How to hit the Hills
Food scene
Best ice cream in the Black Hills - homemade waffle cones are amazing!
21 locals recommend
Leones' Creamery
722 N Main StBest ice cream in the Black Hills - homemade waffle cones are amazing!
Bison burgers are a must in the black hills - get there early, they close when they run out. Hot granny is my fave!
80 locals recommend
Black Hills Burger and Bun Co
441 Mt Rushmore RdBison burgers are a must in the black hills - get there early, they close when they run out. Hot granny is my fave!
Great for lunch - love the spaetzle for dinner. Massive dessert menu. Cash/check only.
135 locals recommend
Alpine Inn
133 Main StreetGreat for lunch - love the spaetzle for dinner. Massive dessert menu. Cash/check only.
Flavor changes every several days. Our faves are blackberry and strawberry butter when available.
32 locals recommend
Armadillo's Ice Cream Shoppe
130 Main StFlavor changes every several days. Our faves are blackberry and strawberry butter when available.
Local fave for date night - good drink selection. I get the salmon on salad.
69 locals recommend
Murphy's Pub and Grill
510 9th StLocal fave for date night - good drink selection. I get the salmon on salad.
Barbacoa's
305 W Jackson BlvdWe get this to go and eat at Spearfish City Park up the street.
Amazing local sweets - make sure to take a pic with the Chipmunk!
24 locals recommend
Chubby Chipmunk Hand-Dipped Chocolates
420 Cliff StAmazing local sweets - make sure to take a pic with the Chipmunk!
Love this cute shop - have some acai bowls and a custom coffee/tea like a peaches and cream latte for a yummy breakfast before your day of adventuring
46 locals recommend
Harriet & Oak
329 Main StLove this cute shop - have some acai bowls and a custom coffee/tea like a peaches and cream latte for a yummy breakfast before your day of adventuring
Homestyle food with caramel rolls that locals roll over for. Get there early for those bad boys!
46 locals recommend
Colonial House Restaurant and Bar
2315 Mt Rushmore RdHomestyle food with caramel rolls that locals roll over for. Get there early for those bad boys!
If your a beans over brews person, check out this place. They are sold around town - love their caramel coffee but they make a nice selection for any preference.
Dark Canyon Coffee Co
324 East BlvdIf your a beans over brews person, check out this place. They are sold around town - love their caramel coffee but they make a nice selection for any preference.
City/town information
College town with a quaint downtown area. Lots of neat shops and local restaurants. Take the Scenic Byway to or from this town and enjoy a treat at the end. Don't miss - Spearfish Falls, Savoy Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and if you're up for adventure, Devil's Bathtub (beware poison ivy in summer months). Ask me for details on lesser known trails that I like!
72 locals recommend
Spearfish
College town with a quaint downtown area. Lots of neat shops and local restaurants. Take the Scenic Byway to or from this town and enjoy a treat at the end. Don't miss - Spearfish Falls, Savoy Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and if you're up for adventure, Devil's Bathtub (beware poison ivy in summer months). Ask me for details on lesser known trails that I like!
The true home of Mt Rushmore, now featuring a very large Sasquatch carved by the Dahl brothers. Take 40 out of Keystone to hike Hippie Hole or to ride motorcycles down playhouse road.
36 locals recommend
Keystone
The true home of Mt Rushmore, now featuring a very large Sasquatch carved by the Dahl brothers. Take 40 out of Keystone to hike Hippie Hole or to ride motorcycles down playhouse road.
Sturgis
Home of many collector rallies - motorcycles, corvettes, mustangs, etc.
Sightseeing
Super tiny town but you should drive from the airport to Interior if you want the scenic route to the Badlands
Interior
Super tiny town but you should drive from the airport to Interior if you want the scenic route to the Badlands
Home of Devil's Tower. Drive from Rapid to Belle Fouche and on to Hulett from there for a more scenic drive to this national monument.
Hulett
Home of Devil's Tower. Drive from Rapid to Belle Fouche and on to Hulett from there for a more scenic drive to this national monument.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
13000 South Dakota 244I mean, you can't come here and skip this.
The Notch trail is my favorite. Wonderful views. Feed prairie dogs on the way out of Badlands on your way to Wall Drug.
163 locals recommend
Badlands National Park
The Notch trail is my favorite. Wonderful views. Feed prairie dogs on the way out of Badlands on your way to Wall Drug.
Fun for kids but also a nice place to eat takeout and see beautiful city views.
79 locals recommend
Dinosaur Park
940 Skyline DrFun for kids but also a nice place to eat takeout and see beautiful city views.
Canyon Lake Park
4181 Jackson BlvdGreat for kids, playgrounds, scenery, fishing, and paddle boats.
Another national monument to check off your list if you're a collector - a bit of a drive from Rapid, take i-90 to Belle Fouche and on to Hulett for a more scenic route
61 locals recommend
Devils Tower
Another national monument to check off your list if you're a collector - a bit of a drive from Rapid, take i-90 to Belle Fouche and on to Hulett for a more scenic route
My favorite place to get out on the kayak - no wake and a big area to putz around in.
