Note: This page contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through these links, we may receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. You can read more about our affiliate partnerships on our policy page.

Best Hidden Gems and Things to do in the Black Hills

July 8, 2021

If you’re looking for road trip ideas in the Western US, consider heading to the Black Hills of South Dakota! Best known for landmarks such as Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and the historic city of Deadwood, there are many more hidden gems and things to do tucked away in this absolutely gorgeous part of the US.

You could spend as little as a few days in the Black Hills, but we recommend allowing at least 4-5 days for optimal fun and ease. While you’re here, a trip to Badlands National Park and Devils Tower National Monument are other great side trips to consider.

Devil’s Bathtub

If you want to feel like a kid again, crisscrossing rocky streams and scrambling over rocks, Devil’s Bathtub is an absolutely fun and relatively easy hike to visit while exploring Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

First and foremost, bring shoes you don’t mind getting wet, such as water shoes. There’s pretty much zero way to avoid getting your feet soaked as you’ll be crossing Spearfish Creek multiple times along the way. 

Plan at least an hour to complete this hike. Even with its short distance, this hike takes longer than you think as it gets slightly technical at times. When I say technical, I don’t mean high mountain scrambling. It’s nothing that challenging, but there are some footing choices that just make this hike slightly tricky.

There’s a large free parking lot that’s well-marked off of 14A, but then it gets a bit confusing as to where the trail starts from there. Look for a well-worn path tucked into the treeline along the creek. Don’t head in the direction of the old Homestake Mining Co hydroelectric plant. That is the wrong direction.

1.6 miles out and back | 190 ft elevation gain | bring water shoes

Spearfish Canyon Waterfalls

Also located in Spearfish Canyon are three gorgeous waterfalls within a handful of miles of each other. The longest distance of the three is Roughlock Falls, seen above. The trail to the falls is just over 2 miles roundtrip, but the reward is well worth it. The entire trail is easy to follow and mostly shaded.

100% free

Eleventh Hour Gulch

You’ll feel like a local on this hike. And without one, I never would have found this Black Hills hidden gem. There’s no sign for it, so you’ll need to keep a lookout for a small pull-out located on the east side of Hwy 14 south of the Devil’s Bathtub parking lot. Look for a narrow and rocky gulch on the opposite side of the small parking area. Once you start climbing into the gulch, which requires some moderate scrambling over slick rocks, you’ll see a makeshift ladder that you can climb up if you want to venture to the top. This is also a great spot for ice climbing in the winter months.

Hard to Find | 100% Free

Wonderland Cave

Wonderland Cave is one of the best things to do in the Black Hills, and it’s located less than an hour from historic Deadwood.

Visitors can enter this 60-million-year-old cavern as part of a group tour. You don’t need reservations, and tours are every 30 minutes. Also, it’s important to allow enough time to reach this remote destination as some of the roads are unpaved and slower going.

$17 per adult (anyone over 13 years old)

$8.50 per child (ages 6-12)

Free for children 5 and under

Mount Moriah Cemetery

Historic Mount Moriah Cemetery is the final resting place for Wild West legends such as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. It’s a popular tourist attraction in Deadwood, situated on a wooded bluff overlooking the city. There’s a bit of a steep climb walking through the grounds, but the views from the top are well worth it.

$2.00 entry fee | Go early to avoid crowds

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake is one of five lakes within Custer State Park and is also one of the most beautiful and picturesque spots within the Black Hills. There are two trails on either side of the lake, which are both worth walking on and hardly take any time at all. You can probably stroll both sides and be done within one hour. Start with the paved path near the Sylvan Lake General Store, which leads back to a beautiful waterfall and dam overlook. There’s another trail on the north side of the lake that winds between several rock formations.

$20 per vehicle for a temporary 1-7 Day license

The Needles Highway

Also located in Custer State Park is Needles Highway, a 14-mile road full of sharp turns, jaw-dropping views, and narrow tunnels. Named after its towering, pointed rock formations, there are no shortage of stunning and surprising places to take photographs and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. Custer State Park charges $20 per vehicle for a temporary 1-7 day license or $36 for an annual license. Admittedly, this feels a bit steep if you’re just visiting for the day (there’s also no avoiding it), but if you’re already visiting the Black Hills, this is a unique destination you don’t want to miss.

$20 per vehicle for a temporary 1-7 Day license

Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center

In Lead, South Dakota, and just five minutes outside historic Deadwood is a massive hole in the ground that’s impossible to miss when passing through this otherwise quiet town. This curious pit is part of Sanford Underground Research Facility, the deepest underground laboratory in the United States. Its facility occupies the former Homestake Mine, the largest and deepest gold mine in North America until it closed in 2002. Today scientists are working 4850-feet underground on various experiments to help understand cosmic curiosities such as dark matter, life potential on other planets, and the origins of the universe.

While you can’t tour the Sanford Lab itself, you can learn all about it at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center where you can explore free exhibits and take a guided trolley tour through Lead.

Free Admission to the Visitors Center

Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary

First and foremost, the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is located on private land and is not open to the public. 

With that said, if you’re a person who is financially able to support worthwhile charitable causes, they are definitely one to consider. This is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining a permanent home for America’s unwanted horses, and they are very much in need of your support. They don’t receive any federal funding, and the cost of feeding the horses is skyrocketing each year due to drought conditions and the need to import hay as food. A Fairy Tale Sponsorship or a Photo Op Donation allows you to support these horses while also visiting this unique sanctuary in person.

Visitation available only with a sizable donation

places to stay in The Black Hills

More Things to do in the Black Hills and nearby

our favorite travel tech

We love storytelling in all its amazing formats. As a photographer and online publisher, Adobe is a critical tool for running my business. Their creative cloud membership incorporating Lightroom and Photoshop speeds up my workflow and helps me make my images look their best. If you’re new to Adobe and the Creative Cloud membership, they have several plans to fit your creative needs, but the $9.99/mo photography plan allows you to access Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop from anywhere your photography takes you.

Image Credits:

Devil’s Bathtub - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Roughlock Falls - Craig Zerbe - stock.adobe.com; Spearfish Falls - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Bridal Veil Falls - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Eleventh Hour Gulch - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Wonderland Cave - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Mount Moriah Cemetery - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Sylvan Lake - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; The Needles Highway - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Sanford Lab and Lead - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary - spiritofamerica - stock.adobe.com; Town Hall Inn exterior - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Sundance Cabin and Spearfish Orchard Cottage - Photos Courtesy of Airbnb; Deadwood - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Crazy Horse Memorial - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Devils Tower - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Robert Prairie Dog Town - Natalia Kuzmina - stock.adobe.com; Nomad Goods product images courtesy of Nomad Goods; Trail Ridge Road - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; for Pin image credits, click on the pin image