Great little area! Would be good for people moving through the area to get out and stretch and catch some gorgeous views! Camping areas were clean and appropriate. The rates are super reasonable!

All we did was drive the dirt road to see what the area was like and had to pay 28.00 for not even a 10 minute drive in and out. I can see paying for hiking and camping for sure but not to drive in and out and informed the visitor center that is what we were doing. Looks like a good area for hiking but camping spots were not that great. Nature center is good.

Don't hesitate come on in. They have a nature center loads of information. Campsites, nature walks. Very rare views that can't be seen just anywhere bring a camera

Took the scenic route from Sioux Falls thru Nebraska and spun a u-ey to check it out; I saw signs for scenic overlook of course had to get pics. We had just bought a new shotgun about an hour earlier but the wife said absolutely not as soon as she saw that I saw the range signs. Overall a beautiful spot D

Beautiful views and great hiking trails. $12 entrance fee. There are easy trails thru the meadows and medium trails thru the valleys and woods. Abundance of bird species flying around. Camping sites available with covered picnic tables. The gift shop was nice. There's a kid friendly museum with hands-on displays of animal paws and bird displays. We were lucky to have several of the cactuses and desert fauna in bloom. Ample parking. Clean bathrooms in gift shop.

Not a bad location for scenery. But the camp sites are just dirt slots stacked on each other without water, shade, privacy or much for a flat area.. Stayed one night. Some sketchy people coming in at all hours doing who knows what at the trailhead. I thought trailhead meant hiking but maybe it means something else around here. Good for a day visit only. If staying the night, recommend embracing your 2A rights.

A nice variety of hiking trails. Lots to do here, shooting range, camping, visitor center. Only wish the state could have acquired more of the surrounding land to the east. Thank you to the staff who helped me with my tire troubles!

Well worth the $10 price for admission. No crowds & and you can have “hands on” to many of the exhibits. The museum is well thought out and each exhibit carries through with a timeline & explanation of the displays. We really enjoyed the Japanese Hall that explained so much about the Japanese Internments during World War 2 and the Japanese/American men & women the helped us win the War. This is great to learn so we never forget the negatives & positive of that era.

This museum is massive! There was so much to see and do. The exhibits span from cars, to farm equipment, to blacksmithing and more. Very much kid friendly. The staff were super kind and knowledgeable about everything. We drove in from Cheyenne and will absolutely be back. What an amazing place!

If you’re in town and have time, this museum is put together well. There are multitudes of displays, ranging from late 1800’s to the mid 1900’s. Several of the displays are “hands on, walk into, interact with” type exhibits. All of the staff were extremely friendly and helpful.

Excellent history on the early pioneers. Strong overview on farming and ranching.

Great museum - much larger and more polished than I expected. Count on spending at least 2.5h to see everything.

This is a hidden gem! Covers a wide range of topics over a huge period of time. You can easily spend 2-3 hrs here. Real-life artifacts and displays really bring the topics to life. Short, digestible videos are plentiful, and there plenty of places to stop and rest for a bit.

An amazing experience! From the main exhibit building, to the static displays throughout the property…it’s a great opportunity to reflect and appreciate the history of the region. Special thank you to Dave and team for making it a First Class experience for us today!!!

Scott's Bluff was quite an amazing place that was above anything we even expected. Not only did we have access to the grounds, but we were able to drive up to the top where there were tunnels, hiking trails, vistas and overlooks. We were quite impressed by the scale and was surprised to see anything like this in Nebraska. This was also on the path of the Oregon Trail, something we found out while we were there. It was a nice find between the Badlands and Denver.

This is a pretty place, but basically you drive to the top and have some great views from there. However there are no pullouts along the way. Oh yeah, there are a couple trails at the top. A big negative was access to the drive closes at 5 or 5:30 pm. My first day there I wasn't aware of this and wanted to get some sunset photos from the top. That was nixed obviously. You can hike to the top at any time, but I suppose that's for youngsters and folks who are in good shape. I will say the visitor center was outstanding.

I was able to take this area in for only a short drive up to the top. It was a great view from the top. I would love to return to hike up it as a section is a hiking tunnel. The park ranger at the gate was very friendly and informative. Another pair of rangers were at the top and clearly engaged with visitors. Great job team!

My daughter and I recently visited Scotts Bluff National Monument, and it was an experience we’ll never forget. The towering bluffs rise dramatically from the plains, creating a stunning backdrop that’s even more breathtaking in person. We took our time exploring the trails and scenic overlooks, and every angle offered a new perspective of the sweeping Nebraska landscape. What really stood out, though, was the historical significance of this place. Walking where pioneers once traveled along the Oregon Trail made the visit feel both educational and meaningful, connecting us to a part of American history you can’t fully grasp from a textbook alone. The visitor center added even more context with its exhibits and friendly staff, who were happy to answer questions and share stories. If you haven’t been to Scotts Bluff before, I can’t recommend it enough. Whether you’re drawn by the history, the scenery, or simply the chance to spend time outdoors, it’s a destination worth making the trip for—you’ll walk away with memories that last.

No entry fee for this NPS site. Fantastic views at the top. Wonderful history. Never knew Nebraska had this much elevation change. Definitely a must stop if you’re getting from Denver to the Black Hills as we were doing.

They have the best people who work and volunteer here. We loved the talk that Caleb gave about bighorn sheep in the area. The man who met us at the entrance was super friendly and helpful. Doug, a volunteer, was great as well. The drive to the top is definitely worth it.

