Black Hills Adventure

All-AmericAn

Adventures

JOURNEY THROUGH THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND WYOMING

Content was Created by aaa in Collaboration with the national Park serviCe

the Black Hills of Western South Dakota and Northeastern Wyoming hold a unique natural beauty and a rich cultural history. American Indians,

prospectors, settlers and artists have been attracted to this area for centuries. Come discover all this area has to offer.

• Walk in the Badlands and the barren beauty that they hold. • Visit the missile sites of the nuclear age and the cold war.• See bison, pronghorn, prairie dogs and more in their natural environments.• Venture into in caves and experience their subterranean beauty.• Delve into the prehistoric age, and the fossil record.• Stand in awe of the sculptures of four of our greatest presidents.

Rapid City, South Dakota serves as a base for the majority of this journey, with plenty of lodging options that are easily accessible to the major national parks and attractions of this region.

DAY ONE Minute Man Missile national Historic site and Badlands national Park

TrAvEl INfOrmATION: 95 miles, 1 hour 25 minutes drive time

Visit the once secret facilities where Air Force personnel controlled and maintained ten nuclear missiles, part of a force of 150 missiles located in South Dakota. Discover the Cold War events that shaped our lives and still remain through a tour of the control center at Delta-01. At the Delta-09 silo, view a nuclear missile which once carried a 1.2 megaton warhead. Remember duck-and-cover drills, fallout shelters, Nixon’s trip to China, the Bobby Fischer vs. Boris Spassky Chess Match, or the fall of the Berlin Wall? Gain the Soviet perspective regarding Mutual Assured Destruction. How many nuclear weapons are stockpiled throughout the world? Are we safe?

minutemAn missile

nAtiOnAl HistOric site

Visitor Center24545 Cottonwood RoadPhilip, SD 57567605-433-5552www.nps.gov/mimi

oPen YeAr roUnD:Visitor Center: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Delta-01 LLC: Tour basis onlyDelta-09 Silo: Winter 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Summer 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

toUr Fee: PresentlY FreeINsIDEr TIp/Gaze Armageddon in the face with a visit to the Delta-09 missile silo. The viewing enclosure over the silo allows for visitors to gaze directly down at a Minuteman II missile. Consider the meaning of 1.2 megatons of destructive power hidden in plain sight.

rANgEr TIp/Due to the limited space (six per tour) and high demand for Delta-01 tours, advance planning is often necessary to participate in this unique and well sought after experience. Tickets are given out on a first come, first served basis, the day of the tour at the visitor center. In the summer, it is best to arrive early in order to get tickets.

HAvE A lITTlE ExTrA TImE? Consider these additional sites: South Dakota Air & Space Museum; Rapid City, SD

The park consists of three sites along Interstate 90. In addition, exhibits at the Visitor Center (exit 131) provide the historical backdrop for nuclear issues which are still relevant today.

Delta-09, the Minuteman Missile II silo site, is located ¼ mile south of I-90 at exit 116.

The Delta-01 Launch Control Center (ticket required) is located 1/4 mile north of I-90 at exit 127. Access to Delta-01 and Delta-09 requires a short distance of travel on dirt roads that can be rutted following rain or snow.

At Delta-09, a self-guided tour by cell phone relates the hidden tale of the Cold War Front fought on the Great Plains where a Minuteman II missile remains in its silo for public viewing at exit 116. The Delta-01 ranger guided tour offers an opportunity to observe first-hand the Launch Control Facility from which the Emergency War Order would be executed in the event of Nuclear War. Tickets are required for this tour, and must be picked up at the visitor center.

mAjOr pOINTs Of INTErEsT/Ben Reifel Visitor Center (Park Information Center), Hwy 240 route through the park, Fossil Exhibit Trail, Notch Trail, Roberts Prairie Dog Town

BAdlAnds nAtiOnAl PArk

Ben reiFel Visitor Center20695 South Dakota Highway 240Interior, SD 57750605-433-5361 www.nps.gov/badl

Ben reiFel Visitor Center (north Unit)

oPen YeAr roUnD

hoUrs oF oPerAtionMountain Time Zone8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Winter Hours)8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (mid - April to mid - May)7 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Summer Hours)8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (early September to late October)*Visitor Center closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day

White riVer Visitor Center (soUth Unit)Open seasonally, summer onlyOpen daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., as staff is available. Visitor Center is staffed by rangers who must also respond to emergencies and other events in the park. Please call ahead or check status at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.

