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Keystone, South Dakota

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Top Spots in and near Keystone

  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Hike to Ingersoll Abandoned Mine

    2.5
    0.5 mi / 4990 ft gain
    Drive into Keystone, take a right on Old Hill City Road, drive for a little over two miles, you'll pass both Kemp's Kamp and the K Bar S Lodge, and look for Echo Valley Dr. on your left. As soon as you pass Echo Valley Dr, keep your eyes out for a pull off on the right. Once you get to the trailh...
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore

    4.7
    0.71 mi / 137 ft gain
    The closest possible access to Mount Rushmore National Monument is achieved by walking the Presidential Trail, which takes you to the bottom of the rock pile below the carving. This loop trail is just shy of 1 mile and offers a unique perspective with a chance to view some wildlife. Expect ther...
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Mt. Rushmore Profile View

    Cool little pull off area to get a shot of Washington’s face from the side between the mountains. There is a pull off on both sides of the road and a popular spot to stop and photograph this unique perspective of Mt. Rushmore.  For the loop trail to see more of the sites of Mt. Rushmore, check o...
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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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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Rock Climb at 1880 Wall

    0.1 mi / 150 ft gain
    There are 2 walls named the 1880 Wall, one is the East Wall and the other is the West Wall. To get there you will need to follow Old Hill City Road, either from Hill City or from Keystone. If coming from Keystone it is about 3.8 miles heading west. There is a pullout right off the road and next t...
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Horse Thief Lake Trail

    4.0
    5.27 mi / 1132 ft gain
    Horse Thief Lake Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Keystone, South Dakota.
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Hike Iron Creek Trail #15

    2.4 mi / 200 ft gain
    The trail is accessible from 2 different spots, both give you the opportunity for a scenic drive to get there. The approach from the Northeast side is on Iron Mountain road a beautiful scenic Black Hills highway, and you will be very near Lakota Lake.  The Southwest trail head is a more rugged dr...
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  • Hermosa, South Dakota

    Stargaze at Spokane Ghost Town

    Great all year long but, especially stunning when the galactic center of the Milky Way is visible from Spring to Fall, Spokane Ghost Town is a local favorite and a hidden gem. Set up your camera, and light paint some old buildings! The ghost town was originally a mine founded in the late 1800's w...
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  • 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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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Hike Willow Creek Trail

    2.8 mi / 5200 ft gain
    The trailhead is located at the Willow Creek Horse Camp. This trail doesn't allow motorized vehicles but you may share it with some horses depending on when you venture onto the trail. The trail itself is pretty easy, it will take about 1.5-2 hours depending on your pace and is shaded for about h...
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  • Rapid City, South Dakota

    Spring Creek to Sheridan Lake Overview

    2.7 mi / 345 ft gain
    This hike cuts the popular Spring Trail Flume Trail Loop in half, making a beeline for the overlook of Sheridan Lake. It guides you alongside and over the gorgeous clear creek waters via a series of footbridges. Crossing the creek by way of rock hopping for the more adventurous hiker makes this t...
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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

    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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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Cathedral Spires in the Black Hills

    4.8
    1.65 mi / 200 ft gain
    This is a moderate hike with a huge payout in the form of some of the Black Hills' most beautiful features — tall granite spires rising hundreds of feet above the surrounding terrain, reaching a maximum height of 6,860 feet. Starting from the Cathedral Spires Trailhead --where you may be treated...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Drive Needles Highway in Custer State Park

    4.8
    Perfect for a pre or post Black Hills/Badlands adventure, Needles Highway is the joyride of a lifetime.  Entrance to Custer State Park costs 10 dollars, and do be prepared to keep it in low gear behind RVs and motorcycles. Pull-offs for photos and general marveling are frequent. 
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Hike to Little Devil's Tower in the Black Hills

    5.0
    The trail starts at the Little Devil's Tower Trailhead which is located roughly one mile east of Sylvan Lake on Highway 87. Take Trail #4 for around 1/2 mile until a fork in the trail. The right fork takes you to Harney Peak, while the left takes you to Little Devils Tower. Along the trail there ...
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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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Camping and Lodging in Keystone

Under Canvas Mount Rushmore
Keystone, South Dakota

Under Canvas Mount Rushmore

From $199 / night

Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch
Hill City, South Dakota

Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch

Iron Creek Horse Camp
Custer, South Dakota

Iron Creek Horse Camp

Custer / Mount Rushmore / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Custer, South Dakota

Custer / Mount Rushmore / Black Hills KOA Holiday

Rapid City / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Rapid City, South Dakota

Rapid City / Black Hills KOA Holiday

Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin
Newcastle, South Dakota

Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin

Guides, Insights and Stories from Keystone

3 Epic Days in Rapid City

3 Epic Days in Rapid City

CampCo

Tour De Granite

Tour De Granite

Isaac Parsons

Black Elk Peak-Nic

Black Elk Peak-Nic

Isaac Parsons

Floating Down the Cheyenne River

Floating Down the Cheyenne River

Isaac Parsons