Regional Attractions

Nestled in the Black Hills, the Rushmore Region offers unmatched outdoor living and recreation for residents and visitors alike. From the granite spires of Needles Highway to Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and the serene waters of various lakes, the landscape supports hiking, climbing, mountain biking, fishing, and scenic drives that fuel tourism and local entrepreneurship. This page highlights how the region’s outdoor assets translate into economic opportunity while inviting you to explore, invest, and grow in a place where outdoor recreation and business success go hand in hand.

Not only is the Rushmore Region a great place to work, it's also a great place to play. Surrounded by a veritable million-acre playground, the Black Hills stand on the Great Plains as an emerald oasis in a vast sea of surrounding prairie. Its wonders include world-class trout fishing, world-class rock climbing, thousands of miles of hiking, biking, and snowmobile trails, five national parks, monuments, and memorials (the highest concentration of all three in America), and a myriad of big-game hunting opportunities.

Outdoor Activities to Enjoy:

Hiking and Biking: The 110-mile Mickelson Trail, a rails-to-trails project, runs from Deadwood to Edgemont. It offers some of the best bicycling in the United States. For backpackers, the Centennial Trail will take you to some of the most isolated backcountry spots in the Black Hills. Many cities have their own trail systems, including Rapid City’s Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park, Spearfish’s Lookout Mountain, and Sturgis’s Deadman Trail System.
Fishing: Rapid Creek and Spearfish Creek sustain naturally reproducing trout habitats. Smaller streams offer good fishing as well. Sheridan Lake, Pactola Lake, Deerfield Lake, Angostura Reservoir, and Belle Fourche Reservoir yield a variety of fishing opportunities.
Boating: Angostura Reservoir, at 4,400 acres, and Belle Fourche Reservoir, with 8,000 acres, are the largest and most popular areas for boating. Kayakers and canoeists have more choices, ranging from the bays of Pactola and Sheridan Lakes to the many pristine lakes inside Custer State Park.
Skiing: The Rushmore Region has two downhill ski areas: Mystic Miner Mountain Resort has 44 runs and a 700-foot drop; Terry Peak Ski Area has 30 trails and a 1,000-foot drop. Cross-country ski areas include Eagle Cliff, Big Hill, Beaver Creek, and Bear Mountain. Snowshoeing is popular throughout the Black Hills.
Camping: Black Hills National Forest has 30 campgrounds, and Custer State Park has 13. In addition, there are scores of private campgrounds and RV parks scattered throughout the region, offering everything from full-service RV resorts to natural wilderness sites.