One Hour Away...

The Black Hills cover an area 125 miles long and 65 miles wide. The name "Black Hills" comes from the Lakota words Paha Sapa, which mean "hills that are black". Seen from a distance, these pine-covered hills, rising 4,000 feet above the surrounding prairie, appear black. They encompass rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams, deep blue lakes, and unique caves. The forest is dominated by ponderosa pine, but also includes dense spruce stands and areas of aspen, birch and oak.

Travelers have long come to the pine forests of the Black Hills to find relief from the summer sun and winter winds of the plains. Shady campgrounds provide a place to rest after a long day of hiking, fishing, or trail riding. In winter, the canyons and plateaus of the northern Black Hills are traversed by first-class snowmobile and ski trails. Mount Rushmore National Monument and Devils Tower National Monument are found adjacent to or near the Black Hills National Forest.

The Black Hills Forest Visitors Center at Pactola Reservoir provides a wealth of information about the forest. Hike on a self-guided nature trail near the Center. Boat, swim, windsurf and fish in the reservoir. Bismark, Deerfield, Sheridan and Stockade Lakes are also open for boating and fishing.

The historic 1880 Train runs on a regular schedule four times per day between Hill City and Keystone. The train winds up a beautiful canyon along Battle Creek past Oblivion and then back down to Hill City.

Established as a camp for the CCC in the 1930s, the Black Hills Playhouse is now a popular entertainment stop. The camp was converted to a playhouse in 1940 by drama professor, Doc Lee. Located right off the Byway on State Highway 87, the Black Hills Playhouse is a place to get a little local culture mixed in with the high culture of the theater.

The 10,000-acre Black Elk Wilderness is located near Mount Rushmore in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. In addition to the 111-mile Centennial Hiking Trail, the Forest has two National Recreation Trails. The Flume and the Lost Cabin National Recreation Trails both feature scenic and historic sites. From the lookout at Harney Peak, visitors have a bird's-eye view of the Forest and a panoramic view of four states - South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana.

The Crazy Horse Memorial is the Black Hills', second colossal mountain carving. Work on this privately run memorial has been going on for more than 50 years and is expected to continue for another 50. Visitors often have a chance to see work in progress as blasting and drilling activity is frequent. The monument can be viewed from Highway 385 between Custer and Hill City.

With a population of 60,441, Rapid City is the largest community in the Black Hills, and located just an hour's drive from Hot Springs. There you'll find a variety of museums, art galleries, night time entertainment and excellent shopping, both in the historic downtown district and the Rushmore Mall. Storybook Island is a free attraction, sponsored by the Rapid City Rotary Clubs and supported by free will donations. Nursery rhymes come to life in animated and real life scenes. Skyline drive, with its gigantic dinosaur scluptures, provides a spectacular view of the city.