Looking for a reason to move to Rapid City?
Contemplating leaving and needing a reason to stay?
Not only does Rapid City, South Dakota provide you with a variety of professional and personal growth opportunities, it also positions you within one hour of over 10 state and national parks. The outdoor recreational activity choices are endless. Whether it’s hiking in the Badlands, biking the George S. Mickelson Trail, swimming in Angostura Lake, or spelunking in Jewel Cave, there is always an adventure waiting to convince you to move here and making it impossible to want to leave.
George S. Mickelson Trail
Beginning in Edgemont and ending in Deadwood, this 109-mile-long rail trail passes through some of the most scenic areas of the Black Hills, including the Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse Memorial. Crossing over multiple rivers and streams, the George S. Mickelson Trail is a challenging yet rewarding trail designed for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Spearfish Canyon Nature Area
Consisting of the 100-foot Roughlock Falls, 60-foot Spearfish Falls, and the 3.5-mile Savoy-Waterfalls Trail, Spearfish Canyon Nature Area is a beautiful year-round state park located along Spearfish Canyon. This state park offers countless activities including hikes ranging from easy to hard, multiple fishing spots, tons of campgrounds, and a variety of wildlife, such as deer, elk, and black bears.
Black Hills National Forest
Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, camping, fishing, boating, and more in the Black Hills National Forest. As a federally managed forest in both South Dakota and Wyoming, the forest covers over 1.2 million acres and contains the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park within it. Additionally, caves, such as Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park, can be found within the Black Hills National Forest.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore, was completed in 1941 and is in the Black Hills, near Keystone. There are multiple activities in and around Mount Rushmore including a guided tour of the memorial, visiting the museum, and hiking and biking the trails.
Crazy Horse Memorial
Located less than 20 miles away from Mount Rushmore, The Crazy Horse Memorial, which portrays the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse, has been under construction since 1948 and is visited by over one million people per year. Like Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse offers tours, a museum, and multiple trails to enjoy.
Custer State Park
Established in 1912 within the Black Hills, Custer State Park brings in over 2 million people per year wanting to experience a variety of wildlife, hiking, biking, fishing, camping, and scenic drives. This state park is home to the bison herd, which is one of the largest herds in the world, and contains Wildlife Loop Road, which provides visitors with stunning view of the Black Hills.
Jewel Cave National Monument
With over 215 miles of mapped passages, the Jewel Cave National Monument is the third longest cave system in the world. As a popular destination for tourists, the cave has intricate calcite formations viewable by guided tours.
Wind Cave National Park
Established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, the Wind Cave National Park is known as the densest cave system in the world and is home to 95 percent of the discovered box work formations around the world. Nearly half a million people visit the Wind Cave yearly.
Bear Butte State Park
Located in Meade County, the Bear Butte State Park covers 2,000 acres and is home to Bear Butte, a 1,200-foot-tall butte that is sacred to many Native American tribes. There are many activities to choose from when visiting Bear Butte State Park, such as hiking to the summit of Bear Butte, fishing in the lakes and streams, and checking out the visitor’s center, which exhibits Butte’s geology, history, and Native American culture.
Badlands National Park
Encompassing nearly 250,000 acres, the Badlands National Park contains the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the country, along with sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles. Home to many different wildlife, countless biking and hiking trails, and many different campgrounds, over one million people come to visit this national park yearly.
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, an American national historic site in Wall, teaches about the Cold War and nuclear weapon history. The site preserves two facilities, which were once part of a Minuteman Missile field, covering the far western portion of South Dakota from 1963 through the early 1990s. There are many fun options when visiting this Historic Site, such as taking a guided tour of the Launch Control Center and visiting the Missile Silo.
If there is a nearby State or National Park we missed, let us know!