Additional contributions by Katherine Englishman and Ellen Eberhardt.
With the dramatic terrain of Wyoming and Montana directly west and the plains of Minnesota farther east, the Midwestern state of South Dakota has its own dynamic landscape that might not be on your radar—but it should!
After visiting for my first time last spring I have to say, South Dakota might just be the most underrated state in the Union. The list of things to do in South Dakota is expansive, especially for outdoor lovers—I'm talking fly fishing, rock climbing, caving, hiking, camping, mountain biking, and of course, motorcycle riding and road tripping. Believe it or not, there’s skiable terrain there, too. Not to mention endless cute little vacation rentals, RV sites, and towns to explore.
South Dakota is rich in terrain, too. Badlands National Park offers a Mars-like experience and can easily be explored in a day by car with minimal effort. But the real draw for me and millions of others each year is the Black Hills National Forest at the center of it all (and Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial at the center of that).
The striking Black Hills National Forest is a diverse area which runs 110 miles long and 70 miles wide full of Aspens, Ponderosa Pines, canyons, lakes, and dramatic jagged mountain peaks. With three different mountain ranges—Elk Mountains, Bear Lodge Mountains, and the largest, Black Hills—it’s a popular destination for outdoor adventures.
Field Mag's Top Black Hills Cabin Rentals
- Tiny A-Frame — Custer, SD
- Greystone — Deadwood, SD
- Spring Creek Cabin — Hill City, SD
- Red Canyon Ranch — Custer, SD
- Creek Front Cabin — Rapid City, SD
- Gold Rush Treehouse — Custer, SD
- Grey Wolf Outpost — Custer, SD
- The Outback — Lead, SD
- Black Hills Bungalows — Custer, SD
- The Notch Cabin — Keystone, SD
- Modern A-Frame — Lead, SD
- Coyote Ridge Lodge — Spearfish, SD
- Mid-century Bungalow — Rapid City, SD
Photo by Field Mag
How to Visit the Black Hills
You'll want to fly into Rapid City in the northwestern corner of the state. Here I suggest you get a rental car and book a hotel room in town for the night (the Hotel Alex Johnson is historic and reportedly haunted... and has a nice rooftop bar that I highly recommend). Rapid City has some great brew pubs, diners, upscale restaurants and coffee shops worth visiting on the way in or out of town.
From there I suggest making a road trip plan and hitting the road—he Black Hills are best explored on two or four wheels. The historical mining towns of Custer and Deadwood still echo with murmurs of “there’s gold in them there hills” and Spearfish offers beautiful views and outdoor recreation opportunities. Take a short drive east, and you can easily visit the otherworldly Badlands National Park, famous for its layered sandstone filled with fossils and mixed-grass prairies.
Before statehood this was Dakota Territory, inhabited by the Sioux tribes, until the greed of the 1800s gold rush, wars, and railroad construction pushed them out into reservations that still exist today. Thankfully, the region has begun to grapple with it's cruel history and more efforts are made each year to celebrate its Native American heritage. Keep this in mind when traveling—it's always good to acknolwedge the land we recreate on.
When to visit the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Parks
The best time for a Black Hills vacation depends on your choice of thrills (for example: motorcycle lovers flock every early August for the Sturgis Rally... if that's not you then best steer clear). Take advantage of the hiking, biking, and paddling during its warmer months by visiting between May and October. For the best skiing—yes, skiing—visit during the winter months to experience Terry Peak’s prodigious, and oftentimes, unexpected snowfall.
As for Mount Rushmore and the Badlands National Park, plan a visit in the shoulder seasons, as you'll skip the summer crowds and hot weather—although make sure to the check the weather as temps can be variable.
Wherever and whenever you’re going, if you’re planning to venture out to the midwest, here are 13 of the best Black Hills cabin rentals in the stunning state of South Dakota.
