South Dakota Badlands, Mount Rushmore & Black Hills Hiking Tour

Meet in the lobby of your host hotel in Rapid City for a quick orientation before setting out for Badlands National Park. Make a short stop enroute at the famous roadside attraction, Wall Drug; after all, no South Dakota Road trip would be complete without it! After a quick cup of their famous 5-cent coffee, head for Sage Creek Rim Road. Winding its way through the park, this scenic road provides incredible views and the occasional (and welcomed) roadblock known as a “bison jam.” Your mellow hike today allows you to truly immerse yourself in this remarkable landscape while doing a little exploration on the Badlands' colorful bedrock. Late this afternoon, tour the park's impressive visitor center before arriving at the historic and quaint Cedar Pass Lodge, the only lodge inside the park. Have dinner at the lodge's restaurant before settling into your private cabin for the night.

Rise early this morning and enjoy the sunrise over the badlands from the inviting, handcrafted pine chairs on your patio. Today you'll hike the winding point to point Castle Trail through an alien landscape full of intriguing geology and vast prairie lands with opportunities to see bighorn sheep and prairie dogs. After this hike, say goodbye to Badlands National Park and head over to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, a unique relic of the Cold War where the peaceful prairie seems at odds with the devastating power it once held. This afternoon, travel west toward the lush forests and jagged granite peaks of the Black Hills. Settle into your comfortable lodging in Custer or Custer State Park, your home for the next four nights.

Today you'll explore one of the largest caves in the world at Jewel Cave National Monument. Inside the cavern, follow a mile-long paved path surrounded by sparkling calcite crystals, dripping stalactites and stalagmites, and glossy flowstone. After your cave exploration, enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by your guide, then hike the monument's only above-ground trail through canyons and meadows. Late this afternoon, visit the unfinished, incredible, Crazy Horse Memorial. Once completed, this imposing stone carving of the famous Lakota leader will be over three times the size of Mount Rushmore. Tour the extensive museum and take a rustic bus ride right to the base of the mountain. End your day with dinner in Custer where your guide shares what exciting adventures await you tomorrow.

Today's hike takes you to the arresting Cathedral Spires, striking granite pinnacles named for their resemblance to the organ pipes in a cathedral. These unique rock formations were chosen as the original canvas for Mount Rushmore, but it was quickly discovered the rock was too thin to support the massive edifice that sculptor Gutzon Borglum envisioned. This afternoon, you'll soak in the incredible views on the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway as you make your way to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Delight in different views of this national treasure as you follow the Presidential Trail, stopping at the Sculptor's Studio along the way. Enjoy dinner together in Custer this evening.

This morning, you'll explore another mysterious underground labyrinth. The shimmering calcite crystals of Jewel Cave are replaced with the extremely rare, delicate boxwork formations found in Wind Cave. Before your ranger-led cave tour, hike a short trail to appreciate the magic above ground in the vast mixed-grass prairie. After your illuminative cave walk, enjoy a final meal together while you discuss all the intriguing and distinct differences between these two caves. For your last adventure, explore a different kind of underground treasure, the Mammoth Site, an active paleontological dig site that has uncovered the remains of more than 60 mammoths. This afternoon, return to your host hotel in Rapid City, recounting all the incredible things you've done and seen the past several days.

Begin your final morning with a stroll through Rapid City’s Memorial Park, where two original sections of the Berlin Wall stand alongside Cold War-era tank traps, bringing this pivotal chapter of 20th-century history to life. Then head downtown to explore Rapid City’s playful “City of Presidents,” a collection of life-size bronze presidential statues placed along the sidewalks and street corners of the city center. Wander among familiar faces, pose for a photo with a favorite president, and enjoy a final look at this lively city. Afterward, depart for home with memories of your time in this spectacular region of the United States.