Paved and well maintained hiking trails! Saddle Rock was steep but well worth it. Visit the Visitors Center while you are here! Incredibly informative exhibits, cool souvenirs, and a very friendly staff.

Very fun and informative. I love the selection of animals as well!

Amazing place! Weather was great. Animals are beautiful and the geese are friendly!

Riverside Discovery Center – Scottsbluff, NE We visited on an incredibly hot day, so some animals were less active at first, but we were lucky enough to see the tiger and the grizzly bear come out! The crowds were small (almost non-existent while we were there), which made it easy to take our time and enjoy the exhibits. One tip we learned: the animals definitely notice when staff walk toward their enclosures — they often follow them or come out — so we kept an eye out for staff nearby and got to see more activity that way. I do wish the concessions had been open on such a hot day, but overall, we still enjoyed our visit. If you go, bring water, take your time, and watch for those moments when the staff interact with the animals — it really brings the experience to life!

I absolutely love this zoo. I used to visit it frequently when we lived close, but since moving out of state, I make an extra effort to visit the zoo when we are close. It does need some love, as it's showing its age. Hope the city/county are willing and able to help get back into better condition.

This place is amazing whenever I go! I love to support this mall exotic zoo and their mission to inform the public and save animals. I like that it is never crowded and they have animals you don't see anywhere else. We enjoyed the peacocks that run lose, and watching the zebras grazing, I enjoy watching the lion get feed and the grizzly play!

My son and I came in from Colorado to visit. This zoo is very small, but I feel like that’s expected. Since it’s in the middle of winter we were one of the only guests there. The animals……. I don’t even know where to start. These animals first of all are ridiculously photogenic!! 😂 I don’t think I’ve ever been to a zoo where you can really see these animals’ personalities. The hyenas though……. By far our favorites!!! They sure did love my son! I actually absolutely love this zoo and especially their animals!!!!

This place should be shut down, it was 89 degrees out there was stagnant water and many pools with no water for animals to cool down in. They only had water bowls . The flower beds were taken better care of than the animal enclosures. The only enclosure that was good was the bear. $28.00 for 2 adults 😡 take better care of the animals.

Always wanted to see this attraction since my uncle posted a few years ago. Only thing was when he posted every car was colorful, so we were kinda sad to see a lot were grey. People can’t respect cool things, so I’m sure they are covering graffiti. Over all still cool place & the ones that are painted are painted with detail.

Fun stop on our way to Blissfall Music and Arts Festival in Colorado. Cool sculpture park with lots of character right next to a camp ground. Will make the stop when in the area next.

Had a lot of fun checking out the artwork on the cars. The lady in the gift shop was so very nice and sweet! Been here before and always have a wonderful time.

The art displays were awesome. We was there about 3:30 in the afternoon and we got back to the gift shop about 4:15 and they were already closed. There was about a dozen people there. We wanted souvenirs but they already closed. They should have stayed open to at least 5 being a tourist attraction. Yes maybe we should have checked time before walking around but closing at 4 when people were still stopping in wasn't the best service. Close on time if nobody is there but stay open for people that is still there.

I had seen this place in one of the travel newsletters I read and drove well out of my way from Scottsbluff to visit. It didn’t disappoint. The creativity is next level and the attention to detail satisfied my OCD. I even enjoyed the pigeons, who, while messy contributed to my art experience.

Love this place! The Great piece of art. We stayed at the little Campground right next to it, it was cheap and full hookup, a little difficult to level. Passing this area definitely worth stopping

Found this quirky piece of Americana on our 2025 family road trip. We actually spent quite a bit of time walking around checking the whole site out. There is a nice souvenir shop located son the property. If you are near the area, stop by and check it out. This is what family road trip are all about.

This is a fascinating place - it's quite out of the way but we found it worth the time (and the dirt roads). The visitor center has a ton of interesting things, both from the fossil beds and from Lakota artifacts. The rangers were really nice, in particular a woman who walked my children through the kids' activities. I'd recommend this to anyone who is willing to commit the extra two hours or so.

A great stop for good views and education! This gave a good break during our drive through Nebraska. The visitor center is very clean and well kept by the rangers. We appreciated the history of the area and the Native American history that’s shown in the exhibits. I’m so glad we stopped by! There’s also a few trails that can be hiked near the monument.

Don't go after 5pm nobody's out here. Literally not a soul. As far as cool rock hound place amazing. Scenery on point. Native American vibes and beautiful sunsets. Coyotes will sing you to sleep if you come after dark truly an unique experience.

We had a great experience at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. I hiked a little over three miles with my son and our dog, and the trails were well-maintained and easy to follow. The landscape is beautiful—wide open prairie, interesting rock formations, and plenty of wildflowers even in late September. It’s a peaceful place with stunning views and a nice mix of natural beauty and history. My son enjoyed spotting details along the trail, and it was a perfect way to spend time together outdoors. The monument feels quiet and uncrowded, which made the hike even more enjoyable. Highly recommend for families, nature lovers, and anyone looking to explore a unique part of Nebraska’s natural and fossil history.

What a rare and unique collection! It's not just the fossils, the Lakota collection is also unbelievable. It's in the middle of nowhere, that's why probably not very popular. Tips: There's nothing, literally nothing within 40-50 miles. Fill up tank, make sure you have snacks.

