But if you are interested in car-camping outside of a campground (what the Forest Service calls "primitive" or "dispersed camping") you will find it difficult (but not impossible). The Forest has many very nice public and private campgrounds, as other reviewers have attested. It is very difficult to camp anywhere without hearing traffic, chain saws, ATVs, barking dogs, loud music, etc. This National Forest also suffers from being a patchwork of public and private lands. The area has suffered from massive Pine Bark Beetle infestation and several recent fires, which have created wide areas of dead and dying trees. Compared to the Rocky Mountains, Sierras, or Cascades the Black Hills are much less spectacular. There is a large variety of outdoor activities such as camping, wildlife viewing, hiking, picnics, horse back riding, cave experiences, tourist attractions and more.Įasterners will be impressed by the Black Hills, westerners possibly not so much. We spent a week or so in the Black Hills area and enjoyed seeing the forest there. Of course with Custer State Park and several national parks such as Wind Cave, there is a wealth of outdoor activities to do in this area.Īlso, we enjoyed seeing the wildlife, such as bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and a variety of small animals such as prarie dogs, squirrels, and so forth. Some of the main items we enjoyed seeing included ġ) Harney Peak - tallest mountain in the area at 7,244 feetĢ) Palmer Gulch where we went for a chuck wagon meal and show There are granite peaks, canyons, lakes, and trout streams. In other areas there are forests that include aspen, oak, and birch. In this area, we enjoyed seeing numerous prarie dogs. We drove through and saw much of the Black Hills National Forest. The tens of thousands of acres are over-flowing with activities. Hike Black Elk Peak (highest point in the area), Ride the 1880 Train in Hill City, spelunk our caves. But, don't forget to get off of the main highways and drive some of the back roads and explore. Drives such as the Spearfish Canyon drive are second to none. Tourist attractions galore- Reptile Gardens, Horse Trail Rides, swimming, hiking, biking (Mickelson Trail 110 miles), fishing, game watching- buffalo, elk, prairie dogs, deer, antelope, turkeys, and on and on. Rushmore to Crazy Horse Memorial, from Jewel Cave to Wind Cave, and don't forget the 2nd largest state park in the United States- Custer State Park. There is SOOOO much to see and do, at the very least needs to be researched for your next trip. Tens of thousands of Harley Riders would beg to differ. Many times it is viewed as merely a pit-stop on the way to Yellowstone Park. The Black Hills of South Dakota is many times overlooked as a tourist destination.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |