10/10 water temperature is good, not warm but not cold at all

Anyone that gives this place less than 5 stars is clinically insane. Probably the coolest swimming hole I have ever been to. The water is beautiful and there are a bunch of different spots to explore

Really nice area and waterfall! Looks like a great place to swim. The water is clear and beautiful.

Beautiful water place deep swimming hole on the left shallow watering hole on the upper right. BE CAREFUL!! I BROKE MY ANKLE jumping into the shallow pool up top. The slanted ground in the water twisted my ankle BAD. ENTERVTHE WATER SLOWLY and you'll have a nice time

Gorgeous trio of waterfalls on the way up to Black Hills! My wife and I love waterfalls so we wanted to stop and check these out. We both were prepared to be underwhelmed but we actually loved the area. It wasn’t warm enough to take a dip but we did enjoy the short walk down to the falls and taking a minute to stretch and take the beauty in.

This place was really neat to go to on a hot summer day. I gave it four stars only because it needs just a little bit of improvement. If the jumping off spot could be leveled (One guy with a shovel and 10 minutes) it would make it much more convenient and easier to jump in without fear of slipping. The water was,and I’m sure, is always bracing and refreshing! While my brother and I were there several others that came and went. We were surprised, as we just happened upon it. They even have a picnic table and easy access route down to the lake. No one swimming had a real bathing suit. I just stripped down to my skivvies and jumped in, as did others. Seriously, if you’re close to, or see a mention of Cascade Falls, drive to The falls. Pack a lunch if you’ve got the time to eat at their covered area, and take a swim!

Fantastic little swim holes with something for everyone! Lots of different size waterfalls, but the current is not overpowering! Being the kids, they will live it!

Stunning in the simplest sense of the word. I could have stayed down there for hours. Our Ranger was knowledgeable and full of stories. The discovery tour (30 minutes for 14 dollars) was what we chose to do as we were somewhat limited on time. It was an amazing experience however next time I would do a longer tour. Note that the longer tour that descends 750 stairs does NOT require you to walk back up said stairs, there is an elevator to the lower level as well. The visitors center is small yet adequate in display the history of jewel cave.

Jewel Cave is now one of our favorite caves in the U. S. We took the Scenic Tour and were just blown away by the experience. The Ranger/ tour guide was fabulous and really took the time to make sure the visitors got to see and experience the cave features. The tour group was relatively small, with under 20 people, allowing everyone to see and hear the guide. The tour was about 1 hour and 20 minutes long, with a lot of stairs and walking. We suggest arriving at least an hour early so that you have time to watch the movie and see the exhibits before your tour starts. If not, you can do these things after the tour. There are also a couple of hikes you can take in the park. We bought our tickets almost two months in advance as the tours frequently sell out in advance. The parking lot is pretty large and will accommodate RVs and trailers.

I love caves. I’ve been to many caves. This one is a “dry cave”. Without water leaching through, there are very few formations. The “scenic” tour consists of many stairs to enter a few large cavities. The walls are covered in “jewels” but what you see are mostly bumpy side walls since the beauty is hidden under layers of dirt. Others said they already had been on the “lantern” tour first. It was so good they did this tour as a second chance to see the caves. Maybe take the “lantern” tour if you want to be amazed

We really liked this tour. The Rangers were really cool and made the tour really enjoyable. When comparing the caves, this one has more interesting things to look at than Wind Cave. The Scenic Tour was 740 steps, but we never felt winded or tires from the walk. They places stopping points throughout to rest. They refinished the steps recently and they are very sterdy with lots of hand rails. It was a great tour!

We chose to do the one hour, twenty minutes guided tour of this National Park Service site. Fascinating history and absolutely stunning formations, colors and textures inside the cave. Our guide was knowledgeable, interesting and kept us engaged throughout the tour. A must see!

Showed up late a day to gather info and a ranger gave us all the info we needed - including wonderful recommendations outside the cave locally as well. When online tickets are booked, you show up in person at 8a to get tickets at the booth by the parking lot - first come first serve. We arrived early the next day (745a) and got tickets for a 920a scenic route. A different ranger did an intro and he was a bit abrasive and annoying, but other than that all staff were friendly and helpful. Visitor center has shop, an exhibit, and rally point for cave tour. The ranger assigned for our tour was very funny, lighthearted and overall he was a great guide. The cave itself is really cool - I won't rehash the website but lots of formations and they go at a good pace. Ive had knee surgery and was able to do the scenic route well - stairways have double rails, and there are stops with benches.

We did the 1.5 hour scenic tour. It was fun, not too hard, and despite the fact that I have claustrophobia, I felt fine for the entire trip. Our guide was very good, and the paths were well-lit.

Wonderful exhibit with great interactive displays that even have audio to listen on your smartphone. They had much more to see at this museum than I expected including arrowheads from 10,000+ years ago. The outside has a display of rocks from many different epochs which was neat and free. There’s also a little food stand near the entrance with good prices.

Absolutely a must stop. Great self guided interpretive walk indoors and attached displays. Amazing to see actual numerous skeletal remains in-situ. Thourghly enjoyed this stop on our vacation. Spent about 1.5 hours at site and read almost every info station... It was really well done and informative.

If you have kids this is a MUST stop! My kids loved it. We went through it pretty quickly (2hours) but probably needed more like 3-4. We just didn’t have the time to stay. Prices are about $13/person. Military is $1 off I believe. They have a large gift shop as well that you exit through. You start by watching an educational video that is about 13 minutes long. Then you move in to the dog site. This is still active and they said they found a new fossil last Sunday! All of the volunteers are helpful and well-spoken. The internet is kind of hit or miss for the listening tour. I would like to see that improved for their guests. One employee was rather rude when I spoke to them about it. The rest were great! My kids bought a bag of rocks and fossils at the end to use the sifting/panning equipment outside to see what treasures they got.

Wow what an amazing experience! You can watch a film, go view the dig site, see other fossils and bones they’ve discovered and then browse the gift shop. If you need a ride from the parking lot to the center, a ride can be provided. Lots of parking and washrooms on site. A great place for the whole family to enjoy. You can even watch as new bones are discovered, cleaned up and preserved. Highly recommend you visit this mammoth site!

Fascinating place. The central display of the mammoth site is intriguing . Spotting the various parts of each mammoth was fun, and wondering how there were so many there in one spot. The displays are very informative .

Museum with lots of history. There are a total of 61 mammoths found there. There is a big hole in the middle where some people are working on finding and preserving more bones. You can walk around the “ dig hole “ and see all of the found bones. Very cool experience for all ages

Solid visit. Great stop if you in the area with family. Picnic bench for rest, plenty of shade outside, and a great active dig site inside. 4 kids with the party all had excellent things they liked about the visit. The two youngest were able to pan for fossils from the gift shop. Oldest 2 found pins and souvenirs coins to keep. Highly recommend.

Amazing campground. We stayed in the Cheyenne loop, which was small with a playground and shower house. It was perfect. Site 2 was very nice, site 17 is private with an epic view of the water. Pizza joint up on the weekends, marina with snacks, a very long paved biked trail which was awesome. Highly recommend. Hot springs is about 5 miles down the road which has laundry, restaurants, gas / diesel and alot to do.

This is a great place really has bathrooms. It has plenty of place to paddle. The scenery is awesome and I recommend it to anybody to spend the day out on it.a little crowded on the weekends lots of parking

Really enjoyed the park! Only suggestion is to make sure you know what is open and when. It gets pretty quiet Mondays and Tuesdays of a normal week.

Great views and plenty of space! Would love to come back again when weather is better.

This is a great park. Very clean easy walk to the water. Kid and dog friendly. Only thing negative is that they charge out of state visitor's more fee's. The reason we stay at state and federal parks is to help with our travel budget.

Stayed here a few times. Star gazing is beautiful for the southern sky, minimal light saturation. Water level is low enough now you can walk and encompass the entire lake! Great affordable rental options at the main office for a kayak, canoe, paddle board, and Lilly pads. Definitely worth the stay if water sports are your game. Bring sunscreen!