There’s a small visitors center with a museum, a theater, a gift shop and some friendly rangers. There are a couple of short trails, the fossil trail is cool as it takes you to the pit where the fossils were found. It can get hot though, no shade at all. This monument is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, but you will learn about bear dogs.

We drove through and were able to park RV (towing) easily by the visitor center. It was a very nice area, but just not a lot there. The trails were very well maintained. And in all fairness, it was incredibly hot and that limited hiking greatly. There was absolutely no shade on the trails, so we may not have had the full experience of the park. We were excited however, that the trails were dog friendly. Watch for rattle snakes.

Very wonderful museum! A lot of informative and well laid-out exhibits in a very cool space. The obvious highlight is the dueling mammoths, which are truly incredible! A must-stop for any paleontology enthusiast!

Great little museum with affordable gift shop for kids. Reasonable admission cost. Was disappointed the upstairs was closed. Plan approximately 30 minutes to tour. Did love the new “who killed the chicken” exhibit. Missed opportunity to have more interactive areas for kids. Mammoth skeletons and story are impressive.

Small but very nice museum with the famous fighting mammoths fossil. Lots of other fossils to see & a nice gift shop with decently priced, interesting items. Across the street you can visit Crazy Horse's death site free of charge.

Had my two year old granddaughters birthday party here and they did an amazing job!! Bonus, this museum is just incredible.

It Was In August 2019,when i was biking across America on my bicycles i passing ghis tiny little museum on my way to Lusk,WY i was starting riding from Chadron,NE by the time i teached the Town Of Crawford where this museum located and i read description on historic marker placed outside,curios i walking in and checking out this museum,pay little donation at front desk,,inside there stood uptight giant skeleton of majestic mammoth,,so impressive folks,when you are in the areas you must stop and visiting this amazing museum and its surrounding so many historic sites to learn,,i regreted not spending longer and explore more of the areas

Very fascinating museum. Enjoyable place to take in, and a welcomed break from the highway.

Very informative museum. We enjoyed our visit - especially the Duel to the Death exhibit.

The Fort Robinson Museum and History Center is located in the original 1905 post headquarters. There is a small fee to enter, but it is worth the price. The museum staff warmly greeted us and recommended the best order in which to visit the museum. Definitely start with the short film that provides a good overview of Fort Robinson's 70-year history. Exhibits cover the early calvary assigned to the Fort, the Native Americans, and the Fort's use during WWI as the largest horse remount station, and during WWII as a German POW camp and a K-9 training facility.

Have always loved the Fort Robinson area, was there to camp a night before I could check in at my hotel in Chadron. There was a threat of storms in the area that night and decided to play it safe and book a room. This was on July 2nd, figured it would be booked full, but managed to get a room for the night. Small room, one queen bed, a closet and some drawers for clothes and a bathroom with shower ( no tub). Just a heads up I am 5'11" the shower head was at chest level, I made due. Will definitely stay here again in the future. If you stay here make sure to eat at the cafe, the food is amazing and really well priced. 10/10 will stay and eat again!!

The Fort Robinson Museum and History Center is a delightful little spot. The museum's quaint, intimate size makes it feel so welcoming, and it's filled with fascinating facts and exhibits that are perfect to explore while you're waiting for a tour. The exhibits really held the kids' attention, and it's a truly wonderful stop for the whole family.

Very interesting displays with photos and stories you may not see anywhere else. The lady at the front was very informative and there is a short video about the fort that is well woth watching. There was a POW camp in WWII and also a war dog training depot. You can see many artifacts that are worn or owned by people at the fort. Their stories are posted next to the artifacts. The museum is the old Post HQ.

It's an absolutely beautiful place to stay. So relaxing and peaceful you couldn't ask for a better place to spend a vacation! We've been here five times now and it never disappoints. Tons of hiking trails to explore, lots of history to enjoy from the two museums on the Fort. And of course being able to stay in the original brick homes is always a joy! (And spooky but just adds to fun this place gives) If you've never visited it's to me the best State Park in Nebraska hands down.

I just had time to visit the main house. The museum was nicely presented. I wish I had had time to see some of the other sites here, such as the Crazy Horse monument. I recommend having at least 90 minutes. I had half of that and had to keep going.

Wonderful place to stop coming out of the mountains on our road trip. The museums are great! We went to the Crazy Horse Monument last year, so I was excited to pick this spot because he was stabbed in the back here. The history is well displayed here. Over many years many different events happened at this fort, the knowledge is great.

First time camping here at Fort Robinson and it was a great experience! The staff is amazing!! Super welcoming, friendly and informative!! Shoutout to Haley at the Long Ride Horse Stables! Such a fun experience riding “Disco” into the Buttes! Do yourself a favor and eat at the Lodge! The breakfast was insane and you get actual heaping plates of food! 🤌🏾🤌🏾 Would definitely come back to explore more of what Fort Robinson has to offer!

