Family Nature Summits: Black Hills Summit

Explore the famous Custer State Park Wildlife Loop in an open-air jeep with a Custer State Park guide. A 1.5 - 2 private, guided adventure deep into the park to see free-roaming bison, pronghorn, elk, deer, the truly adorable prairie dogs, and begging burros. A much more intimate experience than one can do on their own, with exclusive use of private trails, and guides not only locating the wildlife but also imparting historical and educational facts.

Explore the Custer State Park via a driving loop tour of the two famous highways. Needles Highway is a spectacular 14-mile scenic drive famous for its winding switchbacks, dramatic granite spires, and narrow tunnels. Iron Mountain Road is a 17-mile scenic byway. It is a masterpiece of rustic engineering featuring curves, switchbacks, pigtail bridges, and 3 granite tunnels that perfectly frame Mount Rushmore in the distance. Both roads feature spectacular scenic overlooks. 

Explore the famous Custer State Park Wildlife Loop in an open-air jeep with a Custer State Park guide. A 1.5 - 2 private, guided adventure deep into the park to see free-roaming bison, pronghorn, elk, deer, the truly adorable prairie dogs, and begging burros. A much more intimate experience than one can do on their own, with exclusive use of private trails, and guides not only locating the wildlife but also imparting historical and educational facts.

We will do a deep dive into Mt Rushmore National Memorial, visit the museum, see the movie, walk the walk of presidents, and visit the sculptor’s studio. We will eat our picnic lunch at Mt Rushmore, be sure to bring some money to indulge in the Thomas Jefferson Ice Cream - handmade ice cream utilizing Thomas Jefferson’s original recipe, which has received rave reviews from everyone we have met! Next, we will take the short drive to Keystone, South Dakota, for a guided tour of the Big Thunder Gold Mine, a historic gold mine discovered in 1892. This mine has a fascinating history on a fully accessible tour.

A lot of walking, mostly flat with some stairs, canes, walking poles, and other mobility aids are allowed.

Opened in 2022, the Custer State Park Bison Center has quickly become a must-see destination for visitors of all ages. This facility tells the full story of the park’s iconic bison herd through a broad array of engaging, interpretive, and hands-on displays. In addition to the indoor exhibits, ranger-led bison corral tours provide an invaluable up-close look at herd management and the ranching infrastructure that supports it. On these guided tours, staff explain the layout and function of holding pens, sorting chutes, and other handling facilities, show how feeding and water systems are organized, and discuss the practical aspects of population and range management. The tours are designed to demystify the day-to-day operations involved in maintaining a healthy, sustainable herd and to answer visitor questions about animal care, seasonal movements, and park stewardship.