Kids enjoyed a day off fun in the sun here!!

I went here when I was pretty little on a family vacation and again when I was in junior high. I haven't been back since but on a family trip with my own now I said we had to go back. My husband was ready to skip it and wasn't sure he wanted to go. However, we decided last minute let's just do it. We didn't really have anything else planned and it would be fun. We went and spent more time than anticipated here. We loved it. Even us big kids enjoyed the slides! My husband enjoyed trying his luck on the swinging handle bars. He made it all the way across! It wasn't super busy which I was worried it might be. We were there over the 4th of July holiday. We went on a Monday morning around 10:00. We stayed until 2:00 or so. We had lunch there on picnic table in the parking lot. After we got home my said he wanted to back. We will definitely make this a thing whenever we visit the black hills!

As guests from out of town, we wanted to visit a hot spring but weren't sure what to expect. One visit and we would highly recommend taking the time to relax in the warm waters. The highlight was watching kids attempt to swing from ring to ring, some succeeding, some falling, but fun to watch. They offer 2 types of indoor slides, a steep quick plunge and a slow luge like slide. There is also volleyball and basketball and a kiddie pool, which we didn't enter but we loved the whale spout. Locker rooms are convenient too, small and large lockers available, private changing area, and showers to rinse off.

Well done, Hot Springs, SD! We weren't sure what to expect, but this stop did not disappoint. A natural hot springs turned into a city recreation center but still capturing the historical preservation. The kids would have stayed all day but we actually didn't plan ahead for this stop. Make sure to book a day in this amazing town and let the kids/family enjoy the natural springs and well designed swim park!!

Very nice swimming place. Family friendly. The bottom of the indoor pool is smooth rocks :) bring quarters to rent the lockers. There is a change machine but no atm. They sell swimsuits if you forget yours . There are food and drinks available to purchase at reasonable prices and the staff is really friendly and helpful!

Fun place to be on a rainy day bring swim shoes for tender feet it's gravel bottom. Kids had a blast, go early it gets crowded

We had such a blast! Well worth the price! Family fun, the slides are super cool, hot tub were so nice and relaxing! The water felt so nice! Nothing like a regular pool! The showers were nice. The lockers were a little annoying but everything else was great and fun! Plenty to do!

Very fun place to visit. The water slides are awesome. The locker rooms are clean with separate individual dressing rooms, nice showers, small size and large size lockers to store your belongings. They also rent towels. They have water toys like noodles and barbells.BIG parking lot. Had a big gift store. Staff was friendly and helpful.

Our tour guide Alexis was an intern, but you wouldn’t have known it. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the cave’s science and the history. She shared important information that none of our large group had heard, while keeping the story telling succinct and interesting. No question thrown at her went unanswered. Simply can’t rave about her enough. The cave was fascinating. For personal enjoyment, it was cool but not too cold. Shorts were fine for some. Sport sandals (Chacos) were quite adequate for the walking required. Most of all, I would like to commend the rangers for their handling of those with some mobility concerns. Some guests on our visit needed extra time and support to complete the tour and the staff handled it gracefully. If you find yourself struggling with the steps and handrails, please speak up. The rangers will take good care of the cave, and of you. If you can, recommend buying tickets in advance. We did hear of some groups turned away after tickets sold out for the day.

We did the candlelight tour. They only do 2 a day and only accept 10 per tour. You can make a reservation up to 30 days in advance. We did it on the first day available. Highly recommend you do the same. The tour was incredible. Lots of fun seeing the cave this way. The guide did a great job talking about the old stories of the cave. Highly recommend this tour to anyone.

The staff are very friendly and helpful when it comes to planning your visit. Because of the rangers' suggestions, we were able to visit the cave and drive around the park. We saw lots of bisons, the most we've seen so far. We also hiked to the lookout tower and were able to have great views just before the rain. We also watched the video which I highly recommend and visited the exhibit on both levels.

The Windcave Visitor Center is where guests check in for the cave tours. The building has a good exhibit area, theater with a short film, gift shop and clean restrooms. The cave tours tend to fill up early, so consider booking your tour in advance online. We booked ours about a month in advance. The cave tour was ok, but could have been better. The tour consisted of walking quickly down long tunnels. With only 3 stops along the way. We missed most of what the tour guide said since we wete in the back section of the large group of 40 people. There is a large parking lot, although it is long and narrow. The lot has designated parking for long vehicles, but we noticed that many of those spots were taken by regular cars and trucks as the lot filled up.

Well worth in, we did the Natural Entrance tour, traversing many steps to get to 200 feet? they have other tours a little more benign. about 90 minutes of amazing cave structure. Rangers give great narration. If you are xlose to 6 feet or taller, you will need to duck a few times. Make it a must see.

Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the cave is one of the oldest national parks in the U.S., established in 1903. It’s renowned for its extensive cave system, one of the longest and most complex in the world, stretching over 150 miles of explored passages. The cave gets its name from the wind-like sounds created by air moving through its entrances due to barometric pressure changes . The cave is famous for its unique calcite formations, including boxwork (thin blades forming a honeycomb pattern) and popcorn-like formations. About 95% of the world’s known boxwork is found here. Our guide's knowledge was off the charts. He not only recited facts; he's weaved the cave's deep history—like how the Lakota people view it as a sacred origin site—and the quirky science behind those jaw-dropping boxwork formations.

We did the most popular hike. Lasted 1h 20 min. Compare to the other caves- this one is least interesting. There is soooo much potential !! However management needs to figure it out how to make it more interesting and entertaining.

Has a great museum and the process is for Crazy Horse seems forever tell it's finished. I've been going since I was a kid I thought they might of been close to finishing. Awesome site, would like to try the bus tour that goes up close to face area.

This place was phenomenal. I was only expecting to go look at the monument and then leave, but with it being the largest Native American Museum in the North America, there was so much more to it. We watched a presentation, looked at many many artifacts, read about different people and tribes, and then watched several dances with singing and music and even participated in a Native American circle dance at the end. It was such a great experience and we are so so glad we went and didn't just take pictures from the road.

Absolutely amazing. The artifacts, the information. I just regret that I didn't have time to see it all. I was on a bus tour. You can easily spend 3 hours there. And the Crazy Horse monument - they have been working on for 75 years and more to go. Absolutely stunning!

This is a must stop on your western South Dakota vacation!! It’s going to be HUGE when it gets finished. I am really hoping it’ll be done in my lifetime so I can go back and see it. It’s impressive they are funding the project by themselves and receive no help from the government. Not many people would turn down 10 million dollars twice. The stories told were incredible. The museum is beautiful! Going the bus tour. It’s $5/person. No one was at the counter when we got there. It’s a one man show. He gives the tours as well as collects the money. So just stay put to get your spot in line. It does fill up. We also got a rock to take home from the monument. My kids loved that.

We spent about 2 hours at the Crazy Horse Memorial site. There was a short movie that we enjoyed watching. There was also a fun presentation of Native American dance. The presenter and her teenage daughter did a lovely job of sharing their stories, history, and passion for storytelling through dance. There was a large museum area with lots of displays. We took our time reading and learning.

Very educational. The museum part shows how modern day culture was woven into the native American culture as well. The dancers were awesome! The video clip is a must see as it explains so much to really be able to follow along. There is a place to eat and lots of great angles to see the memorial.

Very impressive! Although the monument is still being sculpted, there is lots to see. The Indian Museum of North America was outstanding, as well as the cultural center and Mountain Carving Gallery. I highly recommend a visit.

This place is great. There are multiple amazing hikes, everyone is super friendly. We hiked black elk peak + cathedral spires, very gorgeous. We finished our visit by cooling off in the lake and some slightly illegal cliff jumping? Everyone seemed to be jumping off this rock so we followed them. Long story short, there is something to do for everyone here

Absolutely picturesque lake and a great spot for a hike or a swim. Was definitely busy on a summer weekend when I went though!

Beautiful spot with striking granite formations backing the lake! The walk around the lake was a great way to stretch my legs. If it hadn't of been quite so windy, I would have loved to take a dip from the day use area. Cute gift shop and plenty of parking.

