Black Hills of South Dakota near Mt Rushmore

July 6 through 13, 2009

Black Hills near Mount Rushmore.

Mount Rushmore isn't the only thing in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Here are some of the other things you should do when in the Black Hills. The Needles Scenic Drive is one of the things you should do. You should also plan to stop by Sylvan Lake, Iron Mountain Road, and Custer State Park when in the Black Hills.

We are camped near Custer State Park and the town of Custer in the southern part of the Black Hills at Custer's Gulch RV-Park. It is an OK commercial campground just like dozens of others in this area.

Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills of South Dakota is one the places you want to visit

This large exposure of granite protrudes from Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Make sure you stop and visit Sylvan Lake.

Iron Mountain and the Iron Mountain Scenic Highway with the Pig Tail Bridges is a must

This is a view from near the top of Iron Mountain not far from Mt. Rushmore.

The Iron Mountain Scenic Drive with all the tunnels is something that is a "must" to do when in the Black Hills.

Custer State Park and the Wildlife Loop in the Black Hills of South Dakota

This is an exposure of sandstone (sedimentary rock) along French Creek visible from the "wildlife-loop". The red is appearing brighter because of the sun setting behind us as this picture was taken. For those of you not familiar with the Black Hills the "wildlife-loop" is located in the southern part of the Black Hills where the dome of molten rock did not push up nearly as far as it did further north around Mt. Rushmore. This sedimentary rock has not eroded away as the sedimentary rock has further north ---- in the Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood area. However, a creek has eroded this formation. You can see the path of that small stream of water outlined by the green trees at the bottom of the cliff. Water & time, lots of time, create cuts like this that expose thousands upon thousands of years in geological time.

Needles Highway Scenic Drive in the Black Hills of South Dakota

The Needles Highway Scenic Drive is another one of those things that you just have to do when in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Needles Highway Scenic Drive in the Black Hills of South Dakota

The "Needles" from a distance on the Needles Highway.

Needles Scenic Highway is one of several awesome scenic drives in the Black Hills of South Dakota

The views throughout the Black Hills are totally breathtaking.

Scenic drive near Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota

This is very near Mt. Rushmore. In fact I think Washington's face is visible just around the edge of that granite wall.