Welcome to Badlands National Park
We meet in the lobby of our host hotel in Rapid City for a quick orientation before making our way to Badlands National Park. We'll make a short stop en-route at the famous roadside attraction, Wall Drug - no South Dakota Road trip would be complete without it! After a quick cup of their famous 5-cent coffee, we'll make our way to Sage Creek Rim Road. This scenic road winds its way through the park and provides incredible views and the occasional (and welcomed) bison jam. Our mellow hike today allows us to truly immerse ourselves in this bizarre landscape as we do a little exploring on the badland’s colorful bedrock. Late this afternoon we tour the park’s impressive visitor center before making our way to the historic and quaint, Cedar Pass Lodge, the only lodge inside the park. We’ll have dinner at the lodge’s restaurant before settling into our private cabins for the night. Lunch and dinner included.
Hiking: 2-3 miles; Total ascent/descent: +/-197’; low/high point:2,583’/2,765’
Van Transfer: 2.5 hours
From Badlands to the Black Hills
Rise early this morning and enjoy the sunrise over the badlands from the inviting, handcrafted pine chairs on your patio. Today we'll hike the winding Castle Trail through an alien landscape and vast prairie lands. Once we return to our trailhead, we say our goodbyes to Badlands National Park and head over to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, a unique relic of the Cold War. This afternoon we make our way west toward the lush forests and jagged granite peaks of the Black Hills. We’ll spend our remaining nights in private, rustic cabins in the charming town of Custer.
Hiking: 4-5 miles; Total ascent/descent: +142/-161’; low/high point:2,576’/2,666’
Van transfer: 2.5 hours
Tour Jewel Cave & visit the impressive, Crazy Horse Memorial
Today we'll explore one of the largest caves in the world, and the impressive stone carving of the famous Lakota leader, Crazy Horse. At Jewel Cave, we'll follow a ½ mile paved path surrounded by sparkling calcite crystals, dripping stalactites & stalagmites, and glossy flowstone. After our cave exploration, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by our guide and hike the only trail above ground in the park. Late this afternoon we visit the unfinished, incredible, Crazy Horse Memorial. Once completed this imposing stone carving will be over three times the size of Mount Rushmore. We'll tour the extensive museum and take a rustic bus ride right to the base of the mountain. We end our day with dinner in Custer where our guide shares what exciting adventures await us tomorrow. All meals included.
Hiking: 3.5-4.5 miles; Total ascent/descent: +507’/-491’; low/high point:5,146’/5,527’
Van transfer: 1 hour
Hike to the Cathedral Spires & visit the iconic, Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Today’s hike takes us to the arresting Cathedral Spires, striking granite pinnacles named for their resemblance to the organ pipes in a Cathedral. These unique rock formations were chosen as the original canvas for Mount Rushmore, but it was quickly discovered the rock was too thin to support the massive edifice that sculptor Gutzon Borglum envisioned. This afternoon we soak in the incredible views on the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway as we make our way to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. We can enjoy different views of this national treasure as we follow the Presidential Trail stopping at the Sculpture’s Studio along the way. We enjoy our final, celebratory dinner together in Custer this evening.
Hiking: 5 miles; Total ascent/descent: +1,161/-1175’; low/high point:6,180’/6,899’
Van Transfer: 2.5 hours
Wind Cave & Mammoth Site
This morning we’ll explore another mysterious underground labyrinth. The shimmering calcite crystals of Jewel Cave are replaced with the extremely rare, delicate boxwork formations found in Wind Cave. Before our ranger-led cave tour, we’ll hike a short trail so we can appreciate the magic above ground in the vast mixed-grass prairie. After our illuminative cave tour, we’ll celebrate our final meal together while we discuss all the intriguing & distinct differences between these two caves. On our final adventure together we’ll explore a different kind of underground treasure, the Mammoth Site, an active paleontological dig site that has uncovered the remains of 60+ Mammoths. This afternoon we return to our host hotel in Rapid City recounting all the incredible things we’ve done and seen during our time together.
Hiking: 1-2 miles; Total ascent/descent: +241/-235’; low/high point:4,774’/5,017’
Van Transfer: 2.5 hours