We came here for a family B-day and stayed for 3 nights at the Bricks 15B! The house was so spacious for the 10 of us, each family had their own floor and a bathroom and the kitchen was fully equipped. This is one of the nicest NE state parks we have ever visited and so clean & quiet, no running trains, or traffic as compared to the Mahoney Park and others. There is SO MUCH to do with kids, but also plenty of history and fun for adults:) We enjoyed the stage coach ride, bike riding, the shorter horse back ride, really fun jeep ride and the pool (a bit cold for our taste). Don't miss the Toad Stool Geological Park (first picture) only a 30 minute short drive from FR, it is breathtaking!🌻

Fort Robinson is awesome! We first camped here 2 years ago. I had no idea NE had some of the stuff it did! Originally from MO, now in Omaha for the last 13 years. Western NE is great! The buttes in Fort Robinson are butte-iful! There are sunflowers everywhere! There are even smaller prickly pear cacti out in the prairie! I was so surprised! It's so different from eastern NE. You would have no idea it's NE if you're not from western NE! We learned so much from the Trailside Museum in FR. To know that ancient NE was once covered by sea and held plesiosaurs and mosasaurus....🤯 They offer many activities at the Fort. We did the Jeep tour 2 years ago, and that was fun. You do some hill climbing up into the prairie to catch some beautiful views, including the buffalo and donkeys! We went to the rodeo a couple of years ago, and that was humorous. They have a playhouse showing different plays on different days. We saw Clue a couple of years ago and that was fun. The guided horse trail rides are so worth it! The long ride is far better than the short ride. They take you up into the buttes on the horses and it's a lot of fun. It's peaceful, and the views are great! The steeper hills going up and down are the best part! Don't pass it up! They offer a few different meals at various sites throughout the Fort. You meet up at a central location, and they shuttle you out to a location for the meal. They have a breakfast, a buffalo stew dinner, and a steak dinner. We didn't do the breakfast one, but did the two dinners. They're worth it! For the steak dinner, you get a hay(less) rack ride out to a spot at the base of the buttes for a steak dinner served cafeteria style with tea, lemonade, or water. Our meal included the ribeye, baked potato, roll with butter, veggies(cowboy corn), and a salad with choice of dressing. There was a vault toilet outhouse on premise. For the buffalo stew dinner, they take you out on covered, cushioned, trolley-like cars similar to how some zoos have a "train" type thing. This dinner location was up by the old POW area of FR. There was a half circle of picnic tables set up, and also a large covered shelter nearby, and once again, a vault toilet outhouse. This meals was also served cafeteria style and we enjoyed the buffalo stew, cornbread(which I'm not a cornbread fan, but I actually enjoyed this cornbread!), an oreo brownie and your choice of tea, lemonade, or water. Both meals we attended had plenty of leftovers that we were told to help ourselves to more. There is a lot of history here regarding the Native Americans that you can learn about. You can visit various memorials in the area and "hear from" (read) testimonies of the natives local to the area and what happened to them. It really hits deep and gives you a look into their lives. Though I'll never fully understand not having lived through it, it's good to learn the history and I highly recommend learning everything you can while out there. We stayed in the Soldier Creek campground. They had a bathroom/shower house in this campground, along with several vault toilet outhouses sprinkled throughout. They are very well maintained. The showers are coin-operated, and they have a change machine. 1.00 to start for 3 min, 1.50 for 4.5 min, 2.00 for 6 min, and so on. As with most campgrounds, there are bugs that do get in, but as long as the doors are kept shut, it's not bad. With any public shower, I always have shower flip flops. There are 4 showers, each with its own direct door straight from the outside for use first come first serve. Nearby attractions we recommend: Smiley canyon Toadstool park, amazing geological area Belmont tunnel - the only railway tunnel constructed in NE. (Now abandoned...we saw a few little bats!) Prairie Agate Rock Shop in Crawford. The people there were friendly, and know their rocks! Beautiful specimens from the local area, and around the world! Other considerations within 1.5 hours: Scottsbluff Chimney Rock Carhenge

we arrived in the beginning of October. It was so pretty the grounds look amazing big beautiful trees. The trees were starting to change colors so that was a highlight. We did all the museums that we could. And then we camped in the campground we had electric and a nice concrete pad. There was hardly anybody here this time of year, but we were in the middle of the week

What a fantastic trip to Fort Robinson State Park! The Jeep tour was a hit with the kids, and our guide was top-notch. The whole family loved it. We’ll definitely be recommending this park to all our friends!

Lots of history - frontier through WWII beautiful grounds, where Crazy Horse died. Lovely campground and cabins. Worth the stop.

Nice sites. good views. good water and power. Sign up for the cowboy steak dinner. only stayed ine night

Something for everyone! Cars and machinery Dolls and household goods, furniture, and clothes Guns and knives Kids areas School house Church Local History artifacts Old West history 1000 mile horse race info and displays Models of all kinds Giant antique toy collection Helpful staff and multiple bathrooms Fun place. I plan on going again There is no way to see everything in one visit

Very informative. Dave is very knowledgeable about the museum artifacts and general history of Chadron and Dawes County. Huge collection of memorabilia donated by Dawes County folks. Includes and old school building and a frontier cabin. Do not miss the toy collection.

Great place friendly people. Right off the highway had interesting displays and some very old cars and inventions from a local inventor.

Great place. A lot of great history. Antiques. The lady there took us to all of the buildings and was very friendly and nice to visit with. There is so much to see!

It was very interesting, it’s free and they have several bldg with stuff. We had gone in for a specific purpose to find any records that may identify a person in the family, we did not have unlimited time as we have several tasks to complete today, but they have lots and lots of stuff, not sure why they have 3 collections of barbwire etc, but it got a bit repetitive, cool collection of kitchen gadgets and toys, one that was kind of weird was the pen and pencil collection that wrapped around several walls, it is really high in the ceiling so you can’t read anything on the collected pens and pencils. They did have a few quilts the story behind this one was cool so I snapped a picture of it.