I did not spend much time at this particular lake, but did some nearby hikes, which were great. If you wanna just spend some time and relax, then this is a good spot. You can also do a loop around the lake.

This park was really cool exploring. We got some great shot while there. The store right at the lake had some great bison burger that we had down by the lake recommend stopping here before riding through the park

Beautiful. Lots of walking paths, an amazing place to take in nature.

Rock Solid Experience. Sylvan Lake is basically Mother Nature showing off. The rocks look like giant sleeping elephants, the water is so still it could double as a mirror for anyone brave enough to look at themselves after hiking uphill, and the little trails between the boulders make you feel like you’ve stumbled into a scene from Lord of the Rings. Pro tips: • If you’re into cardio, hike the trail around the lake—it’s only about a mile, but somehow feels like you’ve crossed three time zones. • If you’re into photography, good luck deciding whether to focus on the rocks, the pines, or your own sweat-soaked reflection. • And if you’re into squeezing between rocks barely wider than your hips, this place has you covered—literally. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just don’t be surprised if the rocks judge you for bringing trail mix instead of beef jerky.

Such an amazing and scenic drive—a perfect way to spend the afternoon after visiting Mount Rushmore in the morning! The winding roads, narrow tunnels, and breathtaking views made it an unforgettable family experience. We stopped for lunch along the way, and it was both peaceful and fun. The kids especially enjoyed watching the big trucks and RVs squeeze through the tiny tunnels—so entertaining! Definitely a must-do if you’re exploring the Black Hills.

This is a very cool tunnel to drive through. It's too narrow for traffic going both directions, so you may need to stop for a minute. There is a small parking area immediately on the West side of the tunnel. There isn't as much space on the East side right by the tunnel, but there is a scenic overlook with a parking lot shortly down the road.

Fun experience, passing through this tunnel and checking out the amazing rock formations nearby. Mini RVs, caravan or buses might not pass so be careful before you try to enter the tunnel.

If you can, go!! we love this place. so many cool rock formations, they are surprisingly easy to climb, coming back down is a little tricker, but totally worth the stop. single lane tunnels, small parking areas, but we had no trouble getting around and parking on a Saturday evening.

We had the opportunity to passing through the Needles Eye Tunnel in JUL_FY2025 and it was an amazing experience, a great opportunity to learn more about SD's history and legacy. We did a plant tour in many scenic places, and for sure it's a remarkable state. Definitely, it's a pure nature that deserves my respect. It was a privilege.

In August 2025, we visited the Needles Eye Tunnel in Custer State Park, South Dakota. The Needles Highway is a section of Custer State Park with world-class scenery and spectacular views. The Needles Eye Tunnel was carved out of the solid granite rock, and it only allows one car to pass through at a time. Vehicles entering the tunnel from either side have to coordinate with each other on which side enters the tunnel first, since the tunnel is only wide enough for single lane travel. Custer State Park is National Park worthy, and it is a treasured asset of South Dakota.

Needles highway is definitely worth a drive. The landscape is amazing and doesn't disappoint. Would think its pretty busy in high season, but we went in September and it was very pleasant.

I took a wrong turn on my motorcycle riding back roads on my way the Sundance, Wyoming. After riding about 10 miles of gravel roads I came across a cross roads where the bar and grill was. They were very friendly and helpful getting me back on route. I had lunch while I was there which was just average. They had an amazing selection of soft drinks to choose from. Almost like a soft drink bar. The decor was exciting and kept you engaged the entire time. They still use a wood burning barrel heater in the winter which I loved to see.

Oh my gosh! We found this little gem when we got lost today while riding our touring motorcycles. You feel right at home from the minute you walk up on the porch! Everyone is friendly and the appetizers were great. There is an added extra next door, The Happy Dog Cafe for ice cream and gifts. If we make it back to SD this will be a must on our list to stop at again! 😁 (It sits right along side the road, you cannot miss it.)

Stopped in for lunch during Sturgis 2025. The food was excellent, the way cheeseburgers are meant to be, the atmosphere was perfect and the servers were attentive, quick and friendly. You've got to put this place on your bucket list.

Moonshine Gulch Saloon is a great destination to stop for lunch or just enjoy the atmosphere! We stopped in at Moonshine Gulch Saloon while out trail riding. It's an enjoyable old saloon worth stopping at. There's plenty to look at on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. The food was decent and although fairly busy the service was great. I would recommend Moonshine Gulch Saloon to anyone traveling through the area looking for an old saloon with a lot of charisma!

A group of us rolled in frozen off of the George Mickelson Trail and had the best experience at The Moonshine. Amazing service and hospitality. The food was delicious. I will definitely be back!

Cute bar! Good food.

Rochford a small town in the black hills with a general store and the Moonshine Gulch saloon In this place has lots of character with country charm. The food has the upmost goodness. I was planning to ask for dessert but the place filled up and more folks waiting outside the Mooshine, thought it be polite to give up my seat for the next person that is hungry also. The Lady's up front where so kind thank you and big thanks to the cook in the back end.

I gave this a 3 because the staff is AMAZING. And they do have someone coming by to offer a snack and drinks. I love the fact that you can flip the seats to face one another or whatever direction you want to face. I was very disappointed in the scenery. No fault of the staff or location but we've been on the Georgetown Loop train in Colorado and that scenery was AMAZING. If you've never ridden a train then you'll probably enjoy the 1880 Train ride but if you've been on the Georgetown Loop train, don't waste your money. You'll be disappointed. You really only see deer, a lot of trees, residential houses and rocks.

Take the train!! It was a great experience. I was on the fence about going but this was a once in a lifetime experience. I took the train from Keystone, did the Stop Over in Hill City and then rode the train back to Keystone. I took a train behind the engine with windows out and an open middle car on the way back to get the experience of both. Wonderful. I would agree with others that sitting on the opposite side of the train for you ride way back is the way to go to see all the sights.

This is really a moment of history. Went from Hill City to Keystone. 1880 steam engine train ride. 10 miles took an hour to get to our destination, old mining communities were highlighted. Huge granite outcroppings nearly a foot away from the train tracks. The train stations on either end offer nice train memorabilia. And all the employees are friendly, knowledgeable and can answer most of your questions.

We took the Saturday afternoon Wine Express on the 1880s Train. This was such a cool and unique experience, combining a wine tasting, great food, and a slow, relaxing train ride. The Train staff ask that you check in at least 30 minutes prior to departure. They have a large covered sitting area to wait in, with music, food and drinks for purchase, and clean restrooms. You can also watch the steam engine connect and fill with water prior to boarding. The train itself was comfortable with padded bench seats. As the train moves at about 10 miles per hour, the open windows provided plenty of fresh air. The train staff were friendly and engaging with an obvious focus on making the trip enjoyable. The Wine Tour train leaves Hill City and travels one hour to Keystone. The stop in Keystone is long enough for restroom breaks and for a quick leg stretch. The return trip is enlivened with folk music (and at least with our car, a good natured sing-along). The tour included 5 Wine tastings paired with an appetizer, small entrée salad, and desert. The wines and the foods were all great quality. We appreciated that the train staff will also exchange any wine tasting for a non-alcoholic beverage. They also provided bottled water on the return journey.

The 1880 Train was a huge hit with our kids—they loved it. The views from the train are fantastic, you can see the Black Hills and the conductors were friendly and did a great job of explaining the details of the ride and the history. It was a perfect, low-stress activity that everyone in our family enjoyed.

Great experience for the whole family! Beautiful views. The train moves slow, 10-15 mph. We choose the enclosed car with the padded seats and the windows can open. Otherwise the open air car has wooden seats. The workers were very friendly and served drinks and snacks on the train. The kids love it.

Very friendly folks who run the train who are clearly very passionate about the work that they do to keep this historic railroad alive. The round trip ride was just over two hours and included facts about the train and the surrounding areas. Everything seemed clean and well maintained, I would definitely recommend giving them a visit if you are in the area.

