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Black Hills National Forest

Forest · South Dakota, 🇺🇸 United States
Area 5,029 km²
Time zone America/Denver
Official website www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills/
Black Hills National Forest

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Featured Lists

Dean Franklin / CC BY 2.0

Black Hills National Forest: Absolute Must-Sees

The Black Hills National Forest encompasses over 1.2 million acres of rugged granite peaks and ponderosa pine forests. This selection features the region's most prominent landmarks, including the monumental carvings at Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. It covers geological highlights like the subterranean passages of Jewel Cave and the 7,242-foot Black Elk Peak. Scenic routes like the Needles Highway provide access to unique rock spires and narrow tunnels, while the limestone canyons of the northern hills house accessible waterfalls such as Spearfish and Roughlock Falls.

11 places
DaveBo206 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Peaks and Viewpoints

Explore the diverse topography of the Black Hills National Forest, ranging from the 7,242-foot summit of Black Elk Peak to the granite spires of the Needles Highway. This collection features the iconic presidential faces of Mount Rushmore and the ongoing mountain carving of the Crazy Horse Memorial. Many viewpoints, such as those along Spearfish Canyon and the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, offer direct access to dramatic limestone palisades, narrow granite tunnels, and the unique geological formations of South Dakota.

20 places
Epsota24 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Water Features

The Black Hills region features diverse aquatic landscapes ranging from the iconic granite-flanked Sylvan Lake to the deep, cold waters of Pactola Reservoir. Spearfish Canyon contains a high concentration of waterfalls, including the 60-foot Bridal Veil Falls and the multi-tiered Roughlock Falls. These sites include massive infrastructure like the Pactola and Putnam dams alongside natural wetlands like Dry Lake Pond. Many of these water bodies, such as Deerfield Lake, serve as critical habitats and offer varied elevations for exploration.

11 places
DaveBo206 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Heritage Sites and Monuments

This collection features significant landmarks within the Black Hills region, centered on the massive Crazy Horse Memorial mountain carving. The list includes the Friendship Tower, built in 1919 as a tribute to Theodore Roosevelt, and several historic bridges along State Highway 87 and County Highway 18S that demonstrate early 20th-century engineering. Visitors can also see the industrial ruins of Lookout Mill, which provides a glimpse into the area's mining history. These sites highlight the cultural and architectural heritage preserved throughout the national forest.

6 places

Campsites and Caravan Sites

This collection of campsites and caravan sites is situated within the Black Hills National Forest of South Dakota. These locations provide direct access to key natural features including Roubaix Lake, Dalton Lake, and Spearfish Creek. Campgrounds like Comanche Park and Dutchman are characterized by dense ponderosa pine forests, while others serve as convenient trailheads for the Centennial Trail. Most sites offer basic amenities such as picnic tables and fire rings, with many providing proximity to trout fishing, swimming, and hiking routes.

11 places

Black Hills National Forest — Map

Black Hills National Forest — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: August, September

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor
  • -2° (feels like -7°) · extremes -23°–7°
  • -12° at night
  • 4 rainy days
  • 15 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor
  • -1° (feels like -6°) · extremes -23°–9°
  • -12° at night
  • 5 rainy days
  • 15 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor
  • 5° (feels like 0°) · extremes -17°–16°
  • -8° at night
  • 7 rainy days
  • 16 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Poor
  • 9° (feels like 4°) · extremes -12°–21°
  • -4° at night
  • 11 rainy days
  • 14 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Poor
  • 15° (feels like 11°) · extremes -6°–25°
  • 1° at night
  • 15 rainy days
  • 15 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in June

Good
  • 22° (feels like 19°) · extremes 1°–31°
  • 7° at night
  • 14 rainy days
  • 18 sunny days
  • 11 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in July

Good
  • 27° (feels like 25°) · extremes 6°–34°
  • 12° at night
  • 14 rainy days
  • 21 sunny days
  • 11 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in August

Great
  • 26° (feels like 23°) · extremes 5°–32°
  • 11° at night
  • 10 rainy days
  • 19 sunny days
  • 10 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in September

Great
  • 21° (feels like 17°) · extremes -1°–30°
  • 6° at night
  • 7 rainy days
  • 20 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in October

Poor
  • 11° (feels like 6°) · extremes -10°–23°
  • -2° at night
  • 7 rainy days
  • 17 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Poor
  • 4° (feels like -1°) · extremes -15°–15°
  • -7° at night
  • 4 rainy days
  • 15 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor
  • -1° (feels like -7°) · extremes -22°–7°
  • -11° at night
  • 4 rainy days
  • 13 sunny days
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency
US Dollar USD $ · Card payments · Widely accepted
Emergency numbers
911 Police · Ambulance · Fire brigade
Electricity
Type A / Type B
120 V · 60 Hz
Languages
English
Tap water
Safe to drink
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+1
Learn more

Tours & Activities

Riverside Hotel
Taxi · 8 min
Black Hills National Forest
2h
Walk · 6 min
Corner Café
45 min
Walk · 18 min
Riverside Hotel

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