Well worth the visit. Was surprised at how big it is and the amount of stuff. The old medical stuff is very intriguing.

Enjoyed the toy addition. The church's Angel was great. Loved the quilt section 👍

One of the coolest sights I’ve been too. The forest service staff did a great job with the tour, which kept my 6 year old son interested the whole time as well as myself. In fact I’ll go as far as saying it was probably the best tour I’ve gotten out of any place. It’s a great window into the past of the first peoples of America, it highlights a lot of the unknown of the past. If your in area make the out of the way and go, it’s worth it. Plus, at the end you might get to chuck an aht’latle. So…..just go to it.

We were not sure if this place was open as one website said it was and another said it wasn't. We were close by as we had just hiked Toadstool so we decided to give it a try. So glad we did! We were given the best tour by super knowledgeable park staff. After the tour the park ranger showed us how to throw an arrow at a buffalo (fake buffalo), he was very patient in teaching the kids and the adults. If you are in the area this is a must see!

Beautiful area. Very informative!

Had a wonderful tour guide. The mystery of what really happened and the different theories was interesting. It makes you wonder what else is under the ground that hasn’t been found.

Hidden treasures at the end of a long dirt road. Air conditioned building with an incredible Bison antiquus death site. Excellent site with very knowledgeable rangers. And don't forget to practice your atlatl skills! Super fun for all ages!

Wonderful! The ranger was very enthusiastic and informative, and an intern did fun activities with my kids. This place is fascinating and well worth the visit!

Super interesting! Great rangers. They were open!

The Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center at Chadron State College was a surprisingly wonderful museum and a fantastic tribute to the legacy of Nebraska author Mari Sandoz. The exhibits and displays were thoughtfully laid out and provided great insight into the life and works of Ms. Sandoz. I especially liked the unique aspect of seeing clothing, furniture, and items that belonged to Ms. Sandoz. The museum also had other exhibits, including historic photos and artwork by modern artists. The gift shop/ bookstore had many of Sandoz' books available for purchase as well as many other books of historic and local interest. There is no fee for entering the museum, but there is a donation box to show your support. Regretfully, we did not get the name of the woman who welcomed us to the exhibit. She was very kind, friendly, and graciously shared some of her insight about Ms. Sandoz. Her passion for history was quite evident. While there, don't forget to visit the C.F. Coffee Gallery on the lower level.

We are descendants of Mari and came to check this out while here to visit other family. What a cool place to be able to further appreciate her legacy. What an incredible example of resilience and grit for the younger generations.

Great museum . Specific to one time period , area and person . But very well curated and kept .. worth the time if your passing through or if you live in the area

I found the curator extremely annoying. She spoke to us as if we were children. We wanted to view the exhibits, but, found it difficult to get away from her. I don't doubt that she is very knowledgeable, but her delivery was very aggravating.

They don't charge you for this but a donation helps them. The program coordinator, Laure Sinn, is great at her job. She was wonderful to talk to. She knew very knowledgeable about Mari Sandoz. She was very entertaining. We enjoyed talking to her and were very glad we stopped there.

Small museum on an older, beautiful campus. The staff's enthusiasm, knowledge, and admiration for Mari Sandoz was evident. The staff has many upcoming exhibitions and musical performances. Check on the Facebook page.

Had a tour of the campus which included a walkthrough of the Mari Sandoz Heritage Center. The attendant was very energetic and entertaining. They are working on some wonderful improvements. The displays were very interesting and the layout was easy to navigate.

A hidden gem, and not small, either. Deep dive into the history of the fur trade, lots of details. Many guns from that era on display. We enjoyed our visit!

I had been planning a visit to this museum for years, and I was not disappointed The museum is even larger than I expected and the artifacts are amazing There's a lot to do during your visit An impressive gift shop as well bring some money for gifts

A quick side trip on the way to the black hills. Lots of interesting historic memorabilia.

I love this museum, and it’s my husband’s favorite. We first visited in 2007, and since then have visited every few years. I’ve noticed how well maintained the museum is, and in fact I think the museum keeps improving. For one thing, it’s just the right size. For another, the displays are well labeled and understandable. My 8-year-old daughter read a lot of the information to us aloud as we walked through the exhibits. The gift shop here is one of my favorite museum shops, and the outdoor exhibit is beautifully situated.

Amazing collection, you'll be there awhile, the trading post is spot on!

Such a wonderful surprise. Jam packed with history and artifacts youd expect in a much larger museum. The audio tour was super helpful and we learned so much! If you’re a US history buff don’t miss it!

I was surprised at the extent of the collection here. This museum was definitely worth the entrance price. The section on trade blankets and how they were sized was especially interesting to me. If you like history you will enjoy this museum.

Such a cute museum of local town history. It’s much bigger than I expected. Each room was themed in their own way and I was like walking through time. A must stop for anyone.

We stopped by just to see what the museum had to offer since relatives lived in the town in 1910. The staff was very friendly and our grandchildren enjoyed the items on hand.

Very interesting and well kept. Gentlemen did a great job explaining things.

Very cute local museum. Takes about 30 min. Free. Local volunteer very informative!!

We loved this place. It's surprisingly large and has so many interesting things. And Sue is an absolute great guide. Highly recommended!