Absolutely Incredible - Beautiful Area ! There is greater beauty around every turn. I did Not schedule enough time here & will certainly be back. Just Love the Bison/Buffalo & adorable Burro/Mules. Remember to stay Safe! They are Not pets. Enjoy the beauty

Custer State Park completely blew me away — it’s truly one of the most beautiful and well-kept parks I’ve ever visited, even compared to many national parks! The scenery is stunning at every turn, from the rolling prairies to the dramatic granite spires and crystal-clear lakes. Driving through the park feels like stepping into a postcard. We saw bison, pronghorns, burros, and deer up close — it was magical. The roads and trails are in great condition, everything is spotless, and it’s so easy to get around. The staff and rangers are friendly and really care about the park, which makes the experience even better. The Visitor Center is excellent and adds so much to the visit — very informative, modern, and beautifully done. Whether you’re into wildlife, photography, or just peaceful scenic drives, Custer State Park is a place you’ll never forget. I can’t wait to come back.

The park was awesome and had amazing views. There is so much to do. We lost count on how many times we said wow! Started on the Needles highway, did the wildlife loop and saw a herd of Buffalo and finished up on Iron Mountain Road. Had a great lunch The Legion Lodge. The potato salad was the best we ever had in a restaurant. Next time will check out the lakes and more of the park.

Highly highly recommend going to Custer! Plan a few days though, so much to see and do! We lucked out and were there in time for the Annual Buffalo Roundup which was so cool to see,.def do that if you're there at the end of Sept. Other highlights are the Needles Highway, Mt. Coolidge Lookout, Sylvan Lake and the Wildlife Loop! We camped just outside but there looked to be some great camping and lodging in the park too!

Custer State Park is an absolute gem in the Black Hills and a must visit for anyone who loves nature and wildlife. The park is massive, with stunning scenery at every turn, from rolling hills and granite cliffs to pristine lakes and winding roads perfect for a scenic drive. One of the highlights has to be the wildlife; we saw bison, pronghorn, deer, and even a few donkeys roaming freely. It’s an incredible experience to witness these animals up close in their natural habitat. The park also offers plenty of activities, including hiking trails, scenic drives like the Needles Highway, fishing and camping. Whether you’re stopping for a quick drive through or spending a few days exploring, there’s something for everyone. Facilities are well maintained and the park staff are friendly and helpful, making it easy to navigate and enjoy everything the park has to offer. Overall, Custer State Park is a beautiful, must see destination that perfectly showcases the natural beauty of the Black Hills. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the area.

So much to see and do here. Great park to stay at to keep you within driving distance of multiple POIs and scenic drives. We stayed at the Grace Coolidge Campground which was a smaller loop that had tents and trailers. This loop had electric at most spots and potable water spigot at the bathroom area. When we showed up there was a male bison hanging out at the entrance. Kept our distance, but was enjoyable for the kids to see from a distance. Visitor center has some small kid friendly activities and a 20 minute movie to introduce you to the park. Take the Wildlife Loop. You will see plenty of bison, deer, and pronghorn sheep. Take Iron Mountain scenic road to Mount Rushmore. Stunning views. There are some tunnels that are one car width. Big trucks take caution. Sylvan Lake was a must see. The sunlight striking the water and rock formations was beautiful. There is a few general stores scattered throughout for your food, drink, and souvenir needs.

The wildlife was abundant, the trails were very easy accessible and the roads very well maintained! You could easily spend a whole week exploring a new area. Sunday gulch and cathedral spires were great!

Spent two hours walking on the trail around the monument, allowing for interesting views thereof. 485 steps, so be aware of this. Highly recommend the effort! The Coast Guard were doing a promotional video with fly-overs the day we visited. American flags were present for a naturalization ceremony. Very memorable day.

Mount Rushmore is beautiful! We visited in the evening before sunset and stayed until after the sun had set. There wasn’t a ton of people which was nice and we got a ton of great pictures! We visited as a family. We also walked the hiking trail around the amphitheater, it had gorgeous views all throughout. There is a part of the trail that includes a ton of stairs. We’re a very active family so this was fun and we turned it into a fun race. However, the stairs could be very challenging for some and they do have signs warning about the excessive amount. I would say use caution judgement but it’s totally worth it taking the trail if you’re able to!

Visiting Mount Rushmore was an absolutely unforgettable experience. From the moment I approached the site, the sheer scale and artistry of the monument were breathtaking. The massive granite faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln are carved with astonishing detail, and seeing them in person gives you a real sense of the vision and skill that went into this iconic landmark. The surrounding landscape is equally stunning, with rolling hills, forested areas, and well-maintained paths that make exploring the site enjoyable and accessible. The visitor center provides rich historical context, interactive exhibits, and fascinating insights into the sculpting process and the history behind each president represented. What really stood out was how impressive the monument is up close. The faces are larger than life, yet the artistry makes them feel lifelike, evoking a sense of respect for the history and ideals they symbolize. The viewpoints and walking trails allow you to take in multiple perspectives, perfect for photography or simply soaking in the grandeur. However, there were no chicken noodles, so I give this 1 star. I would not recommend this for anyone that enjoys chicken noodles like I do.

Our visit was during the off season time, and when the Federal government was shutdown, in which the museus and gift shop was closed. However the weather was nice and cool, and the crowd was minimal. The path around the monument was very nice, with walkways that was easy to navigate, and handicap friendly. The pathway had several places to stop and sit down, and places that one could create a "Kodak" picture. There were different angles in which one could view the monument. The little cafe was open, although a bit pricey . It was a great time.

If your adventurous, hike up to the top of the monument. It's a bit strenuous. We didn't realize you could go up and missed this adventure. (400+ stairs) overall it's an amazing site and beautiful!

We must of went at the best time because there was only a handful of other guest. Very peaceful. Beautiful scenery and a blessed experience! I love how nicely kept & clean the premises were. Must check out the gift shop!

My friend and I had a wonderful time here! The monument is beautiful, the museum (the one open in the winter) is really interesting, the gift shop is huge and well stocked with neat items, and the cafe features ice cream made by following Thomas Jefferson’s recipe…how awesome!!

The tour was quite the eye opener. Back in those days conditions were brutal for miners. The tour guide was thorough with descriptions and answered everyone’s questions clearly and included some funny humor. Visitors are permitted to take any loose stones from the ground in the tunnel home with them. You can also take photos and video of the tour. My video length was just over 30 minutes long. Helmets are provided. I would recommend you take the tour when you visit Deadwood. Children enjoy it too!

This was awesomeee! We were toured by abby (super cool btw). She made awesome jokes and gave super detailed facts and overall made the whole experience really interesting. The blackout moment was awesome sauce and the huge gaps were so pretty. I loved looking at the different rocks. We went gold panning afterwards and i got some gold! Super fun!

Enjoyed our tour, the young blonde girl (apologies i cant remember the name) was very good at explaining what happened all these years ago. Amazing the conditions the mined in and how much volume they actually took out of the mine. Also lovely and cool on a hot day. Can get here on the deadwood trolley but the trolley is hopeless and a waste of money. See my other review

My favorite part of this was panning for gold. It was nice walking through the mine, and our tour guide Shay did a very nice job telling us the history. The temperature down there is between 50° to 60°. So maybe a sweatshirt or long-sleeve

Had a great experience walking through the gold mine with Phoenix as our guide. He was very informative and had great knowledge of the mine. We arrived at 8am just as they were opening and got a private tour. Highly recommend this tour and hope you’re lucky enough to have Phoenix as your guide.

This was a good tour and the guide was very knowledgeable. This was my first experience to tour a mine and it was very educational. Loved it!

Fun tour while you're in the area. Our guide, Hudson, was very friendly and informative. The tour is a bit shorter than some others we've been on but I would still recommend.

If you're in deadwood, definitely give this place a look! It's pay by donation, and it's suggested $5 per person. It has three levels of historical items, facts and exhibits. It doesn't take too long to walk through the whole place- but there's definitely a lot to see! They even have an area downstairs for kids which is nice. The two ladies working at the front were super nice and knowledgeable.

