Hi there!
The region of the Black Hills is one of the most popular places to visit in South Dakota.
And throughout the region of the Black Hills, much is covered by Black Hills National Forest.
Popular places to visit in the Black Hills connect directly to Black Hills National Forest.
This includes places like Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Custer State Park.
If you are going to these places, then you will naturally end up driving through Black Hills National Forest!
And yes, Black Hills National Forest is where you can find some of the best things to do in the Black Hills!
The region of the Black Hills is more than just Black Hills National Forest.
And there are also some specific places in Black Hills National Forest that you may want to look out for!
The majority of Black Hills National Forest is located in South Dakota, although there is a part of Black Hills National Forest that is in Wyoming too.
Based on the location of the offices of the Black Hills National Forest ranger districts, you could say that the gateway towns of Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota are Custer SD, Rapid City SD, and Spearfish SD.
You could say that the gateway towns of Black Hills National Forest in Wyoming are Sundance WY and Newcastle WY.
Sundance WY is around a 30 minute drive from Devils Tower National Monument!
The list below are things to do in Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota.
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1. Black Elk Peak
The Black Elk Peak is located in the Black Elk Wilderness of Black Hills National Forest.
According to the US Forest Service:
Black Elk Peak, at 7,242 feet above sea level, is the highest point in the United States east of the Rockies.
From a historic lookout tower on the summit, one has a panoramic view of parts of South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana, as well as the granite formations and cliffs of the Black Elk Wilderness.
The way to get to the Black Elk Peak is by hiking.
This makes the Black Elk Peak hike one of the best hikes in Black Hills National Forest.
There are different ways to hike to Black Elk Peak.
One of the popular ways is to start the hike from Sylvan Lake, which is one of the Custer State Park lakes.
So you’ll start off hiking in Custer State Park, and then as you continue on the trail, you will end up in Black Hills National Forest.
No matter how you hike to Black Elk Peak, it will take several hours. Starting from Sylvan Lake is around an 8 mile round trip hike.
If you start this hike in Custer State Park, you will need the South Dakota park pass in order to do it.
There are also longer ways to get to Black Elk Peak (10-12 miles round trip) that don’t start in Custer State Park.
If you want to make this an even bigger day hike than the 8 miles round trip, then you can start from other popular Custer State Park trailheads, like the Cathedral Spires trailhead and the Little Devils Tower trailhead.
Both of these trails can connect to the Black Elk Peak trail.
Both of these trailheads are located off of Needles Highway where you can also drive through the Needles Eye Tunnel.
2. Iron Mountain Road tunnels
One of the scenic drives in Black Hills National Forest is the Iron Mountain Road.
And one of the things that makes this drive famous is the Iron Mountain Road tunnels.
There are a few spots that you can see Mount Rushmore as you’re driving along Iron Mountain Road.
But as you are driving through the tunnels, you can see the faces of Mount Rushmore presidents being framed through the tunnel!
This makes for a unique view of Mount Rushmore.
Although, it is a bit of a distant view! You’ll have to look carefully!
👆 If you have a better camera, you will be able to take much better pictures of Mount Rushmore through the tunnel! 😜 (I only have a phone…)
There are 3 tunnels as you get closer to Mount Rushmore, and in 2 of them you can see the faces as you’re driving north, and 1 of them as you’re driving south. (As I recall!)
Driving the Iron Mountain Road can be a perfect way to get to Mount Rushmore, as it can be your first glimpse of the Mount Rushmore presidents.
And then from here, you will just continue to get closer and closer… until you get to Mount Rushmore and you can see the faces right in front of you!
See more about this Black Hills National Forest activity: Iron Mountain Road tunnels to see Mount Rushmore
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3. Norbeck Overlook
As you are driving in Black Hills National Forest along Iron Mountain Road, you will come across the Norbeck Overlook.
This can be a stop for a scenic overlook.
There is a trail to a scenic overlook to vast views of the Black Hills.
And there is another spot where you can climb onto rocks to get a distant view of Mount Rushmore if you look carefully!
👆 Squint and you might see Mount Rushmore from the Norbeck Overlook in Black Hills National Forest!
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4. Breezy Point picnic area
For a scenic overlook in Black Hills National Forest near Mount Rushmore, you can head to Breezy Point!
This is located a couple minutes drive from the border of Mount Rushmore National Memorial park on the western side.
You will look for the Breezy Point Picnic Area.
And yes, in addition to the short trail to the Breezy Point overlook, there are a number of picnic tables so you can have a picnic in Black Hills National Forest.
Because of the proximity to Mount Rushmore, this can be a perfect picnic spot after a visit to Mount Rushmore.
See more about this Black Hills National Forest activity: Breezy Point Picnic Area
5. Horsethief Lake Trail
This is another activity in Black Hills National Forest that’s located very near Mount Rushmore on the western side.
So for some Black Hills National Forest hiking near Mount Rushmore, you can hike the Horsethief Lake Trail.
This hike starts near Horsethief Lake, and it also is a hike into the Black Elk Wilderness.
It’s around 5.3 miles round trip so you’ll want to give yourself a couple of hours.
6. Horsethief Lake Campground
If you’re making it a South Dakota camping trip, there is the Horsethief Lake Campground for rustic camping near Mount Rushmore.
It’s possible to get a lakeside campsite right along Horsethief Lake.
The cost of this campground in Black Hills National Forest is around $26 a night. See more from the US Forest Service and the official reservation website.
There are also a lot more campgrounds located throughout Black Hills National Forest.
There is even a national forest cabin in Black Hills National Forest! Read the reviews.
7. Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
Spearfish Canyon is another one of the scenic drives in Black Hills National Forest.
You can make it just about the drive, or you can make stops along the way.
You might want to go to one of the Spearfish Canyon waterfalls!
See more about this Black Hills National Forest activity: Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
8. Long Valley Picnic Area
One of the stops that you can make as you are driving in Black Hills National Forest through Spearfish Canyon is the Long Valley Picnic Area.
Since you’ll be driving the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway to get to the Long Valley Picnic Area, it’s a scenic drive to get there!
You can make this a stop for a short boardwalk that runs along the river.
And yes, in addition to the walk along the river, there are a number of picnic tables so you can have a picnic in Black Hills National Forest at the Long Valley Picnic Area, including with sounds of the water flowing along the river!
See more about this Black Hills National Forest activity: Long Valley
And those are a few things to do in Black Hills National Forest!
Here is your quick list of things to do in Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota:
- Black Elk Peak from Custer State Park
- Iron Mountain Road tunnels to see Mount Rushmore
- Norbeck Overlook to see Mount Rushmore
- Breezy Point overlook (and picnic area)
- Horsethief Lake Trail (and campground)
- Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (and Spearfish Canyon waterfalls)
- Long Valley creek (and picnic area)
If you are interested in Black Hills National Forest, you may also be interested in these activities:
- Things to do in the Black Hills for VIEWS!
- Things to do in Custer State Park for views
- Things to do in Badlands National Park for views
- Things to do for the best views of Mount Rushmore
- Things to do in Wind Cave National Park
- Things to do in Jewel Cave National Monument
- Sylvan Lake
- Can you see Crazy Horse Memorial from the road?
- The Needles and driving through the Needles Eye Tunnel
- Things to do in Devils Tower National Monument
- Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
- National forest cabins in Wyoming
HAPPY GOING TO BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST!
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