Stopped by on the way home from Custer and absolutely fell in love with this place! It truly was amazing to see soo many horses in one area, just roaming free, on safe grounds. If you check out their website you can donate, adopt a horse, or volunteer to help out. Makes my heart melt!

The Wild Horse Sanctuary is so amazingly neat amd always so cool to take a drive down the driveway to the gift shop, get pictures of the horses and beautiful scenery from all the various landscapes and topographic that encompass the area. I'm from Minnesota and I'm moving to some ranchalnd less than 5 miles from here so plan on spending more time visiting here as I absolutely love the country and horses!

Absolutely AMAZING! They only do one private tour per day, and it was worth every penny! We couldn’t even see everything cause it was bad weather and we would still highly recommend! Also, all the money goes back into the animals. It’s a not for profit and you can see they take very good care of all of the animals

What a great job these people are doing for the wild horses. Hundreds of horse everywhere. Make sure to stop into gift shop and take cash. They donate 3% to the wild horses care if you pay cash.

See rescued wild Mustangs and learn about there fight for survival. This facility provides a long-term home four wild horses. The tour was very nice, but a little pricey, at least it goes to a good cause. The wild turkeys were fun to see. And we got to admire an amazing Petroglyph panel and old school house (would have been nice to have gone in). We also got to see one of the locations for the filming of Hildago.

On Friday, June 13th, myself and 9 of my friends decided to run over to the horse sanctuary. We were visiting South Dakota from Texas for the week with our own personal horses. Long story short, someone at the camp we were staying at mentioned that there was a wild horse sanctuary. We decided to visit. We arrived there at 3:35pm. None of us are familiar with the sanctuary nor had we visited the website, etc. So we get there and a volunteer, Mo, asked if we had a reservation. We did not, nor did we know we needed one. Mo advised that they give 3 hour tours for $350 per person. With it being 3:35pm and they close at 5:00pm, we knew we could not do a tour. We were also leaving early the next morning to head back to Texas, so we could not schedule a tour the next day. So Mo then said that she could maybe do a short tour for our group for a total of $1,000. We had dinner plans with the rest of our group, so we asked Mo if she could maybe just drive us up the road to see some of the wild horses for $50 a person and we got an immediate, "No". Guess a quick $500 wasn't worth it to her. So then several of us asked Mo a few questions about the sanctuary. Since we can't get a short van ride, we can at least get some info...we thought. Mo was rude and short with us, almost like we were invading her time and we weren't welcome. Afterwards, we walked around the gift shop to see a few of the horses they have penned up, then left. We had no issue with not being able to get a short van ride; however, it was the rudeness of Mo that gruntled all in my group. Had she been polite, told us a bit about the sanctuary and not treated us poorly, all in my group would have left nice donations, as we all are horse people and know what it takes to care for horses. Even if you're a volunteer, you represent the sanctuary and should be polite and courteous.

Amazing place! I’d recommend doing a private tour. Our guide was excellent and his wealth of knowledge about the horses and the history made it well worth it.

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!

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!!

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.

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.

I really enjoyed touring around this quiet area. The shop had some very unique antiques, some of which I could imagine is worth a lot. The village itself had some buildings that were really in poor condition like the barbershop but it’s clear they are trying to remodel some of them. It’s a shame a bit that they left a lot of the carriages and other items out in the elements and they probably won’t last long since they aren’t maintained properly. There was nobody else here when we visited on a Sunday afternoon.

I really was excited to see this outdoor, old-west museum, but upon leaving I was extremely disappointed. First, all of the buildings need serious renovations or upkeep. Now I understand they are supposed to "look old" but a little maintenance would go a long way. The woman who checked me in did warn that some of the buildings were not authentic and that's fine, but it seemed only a handful were from an earlier time period. The big disappointment was the condition on the grounds. In a lot of places around the buildings the weeds were knee high. Plus they need to have some kind of path connecting the different "rows" of buildings. You have to walk through the grass, which needed cutting. I did love see the true old buildings. However, I've been to several of these types of museums and this one is the the worst of the bunch, sadly.

What you see here in this historical village are all original buildings and items that used to be part of the daily life of many settlers back in the days of cowboys and Indians.

Great place to visit. You get the old western town feel and a little history about the area. I recommend stopping if you are in the area. The lady that the entrance was so friendly and inviting. I was in town for Operation Black Hills Cabin. Thank you Four Mile Old West Town for supporting Operation Black Hills Cabin and for supporting wounded veterans. You are a true Patriot!

I enjoyed this experience alot and me and my family met the lady who I believed owned it and she was extremely nice and some very interesting story's. The town itself was fascinating especially because it is the site of an actual ghost town. If you enjoy ghost towns you will find this interesting.

We had so much fun wandering this "town"! The proprietors are insanely nice and we would recommend going!!! Some of our favorite buildings were the butcher shop and the sweet shop that showed so many old items. The church was amazing as well! If you love old furniture and history, then this place is for you!! They have about 80 buildings and we spent at least an hour and a half looking and reading the informational signs!

We met the owner and her daughter. They were very informative and very pleasant to talk to. I'd love to come back and visit with them again.

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.

This park is spectacular, the needles was so fun to experience. Loved we came in the fall the colors were pretty. Wildlife loop was hard to find so look for the Bison center, the round up had happened the weekend before so they were all there getting checked. The burrows made my day, they are just past the bison center.

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!

