The land now shadowed by Mount Rushmore was, up until the 1870s, called the "last great unknown." Enrich your understanding of American growth and development in this vast wilderness as you immerse yourself in the beauty, history and the mystery of the Black Hills and Badlands. Explore Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, and historic Deadwood. Study the lives of gold seekers, and sod busters. Discover the Old West before a handful of presidents made it famous. Learn about this fascinating time in our nation’s history and how these pioneers and gold miners became the hands that carved Mt. Rushmore. Connect with the past as you discover the stories of those who dreamed of finding their fortune out west.

Elevation over 5,000 feet. Some hilly terrain and stairs at Mount Rushmore, with options to avoid stairs. Walking up to one-quarter mile with rest stops.

Date Specific Information

Join the annual Buffalo Round Up in Custer State Park. You will arrive at the round up area shortly after sunrise to watch as 1,500 buffalo are driven into the corrals in Custer State Park. A must-see!

Program in association with Black Hills Educational Institute.

Shuttle to/from Rapid City Airport (RAP), extra fee.

Mount Rushmore

Massive granite faces overlook the forested treetops of the Black Hills, representing the first 150 years of American history in the sculptural representation of four U.S. presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. Mount Rushmore and the gateway town of Keystone attract visitors to this beautiful, storied region of the state.