Stopped by the Adams Museum in Deadwood — mighty fine stop if you’re lookin’ to chew on some real Wild West history. Lots of good yarns from them rough ‘n tumble days. Learned a heap, tipped my hat, and felt right at home among the ghosts of them old trailblazers.

Jen was phenomenal! Knowledgeable about the wildlife (particularly birds) and geology of the area. The historical displays range from the foundation of the town through the 20th century.

This museum was a great way to learn the history of the town and the expansion and correction that occurred over the years due to the gold rush. There's a recommended $3 donation for adults to enter, but the museum is worth more than that. It's a self-guided tour with lots of information and cool historical objects on display. You could easily spend an hour and a half in here leaning into the history and the culture of the area. It's within walking distance of historic Deadwood Main Street. There is a small gift shop that offers mostly souvenirs for kids with a few options that cater to adults.

This place has quite a bit of displays to it. There are 3 floors - the upstairs, main floor, and basement. The basement has a lot of interactive exhibits, especially fun for kids. From upstairs, you can overlook the main floor. There is also a small gift shop.

Really enjoyed this museum. Very good exhibits on the area and the historic time. 3 floors! Well worth visiting. No admission but $5 donation suggested.

A true landmark in a city full of Old West legends! Hosted by the incredibly beautiful & lovely Rose the museum combines the charms of a small town history legend coupled to the stories of the region that give us the myth and the truth of this legendary town. Whether you want the low down on potato Creek Johnny and his legendary nugget or view Native American artifacts you're sure to find many treasures besides Rose's well informed tutelage that led our group's grasp of the intuitive & straight forward manner of its history lessons.

Very cool museum. The tour guides provide lots of information, but they do have strict rules no touching anything, no standing on the antique rugs, no standing on the tile by the fireplace, no using flash, and no sitting on the furniture. They are very strict about these rules and will not hesitate to yell at you. You must stay with your tour group and keep moving. Other than that our guide shared lots of information, answered every question, and was very detailed. The house was incredible. I highly recommend the Adams House—just follow the rules, as you should always do anyway.

Great tour and tour guide! It's so amazing to hear the preservation and story of this home and residents. A must see while in Deadwood

I love history and this house did not disappoint. Desiree was very knowledgeable and kind. The home is beautiful and a must see.

The Adam's house is a wonderful place to visit when you are in Deadwood. I believe the tour was 45 minutes to an hour.

Nothing Short of Fantastic!! Your guide was great as well

What an awesome experience! The near pristine condition of this Queen Anne style home is well worth your time! The tour guide weaves the stories of the home's owners with the history of Deadwood. Just delightful!

This was an amazingly detailed glimpse into past life. It was very well done and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide was great and very knowledge.

We started down in Deadwood went up the many steps to get to this cemetery. I will be honest with you next time I will drive to the top. Once we got to the cemetery, we still had to continue going upward to see all the graves. From Wild Bill to Calamity Jane worth seeing. One of the most disturbing things is noticing how many young children died either birth or a few days afterwards or even a month or two. Please don’t be one of those people to put the rocks on top of the grave because it damages the headstones.

We thought the Mount Moriah Cemetery is one of the most beautiful we have seen. The cemetery is loaded with notable people from the Deadwood area. Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock are just a few. Near the top there is a great overview of the town.

Loved it. The walk up to Seth Bullock and wife's grave is pretty intense, it's up hill and required some rest stops. Saw deer romping around.

During our recent visit to Deadwood, South Dakota, we visited the Mount Moriah Cemetery where Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are buried. We parked our car in the parking lot, paid our $3, then walked (uphill) about 200 yards on a paved road. At one point, we had to move off the road into the grass because a tour bus was leaving the cemetery. The graves of Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane are marked with signs so they can be easily found. This cemetery is located on a fairly steep hill, so it doesn't lend itself to wandering around for very long.

Mount Moriah Cemetary is a worthy stop while visiting Deadwood. Western and history fans will find a number of intetesting graves, including Wild Bill and Calamity Jane. However, there are other interesting sites, including a children's section and a Chinese burner. There is a small $2 fee to get in, but it is worth the small fee as the cemetary is maintained in very good condition. You also get a map with suggestions for a self guided walking tour. Parking can be difficult to find, although you can usually find a spot in the small osrking area or on one of the residential streets. We don't suggest trying to bring you RV or trailer as the cemetary is at the top of a hill in a residential area.

Very well kept with interesting historical information about the famous “residents” and the communities with special sections in the cemetery (Jewish, Chinese). Nice hikes from the cemetery to the summit too.

One of the most famous cemeteries in the Old West that offers some great views of Deadwood and surrounding hills.

This was an amazing experience. Such a great blend of history, adult party/gambling atmosphere, while also being a clean friendly place id be happy to take my young kids. The shootouts and storytelling by the deadwood alive crews were amazing. I love how they get the kids involved. I cant wait to come back!

We visited downtown for the afternoon. We walked around and enjoyed all the stores they had to offer. Plenty of gifts and souvenirs to go around. We ate lunch and just enjoyed the scenery. Its a small town filled with great history. On our way out the next morning, we drove by 6 am when Noone was on the streets, it was pretty cool to see it filled with people one day and rhe next early morning empty. we parked in the public parking lot by visitor center and walked downtown.

We really enjoyed Historic Downtown Deadwood. The atmosphere is great with a really old west feel. People who operate the business are really friendly and there is a ton of things to see and do. We spent two days and really did not have time to see a lot of things.

Lots of cool wild West History involving Wild Bill and Calamity Jane. It's a little sad to see so many of the hotels full of slots, but there is rich history and cool little shops to enjoy. We were there during their Deadweird event, and while we aren't the partying kind it was fun to see everyone dressed up in costumes and enjoying themselves. We stayed at the historic Bullock Hotel which exceeded our wildest expectations.

I loved the history and the general vibe of the town. Lots of people and places to see. If you like casinos they are everywhere.

Good place especially at night during the days of autumn. It’s just fun to explore all the bars and stores walking around it wasn’t crowded and stayed in an historic hotel. Didn’t gamble just explored the town and surrounding areas.

We drove through a couple of times. Awesome place. We parked the Jeep and walked around then had supper. Great food and atmosphere. Just not enough time, so we will be back next year. ( we are not gamblers.....)

If you’re in the area this would be an excellent tour! Our narrator was very smart and knew an astonishing amount of information about the area. He recommended quite a few places to see while the tour was going on as well. He stopped at the cemetery and allowed everyone he to exit the bus to take photos, this was a very nice gesture. I highly recommend this tour, you will not be disappointed.

Amazing Exhibit. Amazing story of how this place came about thanks to Mr. Kevin Costner. Amazing actor and person. The Sculptures are a true work of art not only they themselves but how they are positioned

It was a great location, and the sculptures were amazing to look at. The artifacts on exhibit in the visitor center, and the video explaining the origin of the Tatanka experience dwas interesting. But probably the most interesting part, that we didn’t know, is that this whole display is the result of Kevin Costner‘s experience in the area while he was filming the movie “Dances with Wolves”. He was so personally moved by the story of the native Americans and the bison that he felt the need to express it. In general, I think it’s a bit overpriced, but worth a stop.

Very informative and full of history! The sculpture was incredible—so detailed and beautifully crafted. Even though the day was cloudy, it made for the most amazing photo! Thank you Kevin for bringing attention to our history!

As our group of three walked in, there was no one at the desk to tell us about admission. By the time the hostess arrived, she was rather rude. Which would explain the empty parking lot. Sadly, I will not be back or recommend to visit. Was not the friendly greeting that you would expect in South Dakota.

Clean, informative, beautiful inside and outside on the grounds. Staff was able to answer all of my questions.