Jenney Gulch Picnic Area
My favorite place to get out on the kayak - no wake and a big area to putz around in.
Hikes
I have a plethora of suggestions here as I have hiked many trails in the area. Hit the highlights here but talk to me for some more remote hikes or specific scenery interests.
Short & sweet. Historic balloon launch site with beautiful views for those looking for a hike that takes less time. In the fall once a year, local hot air balloons launch from here.
18 locals recommend
Stratobowl Rim Trailhead
13600 S Highway 16Short & sweet. Historic balloon launch site with beautiful views for those looking for a hike that takes less time. In the fall once a year, local hot air balloons launch from here.
Beautiful hike in Custer State Park. Diverse scenery and an interesting story behind this hike's name.
7 locals recommend
Lovers Leap Trail
U.S. 16ABeautiful hike in Custer State Park. Diverse scenery and an interesting story behind this hike's name.
More commercialized over the years but still a very unique hike in our Black Hills. Get up early to beat the crowds and enjoy this place all to yourself.
38 locals recommend
Devils Bath Tub Trail
1917 Spearfish Canyon HwyMore commercialized over the years but still a very unique hike in our Black Hills. Get up early to beat the crowds and enjoy this place all to yourself.
Family friendly hike alongside creek - some small swimming holes if you hunt them out. Attaches to small Dalton Lake at one end. Reach this from I-90 to Piedmont.
8 locals recommend
Little Elk Creek Trailhead
Little Elk Creek RoadFamily friendly hike alongside creek - some small swimming holes if you hunt them out. Attaches to small Dalton Lake at one end. Reach this from I-90 to Piedmont.
Notch Trailhead
South Dakota 240The most scenic of the shorter Badlands Hikes.
Closest out of town hike from my house - nice scenery, pretty quiet. Good place to enjoy some peace of mind. Also mountain biking trails nearby.
Coon Hollow Trailhead
Closest out of town hike from my house - nice scenery, pretty quiet. Good place to enjoy some peace of mind. Also mountain biking trails nearby.
Ask me which way to go on this one as there are two trails - beware, lots of poison ivy on this one. Unavoidable in the summer.
6 locals recommend
Hippie Hole
Ask me which way to go on this one as there are two trails - beware, lots of poison ivy on this one. Unavoidable in the summer.
My favorite of the Badlands hikes. Do not go if you fear heights or are unable to climb a steep incline. My 8 year old niece did do this one but monitor children carefully as steep dropoffs with no handrails.
Notch Trailhead
South Dakota 240My favorite of the Badlands hikes. Do not go if you fear heights or are unable to climb a steep incline. My 8 year old niece did do this one but monitor children carefully as steep dropoffs with no handrails.
Brews and Pours
The lineup for our local area.
My favorite winery! Not sold in town anywhere - great for sweeter wine drinkers. I love the cherry and blackberry wines. They do have some nice table whites/reds as well.
Naked Winery
692 Main StMy favorite winery! Not sold in town anywhere - great for sweeter wine drinkers. I love the cherry and blackberry wines. They do have some nice table whites/reds as well.
Super cute venue on the same property as the beautiful and massively popular Prairie Berry winery. Sometimes igloos here during the cooler months. Try the wheats.
31 locals recommend
Miner Brewing Company
23845 US-385Super cute venue on the same property as the beautiful and massively popular Prairie Berry winery. Sometimes igloos here during the cooler months. Try the wheats.
Has my dad's seal of approval and he's a beer man - always a food truck here. Scope it out on their FB page.
6 locals recommend
Zymurcracy Beer Co.
4624 Creek DrHas my dad's seal of approval and he's a beer man - always a food truck here. Scope it out on their FB page.
El Fiz here is great for a summer drink; nice selection, get a flight. Venue is probably the coolest in town.
23 locals recommend
Hay Camp Brewing Company
601 Kansas City StEl Fiz here is great for a summer drink; nice selection, get a flight. Venue is probably the coolest in town.
Dakota Point Brewing
405 Canal StSome fun brews here - best porters in town
Cohort Craft Brewery
4905 5th StreetNewest brew in town - I dig the mead
Saisons and IPA for the win here. You can buy a 6er but they sell out quick!
64 locals recommend
Lost Cabin Beer Co.
1401 W Omaha StSaisons and IPA for the win here. You can buy a 6er but they sell out quick!
Great local wines here. Mythical Beasts has been on my rotating pours lately. Great reds too. - I recommend foregoing the brewery and restaurant under the same name.
14 locals recommend
Firehouse Wine Cellars
620 Main StGreat local wines here. Mythical Beasts has been on my rotating pours lately. Great reds too. - I recommend foregoing the brewery and restaurant under the same name.
The largest winery location in our area - immensely popular. They have some great apparel. Top picks from here are the Red/Rose Ass, Calamity Jane, and Phat Hog.
83 locals recommend
Prairie Berry Winery
23837 US-385The largest winery location in our area - immensely popular. They have some great apparel. Top picks from here are the Red/Rose Ass, Calamity Jane, and Phat Hog.