Located about an hour west of Rapid City, Mount Rushmore is a massive sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Completed in 1941 under the direction of of Gutzon Borgium and his son Lincoln, the sculpture’s roughly 60-ft-high granite faces depict US presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The site also features a museum with interactive exhibits, and a very good video.
The memorial can be reached by driving the Iron Mountain Road, a 17 mile scenic byway known for its 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, three pigtail bridges and three granite tunnels that offer framed views of Mount Rushmore. Constructed in the 1930’s, the road winds through Custer State Park.
We recently spent a week in the Rapid City, SD area with our National Park Group. From a rented house situated on Rapid Creek about ten miles west of the city, we visited most of the well known attractions in the area. The terrain shifts from desert-like in the east, to rolling hills covered with evergreen trees, and encasing lovely meadows and massive outcrops of granite, in the west. Yes you can easily spend a week here and have a great time. Here is a summary of our activities, each of which will be subjects on my ongoing blog.
Day 1: Mt. Rushmore
There are three beautiful drives within Custer State Park. We drove up the Iron Mountain Drive, some 20 miles of curves, switchbacks, bridges, tunnels and forests to reach Mt. Rushmore National Monument. Several times along this road, one is able to glimpse the four faces of our famous presidents. We then spent two hours at the Monument, which is very impressive. The video is very good. Following that we headed to Hill City for a German lunch at the Alpine Inn.
Day 2: Mammoth Site and Wildlife Drive (Custer State Park)
We drove down to Hot Springs, SD to visit an unusual attraction called the mammoth Site. This site has excavated a very old pit containing the remains of a significant number of mammoth bones. We worth the visit. Next we drove through a meadowy area of Wind Cave NP, and then picked up the Wildlife Loop Drive, contained within Custer State Park. This is a paved road through 18 miles of open grasslands and speckled hills. The park’s resident herd of bison were seen, as were numerous pronghorn antelope, multitudes of prairie dogs and cute and carrot hungry wild burros.
Day 3: Badlands National Park
About 50 miles east of Rapid City, we toured Badlands National Park for several hours. The badlands are special for their striking eroded landscape of buttes, pinnacles and spires, a rich fossil record, and one of the largest protected mixed grass prairie lands where bison and prairie dogs thrive. The unique geology offers incredible views, hiking op[opportunities, and wildlife viewing. We finished the day with a brief stop in Wall, SD, home of the old and spread out Wall Drugs.
Day 4: Bear Country
Local Rapid City attraction, Bear Country is 200 acres of a variety of wildlife contained in subtle fenced areas that one can drive through at one’s own pace. Very well done and a recommended visit.
Day 5: Deadwood
No this is not Deadwood. It is Bridal Falls along the Spearfish Canyon Road, a recommended prelude to visiting the old western town of Deadwood. That town is famous among other things for the killing of Wild Bill Hickock, and the burial location of other western characters including Calamity Jane.
Day 6: Crazy Horse Monument and Needles Highway
One must visit the Crazy Horse Monument. Unfinished by awesome. Excellent museum of Indian history. Good entertainment. And the statue in the mountain will be stupendous if ever completed.
We followed this up with lunch in Custer (Custer Wolf 4.5), and an awesome drive on the Needles Highway. Pictures are impressive but the reality is incredible.
The Carefree Photographer 