Day Trips and Adventures
There is a huge list of attractions, parks, trails, streams, and caves to visit in the Black Hills of South Dakota. SmartAlec guides work on most of the major highways as you travel around. We've helped develop 5-6 day trips with color-coded routes that will help you experience more. Add a SmartAlec to the mix and you'll see more , learn more, and have more adventures during your vacation.
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The Yellow route, or the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, is named one of the 10 Most Outstanding Byways in America. It rises, falls, bends and twists its way for a 71 mile trip around Harney Peak. Spend the entire day visiting Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park and Crazy Horse Memorial PLUS wildlife upclose, scenic granite tunnels, picturesque lakes and mile high views.
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Start at the Journey Museum in Rapid City, SD and begin a 1 hour scenic tour of Rapid City. You'll have a chance to visit over 10 attractions, parks and museums. Learn history, find Dinosaur Park, visit historic downtown for shopping, restaurants, museums and galleries. You can at least 30 min to 1 hour at each stop.
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Central Black Hills - Orange Route 78 mi
65+ SmartAlec Tour Comments and Stories
This route is an excellent option for a family day trip with the kids. Including Mt. Rushmore, there’s over 25 attractions ranging from outdoor animal parks to deep dark caves. There’s also lots of shopping and dinning along the way as you pass through Keystone, Hill City, and Rapid City.
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Northern Black Hills - Blue Route - 83 miles
50+ SmartAlec Tour Comments and Stories
- Spearfish Canyon, the jewel of the Northern Black Hills. Find beautiful waterfalls, babbling creeks, and trails.
- Deadwood, SD, the entire town is National Historic Landmark and takes you back in time on its cobblestone streets and saloon facades.
- Lead, SD, site of the Homestake Gold Mine, the largest gold mine in the western hemisphere until it closed in 2002.
- Sturgis, SD, home of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Sturgis Motorcycle Museum, Forte Meade, and Bear Butte State Park.
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Follow the 35 mile Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park and your bound to find buffalo, antelope, coyotes, deer and even some barking prairie dogs.
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Southern Black Hills - Purple Route - 78 miles
40+ Smartalec Tour Comments and Stories
Filled with natural hot springs, prehistoric dinosaur digs, and wild horses. Wind Cave National Park is an easy trip from Custer State Park or Hot Springs. You'll find heards of buffalo and towns of prairie dogs inside the park. Visit Wind Cave, the 4th longest cave in the world!
Visit Hot Springs, SD, named an official 2009 Distinctive Destination. It's home to great attractions like the Mammoth Site, Evans Plunge, and the Wild Horse Sanctuary. Enjoy the sandstone architecture downtown.
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Combine your SmartAlec adventure with your own personal treasure hunt in the treasure-filled Black Hills. You could win a $1,000.00 gold coin! Click here for more
Legend has it that General Custer stashed gold all over the Black Hills and kept a secret book of maps, pictures and cryptic clues to help recover the gold. He never made it back alive to retrieve it. Use Custer's Book of Secrets to experience the Black Hills and find the lost gold! Starts at Fort Hays!
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Make reservations for your SmartAlec Adventure Guide
toll free 888-304-8997 - local 605-348-4456
Check out our packages available at our Prices page
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