The sculpture is beautiful, very well done. The only bad thing about the sculpture is that it is placed facing north, which means the sun is always in your eyes while you view it and the sun makes deep shadows on the sculpture making it difficult to photograph and view. If possible go on a cloudy but bright day for optimal viewing. This small museum is owned and run by Kevin Costner as a tribute to the Lakota people but it’s actually a combination of a tribute to his movie, Dances with Wolves with a few Native American artifacts and photos. There is a 15 minute movie, skip it. The theater is more of an 8 person closet and it is of Kevin’s dedication speech which is hard to hear and which you can read in the museum if you want. If you loved his movie it’s cool to see the original costumes worn by the main characters of the movie that are on display. Also the land around the museum has been sold off to developers and you’ll soon see large expensive homes in the back yard in the currently peaceful hills where the museum sits, what a shame. If you go realize that it’s a bit confusing where the building is as Kevin sold the land at the entrance, and now a jail and courthouse reside where you pull in. No signs indicate that if you drive further up and around a steep hill, you’ll come to the museum.

We got the unlimited wristband for our kids, and they had a blast! The coaster was the hit for all. They also enjoyed the ropes course. Best of all, there were shaded benches and beer for the adults looking for a break. Would recommend!

Plenty of sunshine and fun time today with the kids from Spearfish Summer Recreation! From Cave exploring to coaster rides and zip lines, there are plenty of activities for all ages. A must visit spot in the Black Hills National Forest. Just minutes away from historic Keystone South Dakota.

Pros: The ride wrist bands were decently priced and we didn't have to wait long to get on the rides. We had a great tour guide through the cave. The gift shop was have a great sale! Cons: There's only 2 rides and a virtual game you can play. The mountain coaster ride is downhill so save that for last and just repeat the ride because the walkway is steep. The obstacle course was closed.

Our family was just there a week ago and we experienced the cave, mountain coasters, and the rope course. The mountain coaster ride seemed very quick for the cost . It would of been nice to at least get two rides from my one ticket , then it would of been a great deal. Tour guide for the cave was very mellow and monotone, seemed like he was bored.

We visited the park to do a cave tour on a rainy Friday morning. We had zero line for tickets and only had to wait 15 minutes be for the next tour started. They have a gift shop or you can go outside and watch people do the coaster or eagle ride to kill the time. We had a small group for our tour, which was nice. Our guide was very informative and the tour was cool! It was our tween’s favorite experience of the day. This park isn’t in Keystone, but isn’t too far. The drive was pretty and the signage leading there was helpful since our cell service was spotty. The rest of the attractions looked fun and were still running in the rain.

We had a blast at Rush Mountain. We rode the rides and then decided to do the "gunslinger 7-D" shooting game. We chose the scariest one (cant recall the name) and had so much fun. We had ice cream and then went for the cave tour after. Weekday towards end of season and we didnt have to wait in ñ8ne ling for anything!

We had a great time! We rode the rides several times, especially the Mountain Coaster. Get the wristband so you can ride multiple times on the rides. Staff is friendly and helpful, very communicative about the ride rules and not rude at all about repeating or helping if we didn't understand. We had a great time!

Our guide Jasmine was amazing. Loved her personality and energy. I have COPD and she didn't rush me along at all. Thank you for your kindness and patience.

So much fun!! Definitely worth the trip! Glenn was an amazing tour guide. Super funny, and our kids loved him! He had us laughing so much. A lot of stairs as it is pretty far underground, but absolutely worth it!

My experience is a 71-year-old man in fair condition. I thought that this cave was way too much for a person of my age and my height had a lot to do with the fact that it was a Bumpy ride. I think they should have offered helmets because of its low. Ceilings, I would have never done this trip.Had I known that the stairs were so steep

It's such a wonderful experience. Our guide, Jasmine, was fabulous. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a fun little history adventure. If you're out of shape, like I am, the climb out can be a bit tiring, though it's well worth the effort.

Glen was an Amazing tour guide! Humorous and very knowledgeable!!! Very beautiful cave and the route guide explains all the types of minerals and rocks/formations within throughout your tour! There are very tight spaces in this cave, if you’re claustrophobic be aware of that. Lots of stairs otw down and back up obvi lol it was well worth it though! Loved the tour!!! 10/10 cave and 10/10 tour guide Glen!!!

Very cool place! Jasper our cave tour guide did an incredible job throughout our tour explaining the history and sharing his knowledge about the formations throughout the cave.

Family visits a couple of days ago and had a great time. Glenn was our guide who was very knowledgeable, friendly, engaging, and funny! Definitely a fun stop for the family!

Amazing experience!!! It was so fun driving through and you really do get to see animals right next to your vehicle! Especially the bears! That's the closest we've ever been to a bear! I think we saw every animal, except the lynx, on our tour. And we loved watching all the cute little baby bear cubs playing and swimming in the walk-through area:) It was a a very nice walk with animals to see in enclosures along the way:) I think it was very affordable. Wonderful gift shop and drinks and snacks, as well! This is a great place to take your family - our kiddos loved it!

This was a spectacular experience! Both the drive through and walk through experiences were better than any zoo we’ve been to. The bears were especially fun. They wandered across the road while we got to see them up close and personal. The animals in the walk through area were all very active in the morning. The river otters were especially fun to watch. Ther gift shop was also very nice.

Bear Country USA is a fantastic drive through wildlife park, you get to see a wide variety of animals up close, all from the comfort of your car. Along the route, we spotted bighorn sheep, bison, reindeer, pronghorn and of course, the bears. The highlight was definitely watching bears casually wander right alongside the vehicle, sometimes just a few feet from the doors. It was truly a one of a kind experience. Admission is $24 per person, with a maximum of $80 per vehicle at the time we went in September. I definitely think it’s worth the price point. After the drive, the walk through area features even more animals, including timber wolves, bear cubs, porcupines, foxes and more. It’s definitely worth spending some time there before you leave. The gift shop is well stocked with fun souvenirs and unique gifts. Overall, Bear Country USA is a must see in the Black Hills. It’s safe, family friendly and an unforgettable way to get close to wildlife. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the area.

We came here expecting a fun wildlife drive-thru… and left wanting to hug a fat raccoon and adopt a fuzzy skunk. Seriously. The animals are well cared for, healthy, and incredibly active. The wolves came right up to the vehicle, pacing with curiosity — an unforgettable moment. And the bears? Fluffy, playful, and full of personality. Every size, every shade, and a whole tree full of them! Watching four bears playing high up in the treetops like mischievous siblings was one of the best laughs we’ve had in a while. The walk-through portion stole the show for our girls — the baby bears were hilarious, and the smaller animals like foxes, skunks, and raccoons had our whole family grinning ear to ear. If you’re in the Black Hills, do not miss this place. It’s entertaining, educational, and just plain magical

Bear Country was amazing! I visited as a little girl and I got to visit again with my family. We enjoyed every minute and spent several hours soaking up the experience. They have window washing stations before you drive into the park which is nice because it’s a requirement to keep your windows rolled up. After you drive through the park, they have another area that you can walk through that is set up more like a zoo. They also have a cute gift shop that’s pretty reasonable in pricing. We were not disappointed in anyway!

Bear Country USA, not just a home to bears, but many other cool praire animals! I visited in mid-October and I was happy to see such active wildlife. The bears even walked in front of the car for a short duration of my drive through the park. I was able to see some baby goats sitting out along side the park road. The staff were every friendly and there is a walkable mini zoo at the end of the drive. This is an excellent stop during a trip to the Black Hills!

We loved our visit to Bear Country USA! We didn’t realize we couldn’t take our Jeep with the soft top through the drive, but the staff was so kind and helpful — they provided us with a courtesy minivan that fit the whole family, including our dog. They even had a treat ready for our pup, which was such a thoughtful touch! The walk-through area was our favorite part. Seeing the baby bears up close was adorable, and the rocks with the misting features were a perfect way to cool down on such a hot day. Everything was clean, well-organized, and informative, making it a fun experience for both kids and adults. Highly recommend!