Please we know major attraction is bison/ Buffalo which roam freely around however we loved the donkeys burrows mules a the lil ones walk rifht up a want to be petted! Wonderful treat to just hang out an see them one lil ones walk rifht was even nursing ! Enjoy!

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.

We had a wonderful stay. We had 25 of us and each family was able to find somewhere to sleep with their own comfort level. Kids loved the playground and pool. We stayed in Calamity Jane log cabin and it was perfect for our family of 4. 10pm “curfew” was very much respected throughout the resort. I highly recommend for big family gatherings.

We had an incredible stay in the deluxe cabin with our kiddo and dog. The cabin was spacious for our needs however I would caution that the second room upstairs is accessible by a ladder which might be tough to manage for kids under 5/6. We had a great view of the mountains from our balcony and overall relaxed so much during our trip. Probably one of my favorite cabins we stayed in yet. The campground itself is very new, clean, and well-maintained. It is located right on the edge of town so we were able to reach food/grocery within 5 or so minutes and custer state park ~15 minutes. Around the campground, we saw so much staff ensuring it was clean and well-appointed. The pool and hot tub were very clean as well and the playground was very fun for young kids. Nights were quiet and the curfew was very much respected. We can't wait to make our way back.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Our family of three had a fantastic stay at Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort in Cabin 3! The cabin was the perfect size for us and was impressively built—my very picky husband, who builds homes for a living, was thoroughly impressed with the quality. It was stocked with everything we needed. The resort amenities were excellent, with pools, a hot tub, and a pool bar for refreshing drinks. The check in staff were great and very helpful. The grounds were meticulously maintained, providing a peaceful environment to unwind and soak in the great outdoors. We had such a wonderful experience and can't wait to return and try out a treehouse next time. Highly recommended!

We stayed for a week with our camper. Campsites are very nice. Plenty of room for big campers and your vehicle. Fire rings, concrete pads, playground and pool was great. I love that they let people and kids ride motorized atv’s and bikes around. Bathroom/shower rooms and laundry were so CLEAN!!! Washer and dryer each take $2.00 per cycle. Huge bonus, dryers actually dried in one cycle. The only thing that could be better was the customer service at the front desk. We talked to the same lady at the front desk multiple times (check in, getting coins for laundry, and bought ice cream), every single time she was so rude (dismissive attitude, acting like we were annoying her by asking for basic items). Every other employee that we talked to was absolutely wonderful. The women cleaning the bathroom/shower rooms are doing an absolutely fantastic job! We will definitely stay here on our next trip to Custer.

Traveling with our daughter and her family we have two sites side by side near the pool and playground. The view is phenomenal. Staying here midweek and it’s very quiet. Grounds and facilities are impeccable. Staff is friendly. Right next to Custer yet no road noise. We will return!

Excellent! Heated pool & hot tub were perfect & open after Labor Day. Grounds were well taken care of & RV sites were very nice. Location was perfect for our needs. Saw nothing lacking. Highly recommend.

Best place we have stayed in a 3 month trip around the USA. I would highly recommend for everyone. Lots for kids to do. Great trails to get your steps in, biking just about everywhere or running. Every type of camping or lodging you could want. The whole resort is beautiful. Very well maintained. Everywhere you go is spotless.

Fabulous museum! We were pleasantly surprised by all there was to see!!

Highly recommend this museum. Great history of the area and friendly staff. There are three floors and an outside display area. It very close to all the other activities in Custer. I was in town as part of Operation Black Hills Cabin. Thank you for supporting their program and for supporting wounded veterans.

Awesome museum! Honestly didn't think it would have so much information about Custer! Super interesting history of the city. Definitely kid friendly, the kids can do a scavenger hunt too. People should really see this museum while in Custer.

3 stories and has an outside portion, they have some very cool things in here, I don't want to spoil it for y'all but it is awesome! A museum i actually liked for once!

They are now open for the summer season ! Yay! I was excited for this and it was so cool to see stuff! Decent admission prices is a bonus. They have alot of stuff on early pioneers. Lots of stuff on local tribes, with native things actually marked as by specific tribes! Displays on logging,mining, taxidermy, government etc. I thought it was cool how detailed they are on the history of the artifacts. You can tell alot of work has gone into preserving this place. Yes, they do indeed have General Custers rifle.

It was full of historical items that you won't see anywhere else. It is a self guided tour, and don't miss the jail cell downstairs. They do have an elevator you can use.

Excellent museum. Possibly the best value in our vist to the Black Hills. Don't miss it.

An absolutely beautiful and challenging Trail ( the most popular spot). It links up with Trail number 4 that takes you to Black Elk Peak ( although I would recommend taking Trail number 4 to Black elk Peak for energy management) If you can't find a parking spot you can park on the shoulder of the Road ( be careful of scraping your car on a rock) DIFFICULT TRAIL (LARGE BLULDERS TO CLIMB)-- hiking poles *** highly recommended*** ( for going up and down) NOTE - trail #4 gets the job done w the same access to Cathedral Spires.

AMAZING TRAIL. Short hike but has a big incline and is rocky but very doable for most people. Get to go into the big tall rocks and walk in between them. Took us about 1-2 hours because we stopped and ate wild raspberries and climbed some of the features. Very very pretty. I would definitely make the stop.

A moderately strenuous but beautiful hike to see the Spires. It took us about an hour and 45 minutes since we stopped midway for lunch. We visited during the off-season in the last week of October, so it wasn’t crowded at all.

