Badlands National Park, SD

 Badlands National Park, one of the hidden gems of the American Midwest, is a rugged, otherworldly landscape where sharply eroded buttes, layered rock formations, and wide-open prairie stretch as far as the eye can see. Besides its stunning topography, the park protects an incredibly rich trove of fossils. Badlands is a special home for bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, mule deer, and the critically endangered black-footed ferret, among other animals.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 1

Your guides will meet you at the Rapid City Regional Airport as our trip  begins. With our accommodation’s downtown, you’ll find boutique’s, excellent dining, coffee and outdoor sport shops. Also, as you explore  downtown Rapid City, you’ll notice full-size sculptures of US presidents  on multiple street corners. We will relax, prepare for our days ahead  then meet for the first of our group dinners.

Day 2

Centennial, Sanctuary, & Highland Loop Trail, Wind Cave NP, SD:
Distance: ~11miles (17km), Elevation Gain: 1214′ (370m)

We head southwest to one of America's oldest national parks, Wind Cave National Park. Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the remnant island of an intact prairie, sits Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. The other, above ground, is Sanctuary Trail & Centennial Trail Loop. A must-do trail and the perfect way to see first-hand the different ecosystems teeming with wildlife and a mosaic of prairies, forests, and rugged hills. 

Day 3 

Castle Trail, Medicine Root & Soldier Pass Loop, Badlands NP, SD:

Distance: ~12miles (19.3km), Elevation Gain: 568′ (173m)

Today, after breakfast, we head to the Badlands National Park for the last hike of our trip. Badlands National Park offers some of the most striking otherworldly landscapes found in South Dakota. The Badlands combine breathtaking natural scenery with rich cultural history. It captivates with its stark rock formations and rolling prairies. It’s the kind of place that makes you gasp out loud. Next comes silence as you soak it all in.

Day 4 

Black Elk Peak, Custer State Park:

Distance: ~8miles (13km), Elevation Gain: 1699′ (518m)

After breakfast, we head to Custer State Park to hike Black Elk Peak Loop which takes hikers to the highest point in South Dakota and offers incredible 360-degree views of the Black Hills. This granite 7,242-foot mountain lies in the beautiful Black Elk Wilderness and is a popular location for visiting geologists due to its unique geological history. This trail starts in Custer State Park and travels into Black Elk Wilderness area. With Mount Rushmore a short distance away, depending on time we may visit the memorial before returning home to relax the remainder of the afternoon before dinner.

Day 5

Barnes Canyon Trail Loop, Custer SP, SD:
Distance: ~7miles (11.4km), Elevation Gain: 859′ (262m)

Barnes Canyon Trail gets its name from a 19th-century homestead once tucked deep within its walls. A scenic hike along a recently converted historic two-track road offering a peaceful way to experience the southern Black Hills. Once scouted for mica and feldspar, minerals that were highly sought after during the Black Hills mining boom of the late 1800s, the Barnes Canyon Trail follows the historic routes carved out by homesteaders, loggers, and miners along the banks of Dry Creek.

This trail features classic Black Hills scenery: wide-open vistas, wildlife viewing, rolling terrain, unique small rock formations, a seasonal stream and frequent opportunities to see bison in their natural habitat.

Day 6 

Horse Thief, Centennial & Grizzley Creek Loop, Black Elk Wilderness SD:

Distance: ~10.5miles (11km), Elevation Gain: 1765′ (538m)

Today, after breakfast, we head to the Badlands National Park for the last hike of our trip. Badlands National Park offers some of the most striking otherworldly landscapes found in South Dakota. The Badlands combine breathtaking natural scenery with rich cultural history. It captivates with its stark rock formations and rolling prairies. It’s the kind of place that makes you gasp out loud. Next comes silence as you soak it all in.

Day 5

Rapid City, SD:

We will enjoy our last breakfast together before packing up and heading to the Rapid City Regional Airport. While possibly not expecting to be blown away, after exploring the Badlands, Wind Cave National Park plus Custer State Park, South Dakota with its scenic vistas, wildlife encounters and quaint towns, may have won you over. All together these hopefully made your visit unforgettable.

Please schedule all homebound flights for after 2 pm.