Reptile Gardens was such an amazing experience for the whole family! The huge gift shop was fun to explore, and the dome is incredible — absolutely filled with fascinating creatures and so well done. We loved how interactive everything was. Getting to pet the giant tortoises was such a highlight, and the snake and crocodile shows were both really entertaining and educational. They even let you touch a snake and a crocodile after each show, which was awesome! There’s also a themed playground for the kids that fit perfectly with the park. Overall, it was a fantastic visit — definitely recommend stopping here if you’re in the area!

We loved it! They do a snake and gator show 5 times a day throughout the day. The shows are entertaining and educational. The brothers Joe and Dane were humorous through their shows and are amazing, they show they enjoy what they do. Once theyre done with their shows they let you pet the animals. Theres a dome to keep the birds they have (we only spotted 3) from flying out while people walk around. They also have a HUGE crocodile "Manic, giant crocodile." Pictures do not do it justice. A little play area and sand box for kids to let them run around on (next to where they do the snake show). And the Tortuises would have to be our favorite. They have 1 that is 120 years old and its just really cool that you can walk near them and pet them as they eat. They have military discount and an amazing gift shop with such friendly staff.

Amazing experience!!! You cannot miss the Reptile Gardens when you visit SD! We had so much fun! The gardens are absolutely BEAUTIFUL and the jungle in the dome is breathtaking! The snake and alligator shows were fascinating and Joey was GREAT! The kiddos got to touch a boa constrictor and a baby alligator and the giant tortoises:) They really do have the largest selection of venomous snakes and it was fun trying to spot the little lizards in the dome jungle:) We had fun taking pics at the old western town area and enjoyed some delicious lunch and ice cream:) Loved the gift shop, too! And all the staff were so nice:) A special "thank you" to Lillee;) We would definitely recommend seeing the Reptile Gardens!!!

This is an absolutely lovely place to spend the day with your family. Plenty of parking, easy access from Rapid City, and reasonable prices for admission and concessions. We started with the Snake and Alligator Shows which were informative and funny. The grandkids loved the giant tortoises, and every part of the park was fun. So many interesting and colorful varieties of snakes, turtles, frogs and other animals! The frozen drinks gave us a refreshing break, and the gift shop at the end of our day provided more than enough choices to find a special souvenir to take home. The gardens would be an attraction unto themselves. The wonderful flowers and trees and other flora were being lovingly attended to by nice young people, who we thanked for their hard work. This is a must see park. Enjoy!

From outside you would think is not worth it! You are so mistaken! From plants, rocks, reptiles, tortoises, shopping and more… this is a must stop! O ya they have shows that u can attend, and I recommend you go. The kid presenting the snakes show, he was knowledgeable and funny in a way that encouraged me to accept snakes. Thank you. I forgot to mention Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, South Dakota, was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest reptile zoo in the world. It was first cited in the 2014 edition and recertified in the 2018 edition, holding the record for housing more reptile species and subspecies than any other zoo or wildlife park.

we had a really great experience here! We arrived shortly before 8am when they opened and the parking lot was empty. We were able to park our 45ft camper along the back edge of the lot and there were also dedicated spots for other trailers which I appreciated. Off the bat, the lady at the entrance was very friendly. My daughter scraped her knee outside and she offered us a bandaid from her first aid kit and gave my kiddos a couple pencils which helped cheer the injured one up. The worker in the dome was very interactive and found us whenever she spotted another reptile in the dome to show our kids. We also stayed and watched the snake show and some of the gator show and it was very entertaining. The food was also good! So happy we stumbled across this place! Well worth the money and time spent.

We decided to go to Reptile Gardens on our last day of vacation. Got there around 10:00 and it wasn’t too busy. My husband, two tweens and I loved the exhibits and the alligator show. So many fun animals to see! The grounds and landscaping were clean and beautiful. Fun for all ages! We were there for about two hours, including some time in their huge gift shop.

Beautiful grounds. A nice place to play Pokémon Go too.

Visited this beautiful cemetery for the first time in 2025 to see the gravestones of 5 friends. I had difficulty locating a few of the graves and a gentleman named Max went above and beyond being helpful and kind and took us straight to the graves we wanted to see. Max was exceptional and is a great representative of this amazingly well kept place.

Gorgeous, super well-maintained veteran cemetery. Upon entry, on right-side, is the administrator office... a graveside listing is on the wall in a visitor box. Alphabetical listed make it impossible "not" to find your person. Headstones are numbered on backside that correlates with personal listing. Emotional visit... so many veterans, so much sacrificed. GOD bless America

Honestly, we took a wrong exit on the freeway and just happened to stumble upon this and boy were we all glad we did! What an amazing place! Its so beautiful and humbling to experience. Everyone should stop by and pay your respects when in the area.

My brother, Dominick Lombardo, a WWII veteran of the Pacific arena rests in peace there, and being the last survivor of my beloved family, I am contented to know that he rest in one of the best cemeteries of this country. Everything there warms the heart, and the staff definitely should be highly commended. Respectfully, Carmine Lombardo & Family

This is a stunning landscape for honoring this nation's deceased veterans. It is the final resting place for many vets and this cemetery recognizes their service to the United States.

Internment of my uncle Sgt Jerry Jensen, USA, infantryman Vietnam. Reverent and beautiful location. Professional staff and salute guard.

I absolutely adored Storybook Island — it was a dream come true for my kids! From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere feels straight out of a storybook. You walk through castle gates over a charming drawbridge, passing a sparkling pond with ducks, whimsical water features, and playful pretend animals. Rapunzel hangs her golden hair from the castle tower, with a prince climbing up to meet her — such a magical and enchanting welcome! There is so much space for kids to run and play among adorable storybook-themed displays. The train ride was a highlight, and at just $3 per rider, it was very reasonable, especially since admission to the park is free. The beautiful carousel inside a covered pavilion felt absolutely precious, and the friendly staff helped the kids hop on their horses with care. Disney-style storybook music plays throughout the park, adding to the fairytale wonder. We loved the playful drinking fountains shaped like a lion and a hippopotamus, the pirate ship with its little pond and bridge, and the playground for kids 5 and under — all clean, safe, and spread out beautifully. Shady trees and plenty of benches made it easy to relax and take it all in. Each bench had a placard honoring its donor, and there were beautiful engraved stones along the pathways with names of people who contributed — a lovely reminder that the park is funded through donations and community generosity. Storybook Island is operated by the Rotary Club of Rapid City and welcomes donations to help keep the magic going. There’s also a cute little gift shop packed with tempting souvenirs, and an ice cream shop on site that wasn’t open yet when we arrived but probably operates later in the day. Overall, Storybook Island is pure childhood magic brought to life — whimsical, charming, and absolutely worth a visit. Highly recommend!

I loved this place so much! It is a must see if you are in the Rapids City area and have kids. It is set up very nicely, well maintained and free. My kids were not the only ones that had fun; I thoroughly enjoyed myself! I only have a few suggestions: An Alice in Wonderland piece would have been neat to see, and a bigger magnet selection in the gift shop (I love magnets!). Visit.Have Fun.Donate!

My kids love this park anytime we are in the area. It has so many fun scenes to interact with your favorite story book characters. The children of all ages enjoyed exploring and interacting with the scenes. For a small fee of $3 you can ride the train or carousel 🎠. Entrance to the park is free. No pets inside the gate. Ample parking and even a rv/bus strip for us out of towners

Lovely park themed in classic childhood comic characters. The park doesn’t have an entrance and is so cool to just walk through. Really special place for Rapid City.

Cute family friendly place. They remodeled some stuff and removed some beloved characters from when I visited as a kid but overall it was nice . Cheap ticket rides for the carousel and train.

This one is way better than the Aberdeen one. Well maintained, we kept up. And bonus it is free!!! If you need budget friendly day this is the place!

Free, free, FREE! This place is incredible for our two young kids. The only thing you pay for is to ride the train and carousel, but beyond that they simply have a donation box. Kids adored it and have been talking about it ever since. If you are in the area with young kids, this is a must.

