Rushmore and More

For anyone kicking around the idea of visiting the Black Hills National Forest in western South Dakota, leave plenty of time open for activities and sightseeing.

With Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park and the historic town of Deadwood all within the forest’s boundaries, we failed miserably on time management and agreed that the Black Hills warranted another trip. We are still trying to figure out how two retirees have trouble finding enough time to do things!

Nonetheless, we found Custer State Park’s roads both scenic and exhilarating as they wound their way through the forest providing access to the memorials and a host of other attractions.

Mt Rushmore was truly amazing and we were ecstatic the forecasted thunder and lightning storms held off until later that evening to allow us time to appreciate this Herculean effort.

Though not completed, the Crazy Horse Memorial will be the largest in the world when finished and still a work of art even in its infancy.

Since the caves were on the southern end of the forest, we tabled our journey down under for another time so we could close out this adventure with a stroll down the streets of Deadwood, an historic mining town in the northern forest that boomed with the discovery of gold. Often called the “Birthplace of the Real Wild West”, Deadwood is very much alive with its saloons, casinos and hotels much like it was in 1876, minus the gun slinging of course.

Once again, it was the wildlife in its own habitat that provided the most memorable moments for us here in the Black Hills of South Dakota.