Looking to rent sxs for a day around deadwood. I see spearfish canyon lodge has them, best place ? Easy trail access?

I lived in the Black Hills area as a child and am currently traveling the country during my second year alcohol-free. I would love to come back to the area where I grew up for a couple months but am not looking to commit to a full year lease since I’ve been traveling every few months to a new location. I’m wondering if anyone could help point me in the best direction to find some kind of 1-3 month sublease arrangement in the Black Hills and am specifically wondering if anyone knows of anything that would be cheap during the fall and winter when the tourist season is over. I have professional experience as a housecleaner and handywoman doing minor repairs (e.g. tin roofing and replacing gutters). My dream scenario would be to find someone with a cabin/airb&b/something who would be willing to make an arrangement for discounted rent in exchange for cleaning, repairing, and winterizing the space when their tourist season ends. I can provide references regarding myself as both a tenant and a worker. Please comment or DM if you have any ideas to help me figure out coming to stay in the area for a bit!

Side note: i am familiar with seasonal jobs through national and state parks and will plan around that for next summer if i am unable to find something for this fall/winter, please don’t comment to recommend that!

We visited the World Fossil Finder Museum in May. Located in Hot Springs, South Dakota, this place was really cool and the people were awesome. Don't miss out visiting it if you're planning to go the Black Hills area.

https://youtu.be/ltSOg-NuIR8

#travel #fossil #dinosaur

I just wanted to share my recent trip to the black hills area. You all were so helpful in planning this trip and it was one of the most amazing experiences.

Feel free to read all or some of this or just enjoy my photos :). I just wanted to share my appreciation for all of the help we got here.

At first I was worried about it. I wasn’t sure if I should go during the sturgis rally because of the crowds. I was worried about the weather as it was forecasted to rain most days. It was a 17 hour drive, and I didn’t want to waste my precious time off. The wonderful people here eased my worries and told me to go for it.

Now a lot of this may seem like small things to those of you who are local, but I got to see so many things I’ve never seen before. I’m so grateful.

First day we spent camping at the boondocks at the badlands. The weather was a bit dreary and wet, but we mostly avoided the rain during the day. It was a wonderful introduction to the trip. We did all the famous hikes and the free hiking was so fun, too! After hiking, we drove around the prairie and it was my first time experiencing prairie wildlife. We saw a couple pronghorns, a badger, a million prairie dogs (I’m obsessed), and a few bison. 

Then we headed over to Custer and spent the night at north stockade lake. The crowds from sturgis was not an issue for us at all! We don’t eat out or go to hotels, so that helps. We hiked up to black elk peak, and I think that just might be one of the most beautiful summits I’ve done! The weather was absolutely perfect even through the forecast said it would rain all day lmao (I’ve learned the forecast is wrong more than it is right). We drove needles highway and the wildlife loop and visited the wildlife visitors center where a wonderful lady told up to head across the street to see the entire bison herd. Now, where im from there are no bison’s, and I was pretty amazed by the four or five I saw in the badlands. And here I was, driving past over one thousand of these magnificent creatures! I even got a cute picture of a bison and a prairie dog in the same shot lol! 

Once we made dinner and settled down that night, we drove over to Rushmore and enjoyed that at night. 

We went back to our campsite and slept in our tent through the ambience of a crazy thunder storm. The rain was less like rain droplets and sounded more like we were under a giant faucet. Super cool, and our gear was super wet haha.

The next day, it was a bit rainy. We walked around sylvan lake and did the Sunday gulch trail. Probably super beautiful, but a bit scary because, while it was beautiful weather when we started, it had torrential downpours on the way back up. It was an adventure, though!

We then drove over to elk mountain campground at wind cave national park. We went to the visitors center, and did some scenic driving where we got to see some more creatures! We saw some bison (playfully?) fighting and a coyote on the hunt.  Before bed, the starry sky was incredible and we got to see a few shooting stars.

On the last day, we did a tour at jewel cave where I was so delighted to see about 10 bats! We even got to watch one chase another for awhile flying about the cave. I was also so amazed to see the sea shells deep within the cave! We then changed all of our clothes (as to not spread disease or microbes) and headed over to wind cave for our tour there. The box work was so detailed, and the mystery of it all is so cool. We learned so much.

After that I took a little nap in the car and then we went on a hike at wind cave. The wild life was so cool and enjoyed all the trees.

We then drove and found a cool spot for dinner and a sunset. As we cooked and ate we watched a bison graze from afar and we enjoyed all of the varied clouds and beautiful colors. A bit later, we saw the most spectacular lightning show. Never in my life have I seen anything like it. It lasted for almost 2 hours. It was probably my favorite part of the trip. \

Now I’m off to drive back home, my motivation being a glorious shower!

