South Dakota

Welcome to the Black Hills of South Dakota!

Afternoon arrival at the Rapid City Regional Airport and checking in at the historic Hotel Alex Johnson downtown Rapid. If time permits for those who arrive early, we will visit The Journey Museum. The Journey Museum takes you on an incredible trek through time, from the formation of the mystical Black Hills over 2.5 billion years ago to the continuing saga of the western frontier. Four unique prehistoric and historic collections allow you to actually see, hear and touch history.

You are likely to see one of the largest publicly owned buffalo herds in the country. Participants will ride in jeeps especially made for off-road tours through back country not accessible to the general public. It is a wonderful opportunity to get up close to wildlife and nature and take wildlife photography.

Badlands National Park. It is famous for its fantastically eroded landscapes. Fossils 37 to 23 million years old appear from eroding buttes and gullies. Buffalo, Pronghorn Antelope, Big Horn Sheep, Mule Deer and other small prairie animals may be seen throughout the Badlands. Following this, you will visit the Ben Reifel Visitor Center which features a new exhibit gallery, an enlarged bookstore, a new information desk and 100-seat theatre with surround sound.

The rest of the day you will experience the Lakota culture, history, land and wildlife of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. You will be escorted through the vast Pine Ridge Reservation highlighting the main attractions, one of which is Wounded Knee. You will be taken to places that are "off the beaten path". Lakota guides will be along to give you facts and history about their people, culture and places.

You will be able to visit a famous school founded by Chief Red Cloud and the Jesuits near Pine Ridge. A world-famous annual art exhibition is being held at the Red Cloud Heritage Center where members of your group will have an opportunity to view and purchase Native American art from all across the continent. It will also provide an educational opportunity for you about the Lakota past and present way of life.

You will be stopping at a casino located on the Pine Ridge for our evening meal and a little gambling before heading back to the Black Hills where we will overnight at a comfortable hotel in Keystone, South Dakota. Keystone is located just south of Rapid City, at the base of Mount Rushmore. It is originally a mining town now turned into a lively resort town. It is a fun village to visit with lots of shopping for gifts and souvenirs and Black Hills Gold jewelry.

Gold in them their hills!

Following breakfast at the hotel you will be able to experience Old Keystone by visiting an authentic gold mine. Big Thunder Gold Mine has recaptured the excitement and romance of this bygone era. Find yourself traveling back in time as you tour the authentic 1890's gold mine and learn about the mining experience from knowledgeable guides. They feature a video on mining history and you can also learn how to pan for gold where you're guaranteed to find a sample of 24K genuine placer gold!

Discover the artist and the man, Gutzon Borglum! You will be able to visit the Borglum Historical Center in Keystone. An exciting tour for the whole family! Venture into the world of Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore, from the blasting of the stone to the grandeur of the "Seated Lincoln." The Borglum Story will enable children and adults to step back and become part of the carving years.

The highlight of your Black Hills vacation will be visiting our National Shrine to Democracy - Mount Rushmore and the Visitors Center. The faces are 60 foot granite of four US Presidents carved by Sculptor Gutzon Borglum which tells the story of America's first 150 years. We will feed our faces while viewing the Famous Faces!

You will check in at an exciting hotel complex in Deadwood where you can have a free evening to experience the Deadwood night life or families can just stay back at the property and enjoy the different activities available.

The following is a sample of a special youth expedition in the Black Hills of South Dakota:

Wind Cave of South Dakota Arrive into Rapid City on day one. The next five days are spent doing all types of activities and seeing well-known attractions in the Black Hills of South Dakota area. Your group is kept busy visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, visiting key attractions like Reptile Gardens, Cosmos Mystery Area and Bear Country USA. The kids can cool off going down an exciting waterslide. Take a guided morning trail ride in the Black Elk Wilderness area. You'll probably even see deer, elk, and buffalo during your ride. Horses are well broke and accustomed to the rocky trails.

You will be abe able to take a buffalo jeep safari where you can have a close encounter with the buffalo. Get a taste of what it is like to be a spelunker by going deep down into a cave at Wind Cave National Park. We take you back to prehistoric days when you experience one of the world's greatest fossil treasures at the Mammoth site. Then let the gang have great fun at the Evans Plunge, the world's largest natural warm water pool. Go back to the wild west when you look at wild horses living on their own sanctuary.

Harney Peak, South Dakota You will be amazed when you walk into the world's largest drug store, Wall Drug Store, which started many years ago when Mr. Hustead wanted to attract people off the hot, dusty road by offering them free ice water. Now it is a site to behold with many fun things to do and see as well as shop.

Pretend to be a cowboy or cowgirl by taking part on a wagon train ride along a scenic river and then being entertained by the real "McCoy" who will serenade you with old-time cowpoke music. Mountain biking on a great trail in the heart of the Hills will get rid of some of their energy as well as get them up close to real nature. Go back in time riding the 1880 Train as you hear and feel the powerful steam engine tugging the passenger cars throughout the woods and prairies. Reach the highest peak in the Black Hills by taking a guided hike to the top of the Harney Peak Trail. On day seven we have to say our "good-byes" and take you back to the Rapid City Airport.

Native American Cultural Experiences and Historic Indian Battlefields

The original people of the plains bring their culture alive as they sing, dance and tell of their centuries-old legends. Go back in time when you visit historic battlefields where the whites and the Sioux fought bitter disputes. We can visit the Wounded Knee Massacre site on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and many other Native American sites according to your wishes.

Viewers will be able to observe these magnificent animals during an exciting, guided, camera jeep safari through scenic wooded hills and wild prairies. You will have a close encounter with these majestic creatures that once roamed by the millions on the wide-open prairies of the "real west." You will be amazed at how many wild animals there are in the "real America." See wild herds of deer, antelope, elk, buffalo, bear, moose, mountain goats, big horn sheep, and domestic livestock and many other small mammals. See wild horses roaming in their very own sanctuary. Take an American safari on the open plains of the Great Plains.

Lewis & Clark River Cruise

Many years ago in the infancy of the Great Plains territory, the mighty Missouri River was the primary mode of transportation. You can get a feel of the "old west" by taking this ride down the Missouri with its entire natural splendor.

The Missouri River reservoirs offer some of the best freshwater fishing in North America. Wild West Expeditions can add this guided fishing expedition into your dream western vacation.

Riding on a Vintage Steam Engine Train

Imagine yourself immersed in the staggering beauty of the Black Hills or western South Dakota.

Imagine you're gliding over the rugged landscape aboard a vintage steam train, like those that helped settle the Great American West.

Caves

If your are interest, you can take you to famous caves in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Jewel Cave, discovered in 1900, was declared a national monument eight years later. Explorers have mapped more than 90 miles of passageways in this underground labyrinth. Rare and unusual calcite crystal formations like miniature knobs of "popcorn" and thick rinds of "dogtooth spar" crystals gave Jewel Cave its name. Wind Cave became the first cave designated as part of the National Park system. Now, more than 70 miles of mapped corridors and halls make it the sixth longest cave in the world. Honeycomb-shaped boxwork, tangled helictite bushes and other delicate formations line its secret mazes.

If you are a real adventurous person, the technical face-climbing offered in the Black Hills is considered some of the best in the world. Mountaineers say most climbs are short, but very difficult. They range from Easy 5.0 to Extremely Difficult 5.14. It is a great place to practice the purist style of free climbing because there are so many individual summits within this miniature mountain range. We can arrange climbing lessons, gear and guided climbs.

Camping

If you would prefer to camp, we can get you set up in a camping situation you would enjoy. The Black Hills has enough camping spots to accommodate 25,000 people. Camping among the pines is great and there are no bears here.