INsIDEr TIp/We encourage anyone interested in backcountry hiking or camping in the South Unit to notify a ranger at the White River Visitor Center to ensure your safety and that you are not trespassing on private lands. Explorers must often cross private land to access the public land. Always obtain permission from landowners for vehicular or foot access before setting out for Cuny Table, Stronghold Table, and Palmer Creek. A list of landowners is available at the White River Visitor Center. Be prepared with alternative destinations if landowners do not grant permis-sion to cross their property. Hikers in the South Unit must be experienced map readers. Plan on a minimum of two days to hike in and out of the remote Palmer Creek area.

The White River Visitor Center is open seasonally, to contact please call (605) 455-2878.

The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and saber-toothed cat once roamed here.

The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.

rANgEr TIp/Called “mako sica,” or “land bad” by the local Lakota, and “les mauvaises terres a traverser,” or “ bad lands to travel across” by the early French trappers, both descriptions invoke visions of a harsh and inhospitable landscape, where dangers lurk down every canyon. Despite the introduction of visitor services, overlooks, and a scenic road, the Badlands environment still remains a rugged, untamed, and remote country. While hiking, exploring, and traveling through the park, it is important to follow safety precautions and park regulations to enjoy a safe visit and prevent injuries.

entrAnCe FeesNon-Commercial Vehicle: $15, valid for 7 daysIndividual (hike or bike): $7, valid for 7 daysMotorcycle $10, valid for 7 daysCAmPgroUnD: Tent, RV electric hook-ups ($22-$37 per night)

trAils: Short hikes/walks, backcountry hikes, accessible trail

loDging: Cedar Pass Lodge, 20681 SD-240, Interior, SD 57750, Reservations: 877-386-4383

DAY TWO Wind cave national Park

TrAvEl INfOrmATION: 54 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes drive time

Wind cAve nAtiOnAl PArk

26611 U.S. Highway 385Hot Springs SD 57747-9430605-745-4600www.nps.gov/wica/

oPen YeAr roUnD: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended hours in the spring, summer (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.), and fall. Visitor Center closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

CAmPgroUnD: Tent & RV. No electric hook ups or showers. Running water in the restrooms during summer months. Open year-round. $18 per site/summer, $9.00 when the water is off.

trAils: 3 nature trails, backcountry hikes

CAVe toUr Fees: $12 for adults on our most popular tours, the Natural Entrance and Fairgrounds Tours. $10 for the Garden of Eden Tour. $12 for the Candlelight Tour (must be at least 8 years old). $30 for the Wild Cave Tour (must be at least 16 years old). Reservations only accepted for the Candlelight and Wild Cave Tour. Fees are half price for visitors with the Access or Senior Pass.

HAvE A lITTlE ExTrA TImE? Consider these additional sites: The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs

Custer State Park

INsIDEr TIp/Summer visitation is highest on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (and any rainy day!). Tours fill up as the day progress. Come early in the morning to avoid lines.

Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America’s oldest national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. Named for barometric winds at its entrance, this maze of passages is home to boxwork, a unique formation rarely found elsewhere.

rANgEr TIp/Fall is a great time to visit. The weather is usually mild. Visitation is lower than the summer, and the elk are bugling as part of their annual mating rituals.

fuN fAcTs/• The park’s campground, the Elk Mountain Campground, has never filled since it opened in 1963. • The park has over 30 miles of hiking trails. Hiking in the park is a great way to explore the park. You can either stay on the trail or strike off on your own. • Although they do not bellow with a New York accent, the initial 13 bison reintroduced into the park in 1913 came from the Bronx Zoo. • Black-footed ferrets, one of the rarest animals in North America, were reintroduced into the park in 2007.• It is estimated the cave contains 95% of the world’s boxwork, a calcite cave formation that hangs from the walls and ceilings.

