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Custer, South Dakota

Looking for the best photography in Custer? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Custer. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

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Top Photography Spots in and near Custer

  • Hermosa, South Dakota

    Explore the Spokane Ghost Town

    1 mi / 4521 ft gain
    Spokane will always be one of my favorite locations in the hills. The town was founded in 1890 and features 3 intact structures from that time. The most intact structure is the manager's house which you can find up on a hill behind the other buildings. A few years ago the old school house finally...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Hike through Hell Canyon

    5.3 mi
    The Trailhead lies down in the canyon bottom, just one mile west of Jewel Cave National Monument and 13 miles west of Custer. Upon arrival, you are greeted by the parking lot, which is right off the highway and boasts a spacious gravel lot to park in. Since the trail is a loop, you can go either ...
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Hippie Hole

    4.8
    0.3 mi
    While making your way to the parking area, you'll keep right for the most part. You'll also need a high clearance vehicle or the patience to drive very slowly. The dirt road to the trailhead is full of dips, holes, rocks, and essentially could be a close relative of off roading. If you do not hav...
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  • Hot Springs, South Dakota

    Camp at Elk Mountain Campground in Wind Cave National Park

    4.0
    Elk Mountain Campground is in a secluded area of the park, providing plenty of peace and quiet. Sites operate on a first come, first serve basis, although the campground was less than half full when we stayed in the middle of busy summer months. There are about 64 sites available in the campgroun...
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  • Hot Springs, South Dakota

    Tour Wind Cave

    4.8
    0.67 mi / 6 ft gain
    Established in 1903, Wind Cave National Park is home to over 140 miles of mapped cave passages. The cave features 95% of the world's known boxwork calcite formations and got its name from the sound of rushing wind created at its few small openings.A guided tour is the only way to see the cave sys...
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  • Rapid City, South Dakota

    Dakota Point at Sheridan Lake via the North Trail

    2.2 mi / 200 ft gain
    There are 2 ways to get to Dakota Point, one from the north that is more common which I will talk about (or one from the south). The trail that starts on the north side of the lake is a nice easy trail to follow, it is wide and well-worn mostly in forested areas. Keep your eyes out for wildlife...
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  • Hot Springs, South Dakota

    Photograph Sunset at Wind Cave NP

    5.0
    Above the famous Wind Cave, miles of natural mixed-grass natural prairie cover the Black Hills. In summer, the lush grasses attract the park's free-roaming bison herd as well as elk, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets.One of the best spots for capturing sunset over the pra...
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  • Rapid City, South Dakota

    Hike to the Stratobowl Rim

    2 mi / 100 ft gain
    The winding trail to the Stratobowl is a gradual and easy hike, which is perfect for the whole family or for a quick excursion if you don't have a lot of time. It is roughly a mile to the Rim overlook, where there is a plaque commemorating the November 11th, 1935 balloon flight that launched 72,3...
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  • Rapid City, South Dakota

    Fly Fish from the Rapid Creek Trailhead

    2 mi
    To get the the trailhead for Rapid Creek you must turn to the east onto Pactola Basin Road or FS road 164 when on Highway 385 crossing the Pactola Reservoir. The road down to the trailhead is steep and can be rough depending on the time of the year. Once at the trailhead there is a parking area, ...
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  • Rapid City, South Dakota

    Hike the Deerfield Lake Trail to Slate Creek Convergence

    5 mi / 60 ft gain
    The Deerfield Lake trail is overall 23 miles long, but this post is just about the section of the trail that starts at Silver City where Rapid Creek flows into Pactola Reservoir, and follows the creek upstream to where Slate Creek converges, about 2.5 miles from the trailhead. You could follow th...
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  • Hill City, South Dakota

    Camp at Castle Creek Campground

    5.0
    0.25 mi / 0 ft gain
    Castle Creek is a challenging place to get to, the road in the off seasons can be even more difficult. In the spring/early summer when the road is wet it can become rutted. There is one road to get to the campground from the East from Mystic it is about 8 rough narrow miles, but you could arrive ...
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  • Rapid City, South Dakota

    Hike to Falling Rock Overlook

    0.5 mi / 50 ft gain
    The beautiful hike is a tremendous spot to get out of town and enjoy the scenery and a great view of Rapid Creek down in the canyon below.  Parking is right off Falling Rock Rd. then the trail is a very well marked path through the trees, easy to follow, and leads you right to the edge of limesto...
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  • Rapid City, South Dakota

    Explore the Skyline Wilderness Area

    3 mi / 0 ft gain
    Dividing Rapid City's East and West sides, the Skyline Wilderness Area is a 150-acre park that features numerous walking, biking and hiking trails. This area can also be enjoyed as a beautiful drive that offers one of the best views of Rapid City.  The road stretches about two miles long and giv...
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  • Hill City, South Dakota

    Camp at Black Fox Campground

    Black Fox is 9 miles west of Rochford has nine campsites along the Rhoads Fork Creek where it meets up with the South Fork of Rapid Creek. Campsites are nicely arranged for the most part with a fire pit and picnic table at each site. From the campground there are many things to do, many people en...
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  • Northeast Fall River, South Dakota

    Swim at Cascade Falls

    2.0
    Cascade Falls is 10 miles south of Hot Springs on highway 71, it is easy to access, and is a great spot for a picnic or to cool off in the cool waters on hot days! There are several picnic tables, vault toilets and a large parking area, and just a short walk down to the falls. The pool at the bas...
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  • Lead, South Dakota

    Camp at Hanna Campground

    0.25 mi / 0 ft gain
    The campground is located 7.5 miles south of Lead on Highway 85, then turn left on road 196, there will be a sign for Hanna CG, from there it is just over 2 miles to the campground. The campground has 13 total sites, the main area of the CG is closed during the fall winter and spring, but there a...
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Go Great Places in South Dakota

In the Mount Rushmore state, travels to South Dakota are full of one-of-a-kind adventure with wide-open spaces as endless as the horizons. Between legendary landscapes and scenic drives, you can always find space that shifts life into park. When you’re ready, go great places.

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