-depth exhibits and to watch a short film about the carving methods used by sculptor Gutzon Borglum. More on pages 32-35. DON’T MISS Get a closer look at Mount Rushmore and enjoy a variety of viewpoints along the 0.6-mile Presidential Trail, which begins at the Grand View Terrace and loops toward the sculpture. NEARBY CITIES Keystone: 3.5 miles; Hill City: 9 miles; Custer: 20 miles BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK Take in sweeping vistas of dramatic desert-like landscapes—an endless panorama of vividly colored buttes, pinnacles, spires and canyons—at Badlands National Park, a 244,000-acre park once known as Mako Sica (a Lakota phrase meaning “land bad”). The signature stripes through the rock formations are a result of erosion, revealing multicolored layers of various rock types: shale (purple and yellow), sand and gravel (tan and gray), iron oxides (red and orange) and volcanic ash (white). While you’re here, drive the Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway and keep your eyes open for an array of wildlife, such as bison, eagles, coyotes, pronghorn and more. More on pages 36-37. DON’T MISS Stroll along the Fossil Exhibit Trail, an easy, 0.25- mile boardwalk trail that features fossil replicas and informative exhibits about now-extinct creatures (like three-toed horses and saber-toothed cats) that once called this area home. NEARBY CITIES Interior: 1.5 miles; Wall: 7.5 miles; Kadoka: 23 miles ©CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL Imagine legendary Lakota warrior Crazy Horse sitting tall atop his spirited horse, arm outstretched as he points to the lands of his people. This is the image envisioned by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski in 1948 and a vision that is still being brought to life today in the Black Hills. When complete, Crazy Horse will be the world’s largest mountain carving, standing 563 feet high and 641 feet long. More on page 52. DON’T MISS Peek into the past as you browse the collections and exhibits at the Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center at Crazy Horse Memorial. From Edward Curtis’ black-andwhite photographs to an array of colorful tribal flags to David Humphreys Miller’s painted portraits of weathered warriors, these incredible collections provide a glimpse into the history, culture and tradition of North American Indians. NEARBY CITIES Custer: 5 miles; Hill City: 10.5 miles WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK Deep beneath the vast expanse of the golden, windswept prairie in western South Dakota is one of the longest and most complex cave systems in the world, a subterranean realm of maze-like passageways, water-carved rock formations and delicate mineral growths. Wind Cave is considered a sacred place for Native Americans and, in 1903, Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill that created Wind Cave National Park. This park also features more than 30 miles of hiking trails above ground, offering ample opportunities to spot bison, elk and other wildlife roaming freely. More on page 49. DON’T MISS Take a guided tour of Wind Cave, and choose from a broad spectrum of skill levels ranging from an easy, one-hour stroll along well-maintained pathways to a strenuous spelunking adventure o? The beaten path. NEARBY CITIES Hot Springs: 7 miles; Custer: 18 miles JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT Located in a scenic ponderosa pine forest, this 1,279-acre park is a peaceful retreat for hiking, bird watching and viewing colorful wildflowers, but its most spectacular sight is deep beneath the surface. Discover Jewel Cave, the third-longest cave in the world, which boasts more than 180 miles of mapped passageways as well as illuminated caverns, glittering dog-tooth spar crystals, textured “cave popcorn” and ceilings dripping with stalactites. More on page 49. DON’T MISS Go on the Scenic Tour of Jewel Cave, a guided expedition of the cave’s most impressive rock formations, such as boxwork, flowstone, stalactites, stalagmites, ribbon drapery and more. This popular tour lasts 80 minutes and involves more than 700 stairs, so be sure to dress comfortably. NEARBY CITIES Custer: 12.5 miles CUSTER STATE PARK Experience the rugged beauty of the Wild West where buffalo still thunder across the earth and graze the open plains and pristine lakes mirror the reflections of nearby granite peaks and wide-open skies. This legendary place is Custer State Park. Explore its 71,000 acres by hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, driving along a scenic byway or dropping a fishing line into one of four mountain lakes. Stay nearby in one of the lodges and be sure to check out the exhibits at the new visitor center. More on pages 42-45. DON’T MISS Drive along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road to see the herd of 1,300 majestic bison, an animal that played a vital role in the lives of Native Americans by providing food, clothing and shelter. NEARBY CITIES Custer: 4 miles MISSOURI RIVER The “Mighty Mo” was once one of the main routes for westward expansion. Today, the Missouri River is a prized area that offers excitement for all ages. In South Dakota, the river’s four large reservoirs offer plenty of opportunities for fun including fishing, boating, jet skiing and other aquatic activities. You can also camp along the shores for a truly amazing outdoor experience. More on pages 240-242. DON’T MISS Take a picture from one of the many incredible viewpoints along the Missouri National Recreational River, such as Mulberry Bend Overlook near Vermillion or Chief Standing Bear Bridge near Running Water. NEARBY CITIES Mobridge, Pierre, Chamberlain, Oacoma, Pickstown and Yankton HISTORIC DEADWOOD Step back into the days of the Wild West as you stroll down Main Street in historic Deadwood—an entire town that’s been designated as a National Historic Landmark. This former mining camp boomed during the gold rush of the 1870s, drawing prospectors, outlaws and larger-than-life characters, including Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. You can still strike it rich in Deadwood at one of the many modern-day gaming halls and casinos. More on pages 66-71. DON’T MISS Delve into the real-life stories of local legends at the Adams Museum, where artifacts and exhibits offer fascinating history lessons, or mosey over to the Old Style Saloon No. 10 where you can watch a Wild Bill shootout re-enactment several times a day from May through October. NEARBY CITIES Lead: 4.7 miles; Sturgis: 13.5 miles; Spearfish: 15 miles
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The Great 8
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