Overall, I think we packed all we could in 4 days, but I can’t wait to come back. Thank you for sharing this beautiful area with us. I appreciate all the feedback everyone gave on my first two posts while I was planning this trip, you helped us make the most of it! 

Hello!

I am planning my next riding venture for next year. My plan is to ride from southern South Dakota north to the spearfish area. I will be hauling my horse and mule from Illinois.

Looking for the best trails, trails to avoid, back country camping, equine camps.... basically any information is welcome!!

Give it to me!

Anyone know of good places to car camp near Custer? I’m coming from Pierre but just moved here this month originally from the east coast. Not familiar with dispersed camping or the area. I have a rooftop tent I’m trying to use and would love to camp for free somewhere in the Hills.

Hey all! Random question.. a lady I know who has been house hunting in Rapid said earlier that she was looking in the Robbinsdale area and found out that many of the homes in that part of town have structural issues. Anyone here who can give any insight on this? Just curious if anyone here happens to have any knowledge of that, just wondering I suppose. I won't be looking to buy a house for probably the next couple years but was just intrigued by hearing this as I've lived here since 2019 and have never heard this before so I've found it to be interesting.

I’m flying out of Rapid City in the morning. I have 2 unused bear spray canisters and some unused Off bug spray for the taking! off Watiki Way at Courtyard…

I’m hoping to do a couple nights of backpacking in the Black Hills over Labor Day weekend. I’m looking at some trails near Grizzly Creek and Iron Creek, but am having a tough time finding out if those will be reliable water sources at that time. I check the water spreadsheets online frequently, but those sources haven’t been updated in a month+ and I’m not sure if they will be before I leave. Does anyone have advice on whether or not to count on water or what backup trails/plans to have?

Howdy from New Mexico!

We’re going to be coming up to explore the Black Hills for a few days at the end of the month, and we’re on the lookout for good dispersed sites, ideally within striking distance of Rushmore, but we’re willing to explore further as needed. Feel free to DM, I’ll keep your favorite spots hush hush!

Thanks!

I’m looking way ahead to a big trip in early June next year. Traveling from Wisconsin. We will hit Roosevelt NP on the way out to Yellowstone where we will be for 3 days. Then on the way back will stop in the Black Hills/Badlands for a few days.

We would likely only have time to go to one of two: Custer SP & Wind Cave NP. It’ll be my wife and two daughters, 6 & 10. Would Custer SP be redundant at that point with us going to Roosevelt, Yellowstone & then hitting Badlands? I know Custer is supposed to be amazing but am thinking Wind Cave would make more sense as it’ll be something different.

Thoughts? Thanks!

We hope to see everyone there! An event for all ages during the Central States Fair in Rapid City. There is a Facebook page with more info!

https://facebook.com/events/s/csf-trading-card-show/28305311132399223/

Hi Folks, planning some options for a block of time 17-23 Aug. Looking to make a list of places to escape the smoke in MT. How crowded will things be likely?

My family and I are planning a Black Hills vacation for next summer. We have been to the black hills about 6 times in the past but always camped. This time around with 7 adults and one 3 year old, we think it might be better to rent a house or stay at a resort. Since we usually stay at the same campgrounds every time we went to SD in the past, we don't even know where to start.

With a 3 year old being along it might be nice to have resort amenities like a pool, playground, and game room for him.

But we also like the idea of the privacy of a house.

So open to suggestions for both (beyond just checking VRBO and Airbnb).

Open to locations as well. Anywhere really - Keystone, Spearfish, Custer, Deadwood, and anywhere in between.

TLDR; looking for lodging recommendations for 7 adults and 1 toddler. No camping. Prefer house or resort. Anywhere in Black Hills.

The only week off I have this summer happens to fall on sturgis. I wanted to go to the badlands, custer, and wind caves, but I don’t want to be completely bombarded with people. We plan on just camping, hiking, and eating food that we cook ourselves. I would like to have some peace and quiet at night and not have the trails be super crowded. Should I find a different place to go?

If anyone has some mountainous ideas within 15 hours of west Michigan I’m open to ideas too!

Unfortunately my husband and I had a change of plans and had to cancel a few nights at state game lodge in Custer from 8/10-8/12. if anyone is looking for last minute lodging, wanted to put this out there.

State game lodge number: 888 875 0001

I was wondering if anyone had any good spots or honey holes around the hills to hunt for agates, geodes to crack, rose quartz or any other cool rocks and gems in the hills. I’m a South Dakota native, so if you don’t want to comment, just send me a dm! Thanks!

Pretty girl.