Cool place for some dinosaur history and knowledge. My daughter would have loved it as a child, she might even loved it still. Super kid friendly with a ramp and stairs to access all the displays and it has a dirt hiking trail around the area as well. Visitor center is typical visitor center at places like this, all the typical souvenir and maps and magnets and things like that. Although they do serve some hot dogs and sodas if you're hungry. I was only here for about 20 minutes or so. Doesn't really take long if you're just walking around but if you have kids then you could be here for an hour or so. Overall fairly decent place to take the kids to check out some dinosaur history not to mention it's free.

Not exactly what we imagined or had in mind, but still a fun, fascinating experience:) We were thinking it was more of a playground with big dinosaur sculptures the kids could climb on. While not a playground, there are HUGE dinosaurs, which are pretty cool, and there were a few small enough for the kids to climb on:) It's a nice little walk with a spectacular view of Rapid City. Cute little gift shop with ice cream, too:)

Easy drive, plentry of parking, Great place that overlooks Rapid City, beautiful views. Kids had a blast looking at Dinosaurs, parents felt safe with toddlers because of the railings having decorative barriers preventing them from going through and rolling down the hills. Nice place to take pictures, I didnt get a picture of the Wooden Bridge but I thought was awesome.

I haven’t been to any other city with massive dinosaurs soaring over the town. Definitely a unique and worthwhile experience. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the park and views!

Free entrance, five minutes drive up the skyline from downtown for 360• view of Rapid City. Visitor centre with food and deck in the back. Accessible for all ages, there’s stairs and paved ramp to make it an easy trek up. Informative plaques, makes for a great pit stop.

A nice historical park with about a half mile or less loop to walk and read about a half dozen dinosaurs. Established in 1936 and recognized by the Department of Interior. The park has been improved in recent times to provide for accessibility ♿️. The top of the hill offers some of the best views of Rapid City.

This park hold decades of memories for my family and seeing the updated path and handicap accommodations made my heart full! The views of Rapid City from here are unmatched! A MUST GO for all dinosaur enthusiasts (big and small). :)

The only positive aspect of my experience was Maya. She's helpful, kind and polite. I've been a long time supplier of Indigenous botanicals to Praire Edge. I wanted to try their products for the first time. I definitely regret that decision. I purchased $350 worth of herbs and teas. They didn't have the decency nor the respect to package my goods correctly. All of the products I bought were open, spilling out, and thrown into a bag. I didn't check the bags at the store because I trusted they would be properly packaged. The teas were falsely advertised at 2oz, most of them weighed less. I called concerning this issue and had no resolution. They kept transferring me from person to person. The staff started to speak to me rudely and attempted to be condescending. They continued to tell me management is "out of office". Once I finally got to speak to Brenda(GM), all she did was constantly interrupt me when I tried to explain the situation, became rude and raised her voice throughout the conversation. She wanted me to speak to Nancy, and that never happened. She's conveniently always on leave. No accountability from the staff or management. They even told me I'm not welcome back as a supplier or customer for voicing my concerns. From an Indigenous person's perspective it seems like they exploit indigenous cultures and treat the native people with no respect that buy from them.

Lovely shop with many beautiful objects for sale, including a wide variety of pendelton blankets and clothing items. Prices definitely seemed to reflect quality.

If you appreciate Native American craft work, fine art, Pendleton blankets, locally sourced items, this is THE place to visit in Rapid City, SD. A gorgeous store.

What a delightful stop! So glad this was on our list for our short time in Rapid City! The architecture, the curated wares, the art galleries - it’s just … well, delightful!!

What can be said about Prairie Edge Trading Co and Galleries That hasn't been said. Its an all out amazing place. As soon as you walk in the door and look around its an experience you will never forget. They have cutlery,wind chimes high quality clothing,jewelry,herbs and spices its endless what you will find here. I was really amazed by the buffalo hides awesome also the native hunting artifacts not to mention the old swords This stuff is breath taking a place to definitely experience in Rapid City SD there was so much to look at downstairs i dint even get to check out the upstairs part of it. Dont take my word Come and see for yourselfs.

I ordered late Wednesday night and I received my package Saturday morning! I ordered this for my boyfriend. He was very happy with everything. Packaging was great! Shipping was very fast!

This store is to die for!! As a native Cree/Ojibwe, it was dreamy to be walking through such an excellent tribute to the native cultures and talents of the local artists. We were very glad to have our credit card on us! I can't wait to come back in the spring to see what new things they might have for us to see.

Downtown Rapid is pretty solid! The president statues were sweet. Very cool to see some characteristics of each president and guess who it is while walking up to them. Bunch of paid metered parking around, free after 6.

Rapid City SD has to offer Restaurants shops art galleries hotels bars pubs night clubs car services public library main Street square summer nights events monument arena parks skate boarding bike path toddler play grounds fishing hiking M-hill golf course street vendors diversity of people community unity.

Must see all statues of presidents very clean should be proud a beautiful small town should be on bucket list thank you for letting us enjoy

Final day in South Dakota. Kept it simple. Did downtown rapid city. Lot's of presidents statues. Historical hotel. Pawneseum. John Glenn lense and Michael Jackson glove

Want something to do on a Thursday night?? Yep, me too. 7th and st Joseph is it!! The street is blocked off for concerts, dancing, food, vendors, and mingling. Adults can get wrist bands and wonder for beverages. Kid friendly event! A few stores are open to visit. Lots of fun food to eat your way through the event. My only regret....yep forgot my chair but it's ok! Always next time. A fun filled event for sure. Tonight's featured band " Flannel". A few originals and a few old school. Was fun watching people singing along.

Small town vibes. Nice restaurants, cute movie theater, distillery, and shopping.

Every corner had a statue on them cool 😎 had to take pictures 📸

We arrived the week prior to the rally on Sunday. Soon after, this place was packed, as far as parking every day. It's so big (read it could hold 15000 people) there is so much to see and do here. We went multiple times,since we were staying at the Pappy Hoel Campground, to enjoy the great music, entertainment and people watching. I am not sure what it's like in the "off" season make sure to call or check the website before going.

The atmosphere is dark, just like I like it. The decorations offer some very interesting pieces of old machinery. Overall a great vibe and an interesting place. There is a lot of room here for concerts and other activities. You also get an amazing view of the mountains. The burger I had was out of this world. It was thick and juicy with two cheeses on it and was very clearly not a frozen patty. The only reason it loses a star is because there a lot of flies everywhere.

My bf and I watched the show every time it was on. The show did it no justice. That place is all that and so much more. The people are what makes it so good. I have so much respect for Mike and Angie. It's amazing!! I can't say enough about how much I loved being there. My bf passed away this past June and that's where he wanted to go. So, I packed up and went to Sturgis. I felt so lost and out of place without him.....until I got to Full Throttle. I loved it. I'm so grateful. Thank you so so much. Y'all don't know what it means to me. If your reading this, just go. You won't regret going to Full Throttle. Its money you wont regret spending. It's a place you will never forget.

Excellent for people watching. Great concerts, lots of room for dancing. There was a fantastic photo exhibit and custom bike show that were really interesting. I had a real blast.

Of course, the atmosphere is insane. The clerk at the apparel store was incredibly rude. My 76 year old father was getting ready to hit a vape pen and he loudly said "don't even think about it" Dad apologized and put it away. The clerk continued to berate him. Told that's the first and last time I'll ever ask you. Dad told him sorry again. The clerk started going on and loudly said, " How would you like it if I smoked in your store?" I finally told the clerk "enough. " He's not stupid and he apologized and he didn't even hit the pen." Yes, I agree nobody should smoke their e-cigarettes indoors. But, the clerks overreaction was ridiculous.

The full throttle was rushing to get ready for 2025 sturgis and did an awesome job. I was amazed at how great this place looked. The service we received was friendly, and the vip bar folks had great sense of humor even when busy. I recommend folks visit the throttle while at Sturgis as this is a true biker retreat.

Me and my group of over 3,600 people got here on the 1st for the bike rally. It was a great run from the Texas/Mexico border to Sturgis and this is the first place that we stopped. We are currently enjoying this facility for the fifth time of our trip. I have to say that the moonshine is very good as well as the brisket. The environment is great and the employees here are excellent.