SKIING & SNOWBOARDING With a summit clocking in at 7,100 feet, Terry Peak Ski Area offers the highest lift service this side of the Rockies and can see up to three times as much snow as anywhere else in the region. A vertical rise of 1,100 feet, 29 trails and one Terrain Park mean nonstop action and unlimited adventure. The resort offers a full slate of services and amenities, including lessons and equipment rental, and is equipped to manufacture snow. Terry Peak’s uncrowded slopes and million dollar views will keep you coming back for more. BLACK HILLS & BADLANDS REGION SNOWMOBILING With 416 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in 1.2 million acres of national forest lands, the Black Hills offers endless sledding possibilities. No wonder Snow Goer Magazine ranked the Black Hills as one of the top three U.S. snowmobiling destinations. Detailed trail maps and markers make exploring fun and safe for all skill levels. The trail system is open Dec. 15 through March 31. WILDLIFE As autumn dissolves into the powdery white of winter, wildlife becomes easier to spot as they search for food and lose their natural shyness. Drive along Wildlife Loop in the southern part of Custer State Park , to encounter bison, elk, deer and bighorn sheep. Marvel at the animal antics from the warmth of your car. Badlands National Park is home to buffalo, bighorn sheep, pronghorns, deer and coyotes. Come winter, they are easily spotted along the roadway or near turnouts as they return to areas earlier overtaken by human visitors. For more information on outdoor winter adventures, visit blackhillsbadlands.com/ outdoor-recreation. SNOWSHOEING Get outside and explore the beauty of the Black Hills backcountry in the winter by snowshoe. All you need is a sense of adventure and good boots. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. Custer State Park and the Mickelson Trail Offi e offer free snowshoe rentals available for a day or weekend, with youth to adult sizing. BEAUTIFUL BYWAYS TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME Roll down the car windows, lean into the breeze and joyfully inhale the fragrance of ponderosa pines as you set out on one of the highways and scenic byways. Cruise the extensive network of backcountry lanes that make the Black Hills and Badlands of western South Dakota a driver’s delight. The 70-mile Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway in Custer State Park threads its way around pigtail bridges, through one-lane rock-walled tunnels and ascends to the uppermost heights of the Needles. The route is considered one of the most outstanding byways in America and is made up of Needles Highway (SD 87), Iron Mountain Road (U.S. 16A), Horse Thief Lake Road (SD 244) and Sylvan Lake Road (SD 89). The Northern Hills are home to Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Towering limestone palisades line U.S. Hwy 14A as it twists through Pigtail Bridge on Iron Mountain Road the 19-mile gorge between Spearfish and Lead. Hikers find wonder exploring the side canyons and bicyclists love the wide shoulders and uniform 3 percent grade. Meander through other area favorites — Badlands Loop Scenic Byway (SD 240), U.S. Hwy 385 through the Black Hills and U.S.Hwy 44, also known as Rimrock Highway, stretching from Rapid City to the junction of U.S. 385. The Wyoming Scenic Byway (U.S. Hwy 85/585) sprawls from Newcastle north to Sundance and Devils Tower. BlackHillsBadlands.com // 107
South Dakota Vacation Guide South Dakota Vacation Guide 2019: Page 107
