Black Hills Icons: Private Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park Day Tour
Difficulty
easy
Duration
8–9 hours
Fitness Level
Comfortable walking short distances with stairs and standing at viewpoints; elevation up to ~6,000 feet.
Overview
See Mount Rushmore’s granite faces at eye level, witness the ongoing scale of Crazy Horse Memorial, and roll through Custer State Park’s wildlife country—all in one seamless private day. This guided Black Hills circuit blends big landmarks with close-up moments, smart routing, and time to breathe it all in.
Black Hills Icons: Private Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park Day Tour
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Dawn slides across the Black Hills and the pines wake first, shaking out their scent as your guide points the van toward granite country. The road climbs past dark needles and pale meadows before the presidents appear—sixty-foot faces cut into Rushmore’s cliff, watching the sky the way old stones do. You step onto the Avenue of Flags, the breeze tugging at fabric, then drop to the 0.6-mile Presidential Trail where wood boardwalk and stair sets (expect a few hundred steps) deliver shifting angles and unexpected intimacy with the carving.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Start early for soft light and easier parking
Mornings at Rushmore mean cooler temps, fewer crowds, and clean angles for photos along the Avenue of Flags and Presidential Trail.
Mind the stairs on the Presidential Trail
Expect several hundred steps on the 0.6-mile loop; wear shoes with grip and take it slow at elevation if you’re not used to it.
Give wildlife room
Stay at least 100 yards from bison and never feed burros—use pullouts and remain in or near the vehicle when animals are close.
Pack layers and water at altitude
The Black Hills swing 20–30°F in a day; carry a light jacket and at least 1–2 liters of water per person even on a vehicle-based tour.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- American bison
- Pronghorn antelope
History
Mount Rushmore was carved between 1927 and 1941 under Gutzon and Lincoln Borglum; Crazy Horse Memorial began in 1948 with Korczak Ziolkowski and continues today through a nonprofit foundation.
Conservation
Custer State Park manages one of the nation’s largest public bison herds, highlighted by the annual fall roundup. Stay on boardwalks, don’t feed wildlife, and pack out all trash to reduce impacts on prairie and pine ecosystems.
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Adventure Hotspots in Rapid City, South Dakota
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Light hiking shoes or sturdy walking shoes
Secure footing is helpful on the Presidential Trail’s stairs and uneven pullouts along Wildlife Loop Road.
Packable windproof layer
Spring breezes at higher elevations can be chilly, especially in shaded granite corridors.
spring specific
Sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen
Open prairie and exposed viewpoints make UV strong even with mountain breezes.
summer specific
Binoculars (8x or 10x)
Spot bison calves, pronghorn, and distant climbers on the granite from safe pullouts.