DAY THrEE JeWel cave national MonuMent and Mount rusHMore national MeMorial

TrAvEl INfOrmATION: 87 miles, 2 hours 15 minutes drive time

JeWel cAve

nAtiOnAl mOnument

INsIDEr TIp/Plan to visit in the morning; tours often sell out by late morning or early afternoon. Bring a light jacket or sweatshirt – the cave is 49 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius)

Immerse yourself within the third longest cave in the world. With over 180 miles of mapped and surveyed passages, this underground wilderness appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through fragile formations and glimpses of brilliant color. Its complex maze of passages lure explorers, and its scientific wealth remains a mystery. This resource is truly a jewel in the National Park Service. Visitor Center exhibits introduce you to the cave and its features. Take a Scenic, Historic Lantern or Wild Caving Tour, or take part in a ranger-guided Discovery Talk. On the surface, take part in guided nature hikes and interpretive patio talks.

rANgEr TIp/Park staff encourages visitors to plan time to hike one of the Monument’s surface trails or take part in an interpretive patio talk. Interested youth are also invited to become a Junior Ranger (ages 5-12) or Pee Wee Ranger (ages 3-4).

11149 U.S. Highway 16Building B12Custer, SD 57730605-673-8300www.nps.gov/jeca

oPen YeAr roUnD, Open year round, but closed 2 days a week December through March.Visitor Center Hours: Summer 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Winter 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

CAmPing: Visit Custer Area Chamber of Commerce for information on private campgrounds in the area – www.visitcuster.com/chamber or call (800) 992-9818.

trAils: Roof Trail - ¼ mile (.4 km) loop, approximately 30-minute walk. Canyons Trail - 3.5 mile (5.6 km) loop trail. Allow 2-4 hours to travel the loop.

Fees: Scenic Tour - Ticket Prices• $12.00 - Adult age 17 & over• $8.00 - Youth ages 6 -16 Free – Children ages 0 -5• Half-price - Golden Age/ Senior/Access Adult or Access Youth (pass holder only)• Not valid - Annual Pass / Annual - Military Pass / Volunteer Pass

fuN fAcTs/Jewel Cave has only one natural entrance. Although the cave is more than 180 miles long, it lies beneath just 3 square miles of land area. The Monument is home to nine bat species, including the rare Townsend’s big-eared bat. Some bats that roost outside in the summer hibernate in the cave during winter. The “jewels” of Jewel Cave are calcite spar crystals. Calcite, which is about as hard as your fingernail, is too soft to be considered a true jewel.

Consider scheduling your visit around one of the Monument’s many special events throughout the year.

HAvE A lITTlE ExTrA TImE? Consider these additional sites: Custer State Park

Crazy Horse Memorial

mOunt rusHmOre

nAtiOnAl memOriAl

13000 Hwy 244Keystone, SD 57751(605) 574-2523www.nps.gov/moru

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is host to three million visitors a year from across the country and around the world. The sculptor Gutzon Borglum intended to produce a monument that conveyed the meaning of the first 150 years of United States history.

Four presidents were chosen: George Washington represented the birth of the nation; Thomas Jefferson symbolized the expansion; Theodore Roosevelt represented the development; and Abraham Lincoln embodied the preservation of the nation.

Main attraCtionsView the film, “Mount Rushmore: The Shrine,” at the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center for an excellent introduction to the site. The movie provides original carving era film clips, tells the story of the carving and contains a variety of historic photographs. The visitor center is located directly underneath the Grand View Terrace and is fully accessible.

The Presidential Trail is a 1/2 mile boardwalk trail offering multiple perspectives of the sculpture. From approximately late May through early October, the Sculptor’s Studio containing the original sculptor’s model is open providing insight into the production of the sculpture. The Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center provides a park movie, museum and bookstore. During the summer, look for the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota Heritage Village to explore the life of the Plains Tribes. Summer is also the season for the Youth Exploration Area where Junior Rangers can find a variety of programs, inquire at the visitor center for program information. Don’t miss the Evening Lighting Ceremony held nightly from Memorial weekend through September 30.

oPen YeAr roUnD, Park buildings are closed on Christmas Day, though grounds are open.

