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Surrounded by the Black Hills of South Dakota, carved out of granite, Mount Rushmore sits at 5,725 feet above sea level. Remarkably, each president’s face is 60 feet high, with each nose measuring about 20 feet long! Nearly 3 million visitors flock to the Black Hills to see this amazing monument every summer.

The Grand View Terrace is one of the best places from which to see Mount Rushmore, and is at the end of the Avenue of Flags, with flags from all 50 states. 

The memorial park covers over 1,200 acres, with many hiking trails. The Presidential Trail is a 0.6-mile walking trail, with 422 stairs, that offers up-close and different views at each face. The Blackberry Trail is a one mile gravel trail that connects with the Centennial Trail in the Black Elk Wilderness in the Black Hills National Forest.

Make sure to visit the National Park’s website to learn more and plan your visit.

Stretching 109 miles, the length of the Black Hills, the George S. Mickelson Trail is perfect for a long afternoon walk or bike ride.  

It follows an abandoned railroad track and winds among some of the most beautiful terrain the Hills has to offer.  There are 15 trailheads where the trail can be accessed and it tops out at 6,100 feet above sea level, but has a gentle grade, making it a leisurely ride for most.  

To find a map, with trailhead points, learn more here.  Bikes can be rented in Hill City, from which point you can ride to the trailhead and begin your journey, whether it be for an hour or all afternoon. 

A Lakota war leader of the Oglala band in the 19th century, Crazy Horse took up arms against the U.S. federal government to fight against encroachment by white American settlers on Native American territory. He fought to preserve the traditional way of life of the Lakota people.

The Crazy Horse Memorial’s mission is to protect and preserve the culture, tradition, and living heritage of the North American Indians.  

While this carving is still in process, the finished sculpture will be 563 feet high and 641 feet long!  

Stay until after sunset to see the multimedia laser light show.  Learn more on their website. 

This quaint, mountain town is bursting with activity. Just 3 miles from Mount Rushmore, this town has it all from shopping to restaurants to kids activities.

Spend the afternoon playing mini golf at Holy Terror. Or, instead, you could choose to be suspended in the trees on zip line or suspended bridge. Or slide down the mountain on an alpine slide at Rushmore Tramway Adventures or Mountain Rush Adventure Park.  

Make sure to grab some ice cream or purchase trinkets or souvenirs from the local shops. 

Bears, elk, and buffalo, and many other animals can all be enjoyed from the safety of your vehicle at Bear Country.   

The Wildlife Walk area has daily activities that are sure to place every age.  Bear Country is on the way to Rapid City, which provides a host of shops, restaurants, and activities.