Omg what a beautiful hike. 2.2 miles out and back. 1 decent little rock scramble right about the half way point but so worth it to keep going. The spires at the top are amazing and the views along the trail and at the trail end are just awe inspiring. We started early to stay out of the heat. first half of trail is tree covered but last half is not. Will definately hike this one again!!!

One of my top 5 trails ever!! So beautiful and challenging in many areas but the payoff was amazing. We loved the 500 feet of elevation in approximately .9 miles with several fun scrambling areas. The weather was perfect and we went a little later in the day so we had the trail pretty much to ourselves.

One of the most beautiful hikes I’ve done! It’s a bit challenging at the beginning, but is relatively short, took us a little more than 1 hour to go up and back.

In August 2025, we visited the Cathedral Spires Trailhead in Custer State Park, South Dakota. The Cathedral Spires are part of the Needles Highway, which is a section of Custer State Park with world-class scenery and spectacular views. The Cathedral Spires Trailhead offers spectacular views of the Needles Cathedral Spires, which are thin vertical granite rock formations. Custer State Park is National Park worthy, and it is a treasured asset of South Dakota.

Amazing hike in Custer state park! We did the route counter clockwise hiking down the big boulders at the beginning instead of the end. The sparkly rocks in the trail earned it the nickname fairy dust forest with our girls. The views are incredible and topping off a long hike with ice cream at the store afterwards was the perfect end.

This is a challenging hike. You need good hiking shoes or boots. The first part of the hike can be crazy at times because you are holding on to the rails and climbing backwards down the rocks. The second half has switchbacks between the large rock faces. You have to be committed to seeing the trail through because there are no places to do a short cut other than to turn around and climb the crazy rock trail you came in on. But I would do it again, amazing!

Absolutely love this trail! Has lots of shade. We seen lots of squirrels, chipmunks, a woodpecker, snake and a mouse. Follows water for maybe half or more of the trail. We're 49 and manged to do the trail in 2hr 20min at a leisure pace. There are pretty big steps and boulders in sections, maybe 16-20" unless you have issues climbing steps that tall, it's great.

We accidentally stumbled upon this trail while hiking the sylvan lake trail. It was actually a great experience. We started with the railings and it was very fun. The rest of the trail was very nice, but the climb was quite long. I still highly recommend it.

The Black Hills and Custer State Park are some of the most beautiful areas we have ever been to. This hike was about 3 miles round trip and quite enjoyable. It starts at Sylvan Lake which is a sight to see as well. We did this hike in late June and there wasn't water on the trail as we hiked out like I had seen on a video. Still beautiful though and we had a great time!

What an incredible trail! I didn’t get to do this one the first time we visited Custer, so we finally returned 2 years later so I could check this one off the bucket list. I highly recommend hiking this trail counter clockwise. This allows you to start at the boulders with the metal railing. I was surprised at how far down into the gulch we dropped. The railing lasted a lot longer than I originally expected. The views are absolutely GORGEOUS! After you finally finish the boulder/metal railing portion, the hike flattens out for a while and then it is a steep climb back out. The hike wasn’t hard for me except for the fact that I am not used to hiking at this elevation as I live in the flatlands of Mississippi. Just take plenty of water, take your time and enjoy the incredible scenery that this area is the country is blessed with. Follow @thetravelingcabin on Instagram for more of my travels!

Awesome experience! We chose to take longer than recommended, as we meandered through the trails, stopped to listen to the wildlife and relax at the waterfalls. The delight of being present near the towering boulders and healing streams and waterfalls was well worth the trip. Do not rush through, savor your time in nature!

A great memory of days past and our Grand Kids first time to a drive-in movie, so we watched the PAW PATROL MOVIE Fun.... Oh yes it is a Double screen movie theater one on the west did and the other on the east side.......

This is a must see experience. We went here 2 years ago. Glad to see she is still up and running. Not sure if she will be down the line. 2 years ago there were no houses near his drive inn and now there are developments and housing etc. If you can go I definitely recommend for the nostalgia feeling!

Very cool experience for adults to kids. Prices for admission are fair. Popcorn was not the best almost tasted old and was burnt. They don't want you to bring in your outside food, but they need to make sure what they are serving is quality. Parking was a bit of a battle, we got there at least 45 min early, but had to park more on the side, the first place I tried to park I was yelled at by someone saying I couldn't park there. We had a mini van with 7 people and we're not able to park backwards like most people. The man told me the row I was in was for cars only (I thought it was only the 1st two rows) we were in at least the 3rd or 4th row. Any how later on other mini vans were parking in the same area so I guess that was karma for him. We brought a few blankets for the kids to sit outside on. We will go again, but hope for a better experience next time.

Perfect summer night in South Dakota and what to do? Why go to a drive-in movie! Visiting from the east and hasn’t been to a drive in in 30 years! Roy’s has 2 screens each with double features and you tune on the sound through your radio. Even had the dog with us in the van. Loved it!

How fun, haven't been to a drive in for years. Great place to take the kiddos

I loved this place! You got options when it comes to the movies and great food. If they have the walking tacos…GET THEM! They are amazing. I will come back every season! I don’t know if a lot of people know this but they have radios you can rent too for cheap if you don’t want to keep your car running. So convenient! Would highly recommend.

Love bringing the family to the drive in! Way better than the regular movies!

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!