COWBOY CORE From the rugged peaks and plains of the west to the vibrant cities in the east, discover two wildly different (but equally enticing) ways to experience South Dakota. Circle View Guest Ranch Black Hills Stock Show ＆ Rodeo Old Style Saloon No. 10 WONDROUS & WILD With deep ranching roots and a proud agricultural heritage, the cowboy spirit is still very much alive in western South Dakota. Head to the Black Hills & Badlands to stay on a working ranch, catch a local rodeo and live the cowboy life—if only for a weekend. At Circle View Guest Ranch , a 2,800-acre cattle ranch near Badlands National Park, guests can enjoy horseback rides with panoramic views or tag along on ranch chores, such as bottle-feeding calves and gathering fresh eggs. Blue Bell Lodge in Custer offers rustic log cabins, trail rides and chuckwagon cookouts. Dress the part with Western boots and apparel from Wall Drug Store , then break them in at Historic Deadwood’s legendary entertainment spots. Dance like it’s 1876 at Old Style Saloon No. 10 , where rough-and-tumble outlaws and prospectors once shared drinks and stories. Explore a bawdier side of history at The Brothel Deadwood . Don’t miss a South Dakota rodeo! The Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo in Rapid City features livestock exhibitions, horse events and rodeo competitions, plus concerts and a beer festival. See real-life cowboys and cowgirls in action during one of the last great traditions of the American West. The annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup is more than a dust-flying spectacle; it’s key to keeping the park’s bison herd healthy and thriving. Scan to watch a five-part video series that takes you inside the roundup.
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2026 South Dakota Vacation Guide: Page 26
