Black HillsHome to the tallest peaks east of the Rockies, the
Black Hills are part of the western region of
South Dakota, an area with endless monuments and parks, most popular with visitors. Blessed with towering peaks, blankets of forests and meandering rivers, Black Hills is a pristine haven for fishing, biking, hiking, camping and rock climbing as well as sightseeing. Native Americans have inhabited the area since 7000 B.C. making the Black Hills a region of spiritual and historical significance. Ownership of land passed through the hands of many Indian tribes, resting with the Lakota
who still reside there today. The setting of the last Indian War between the Lakota, enterprising gold miners and the
United States, ownership of the Black Hills is still a contested topic today.
The diverse geology of the Black Hills as well as its abundance of indigenous flora and fauna is what attracts visitors each year. In
Badlands National Park, erosion has created a terrain of desolate beauty, with sharp buttes, twisting spires and deep gorges. It is also one of the world's richest fossil beds. In Jewel Cave, the third longest cave in the world, visitors can explore miles of underground passageways with stunning rock formations. Scenic drives through
Custer State Park offer amazing encounters with the once-endangered bison, now flourishing in free-roaming herds.
Black Hills is also the setting for the popular
HBO series
Deadwood, which is in fact filmed in
California. The City Fathers of
Deadwood have created a false wooden street front based on the original town and similar to the one on the television series. But for more mammoth attractions, Black Hills is also home to one of America's famous landmarks,
Mount Rushmore and the
Crazy Horse Memorial, the world's largest sculpture, on which work has been underway since 1948.
Climate: Black Hills enjoys a continental climate with four distinct seasons. The area is known to be susceptible to wide ranging weather systems from raging blizzards to blistering droughts. During the winter months snowstorms do occur, but Black Hills is often warmer than
Rapid City in the winter due to its elevated position and a temperature inversion. During the summer months days are sunny and warm but afternoon thunderstorms are common. May and June are the wettest months of the year.