Fees: Parking $11, there is no park entrance fee.

Dining: Carver’s Cafe is operated by Xanterra, (605) 574-2515

INsIDEr TIp/Don’t miss the Evening Lighting Ceremony, featuring a short ranger talk and the movie “Freedom: America’s Lasting Legacy,” culminating with white lights illuminating the sculpture. Memorial weekend through mid-August the evening program begins at 9 pm, from mid-August through September 30 the program begins at 8 pm.

rANgEr TIp/Half of the Presidential Trail is stairs and can be challenging. If you or anyone in your family is not able to negotiate stairs, let the ranger at the visitor center know so they can provide you with an alternative Sculptor’s Studio access.

fuN fAcTs/• 90% of the sculpture was carved using dynamite.• Mount Rushmore was named for New York City lawyer Charles Rushmore long before the mountain was carved.• The rate of erosion of the sculpture is approximately 1 inch every 10,000 years. • The carving process began in 1927 and was completed in 1941.

devil’s toWer national MonuMent

TrAvEl INfOrmATION: 107 miles, 1 hour 45 minute drive time

devils tOWer

nAtiOnAl mOnument

149 State Hwy 110Devils Tower, WY 82714 www.nps.gov/deto

oPen YeAr roUnD

Fees: $10-private vehicle, $5-motorcycle

Devils Tower National Monument is an astounding geologic feature that protrudes out of the rolling prairie in the Northwest corner of the Black Hills. This site is considered sacred to the Lakota and many other tribes that have a connection to the area. Hundreds of parallel cracks make it one of the finest traditional crack climbing areas in North America. Devils Tower entices us to explore and define our place in the natural and cultural world.

DAY fOur

INsIDEr TIp/Watch for the nesting Falcons on the Tower during spring and early summer months

rANgEr TIp/Look for the Prairie Dogs on the left side of the road as you enter the Monument.

fuN fAcTs/• As a publicity stunt, George Hopkins parachuted onto Devils Tower on October 1, 1941. He was stranded for six days before he could be rescued.• Eradication programs have reduced the black-tailed prairie dog range from thousands of square miles to a few scattered preserves like this one at Devils Tower National Monument. They now inhabit about 2% of the area they once occupied 200 years ago.• The columns that create Devils Tower can be 4, 5, 6, or 7 sided. Some geologists believe the last column fell 10,000 years ago.• Devils Tower is made of phonolite porphyry. Phonolite refers to the ringing of the rock when a small slab is struck, and its ability to reflect sound. Porphyry refers to its texture, large crystals of feldspar embedded in a mass of smaller crystals.• Prairie and Peregrine falcons sometimes nest in the cracks of Devils Tower. Climbing routes near the nest are closed until the young falcons fledge.

HAvE A lITTlE ExTrA TImE? Consider these additional sites: Crook County Museum in SundanceThe Vore Buffalo JumpBighorn Nation Recreation Area Little Bighorn Battlefield National MonumentSturgis, SD

The U.S. National Park Service cares for more than 400 national parks and special places, and helps communities preserve their historic sites and open spaces so that all may experience our heritage.

The “All-American Adventures” series was produced under a partnership arrangement between the National Park Service and AAA. We invite people everywhere to discover their own personal connections to parks.

trAvel resOurces

Check out the following trip planning resources as you plan your All-American Adventure.

nPs.gov

Find details on all national parks, including things to do, activities and lodging.

AAA.com/triptik

Plan your next road trip with a custom routing showing you points of interest along the way.

AAA.com/travel

Book Diamond-Rated hotels, plus reserve a rental car or book an airfare to get you going on your adventure.

AAA mobile® App

Download the AAA Mobile app for directions, travel resources and roadside assistance.

Get information in-person

Be sure to visit your local AAA office or National Park Service location for information on your next national parks excursion.