בדלאנד
מעתיקה לו"ז שבזמנו מצאתי ב- Tripadvisor של מישהי שתכננה את זה ברמת הדקה, נעזרנו בזה והוספנו סיבוב ל- Devil tower ומעבר ב- Sturgis בפסטיבל אופנוענים
Day 1 Arrive in Badlands National Park around 10:00 AM. Attend the Ben Reifel Visitor
Centre for the Children’s Junior Ranger Program and watch the park movie, short hike to
overlook views. Lunch at the Badlands National Park. From the Badlands National Park
Drive to the town of Wall for a stop at Wall Drug, then continue on to Custer and the
Campground. Arrive around 6:30. Grab some groceries, have supper and set up camp.
Day 2 - Travel from Custer to Hotsprings. Explore the exhibits, dig area and take a
guided tour at the Mammoth Site. Travel to Cascade Falls for a picnic lunch and swim.
Supper and evening at the campground.
Day 3 Morning at Bear Country USA then to Reptile Gardens for the afternoon. Stop at
Mount Rushmore and possibly the Cosmos on the way back to the campground. Take the
longer but more scenic drive back to the campground. Supper and evening at the
campground.
Day 4 Black Hills Balloons – insanely expensive but its something we want to do
somewhere sometime in our lives, and this looks like it could be the place to do it!!
Day 5 Travel to Jewel Cave National Park. Take the Scenic Tour and kids complete the
Junior Ranger Program. Then to Sylvan Lake for a picnic lunch and an afternoon for
swimming and a 1 hour hike along the Sylvan Lake Shore Trail. Supper and evening at
the campground.
Day 6 Travel to the town of Keystone, stop at Big Thunder Gold Mine for tour, museum
and gold panning. Stop at Rushmore Tramway for tram-lift, picnic lunch, short hike and
alpine slide. Travel to Circle B Ranch for a 30 minute trail-ride, gem planning, wax bullet
pistol shooting, petting corral, gunfight show, Chuckwagon dinner and show.
Day 7 - Drive the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop then to Sylvan Lake (day use area) for
6 mile (4 hour) hike to Harney Peak. Return to Sylvan Lake for a swim. Supper and
evening at the campground. If we are not exhausted from the hike, go see the 9:00 PM
lighting ceremony at Mount Rushmore.
Day 8 - No schedule, whatever we decide to do
Day 9 – Pack up and drive to Deadwood. Spend the afternoon in Deadwood taking the
trolley to points of interest, stop at the gravesites of Wild Bill and Calamity Jane then
start the travel home.
- 2 -
I think you have done a wonderful job scheduling your trip. You are giving yourself time
and not trying to pack too much into a day.
Make sure you drive the Needles Highway. This can be done on Day 7 on your way to
Sylvan Lake. Incredible beauty. Your kids should have no problem hiking up to Harney
Peak. They are at a perfect age. If you make it to Mt. Rushmore for the eveing lighting
ceremony, why not plan on going there around dinner time. There is a cafeteria that is
reasonably priced and you would have time to view the monument during daylight and
walk to the base. You probably would not want to get there much later than 7 p.m. as it.
I would also recommend driving Iron Mountain Road to Mt. Rushmore sometime during
your trip - probably Day 6 on your way to Keystone. The south to north route is the best
way to experience the drive. You will go through tunnels, carved into the rocks, several
of which frame the monument. Stop at the Peter Norbeck Lookout on Irom Mountain
Road. A beautiful vista of the Black Hills.
Day 9 - You asked whether a 1/2 day in Deadwood would be enough time. It would
depend on your interests. The Adams Museum and the Adams House are extremely
interesting if you are into history. They have a re-enactments, throughout the day, of the
shooting of Wild Bill Hickock in the Saloon# 10 as well as shootouts on the street. Your
kids will enjoy those activities. Saloon# 10 is a museum in itself. Since you will be in the
area, I would also recommend you pack a lunch and go to Spearfish Canyon before you
head back to your campground. The canyon is gorgeous and has several beautiful
waterfalls. There is a picnic area at Roughlock Falls. Our kids love it there and loved
wading in the cold, mountain stream.
Crazy Horse - some people choose to view it from the road. I personally, love the
museum of Indian artifacts, the film regarding the memorial's
history and watching the Native artisans at work. Whatever your personal preference is,
you will be able to see it from the road.