Cheyenne & Louis
Things To Do
Black Hills Bagels
Our first date spot! Casual breakfast spot with great bagels and chill western vibes.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Wouldn't be a trip to the hills without checking out Mount Rushmore! I would recommend taking the time to stop at the Crazy Horse Memorial as well. It is cool to see the progress of the monument and the museum there has even more to walk through than Mount Rushmore.
Badlands National Park
We love the Badlands! We hiked here when we first started dating and went back to take engagement photos here too. Beautiful views and walking trails. Bring lots of water on a hot day! It is a couple hours drive from Rapid but well worth the trip (stop by Wall Drug for free ice water and 5 cent coffee).
Pactola Lake
One of my (Cheyenne) favorite summer activities is paddle boarding. There is a place to rent paddle boards at Pactola Lake, as well as Sheridan Lake. If you are not a paddle boarder, there are also kayaks and boats you can try out! Louie recommends the fishing at Sheridan Lake as well.
Black Elk Peak Trailhead
Love this for a longer hike! It is the highest point in South Dakota - about 8 miles for a round trip. Cool off in Sylvan Lake at the end!
Lovers Leap Trailhead
You'll have to a pay a park fee to get to this trail (the fee is worth it because Custer State Park is the BEST place to spot a buffalo), but it's a gorgeous one. Since we are here to celebrate love, the Lover's Leap trail seems like the right choice. Explore the history behind this trail and its name, and enjoy a longer loop hike in the heart of the hills. It's perfect for people who want a bit of a challenge, but aren't up for the length of the Black Elk trail.
Hippie Hole
A short but slightly difficult little hike will take you to this fun, local cliff jumping spot. Ask for directions before heading out (may or may not have a story about getting lost trying to find this one).
Wind Cave National Park
One of our favorite date memories! Stop by for a cave tour or to walk the grassland paths above. According to the Lakota, this is where all humans and buffalo originate. Louie referred to himself as the "cave creep" for months after this experience.
Hill City
A quick 10 minute trip down the road from the venue will take you into Hill City. There are some fun little restaurants and shops, but we have had the most fun renting ATVs there. You can rent for the day and are given a map of the best trails to ride on through the hills. It's an activity we definitely recommend trying out if you are looking for some adventuring to do.
Deadwood
We have had a couple fun trips to Deadwood. Cheyenne recommends it for the western vibes and the museums, BUT there is so much more to see and do as well! Over the 4th weekend, there are lots of concerts and events going on. Spend the day and night here exploring the little shops, enjoying the bar scene, watching a shoot-out reenactment, and hitting up any of the rows of casinos.
Reptile Gardens
You gotta explore Reptile Gardens while in Rapid. Not only are there giant crocodiles and hoards of snakes, but there is also an eagle named Cheyenne (see pic). Reptile Gardens is actually right across the street from the bed and breakfast that Louie stayed at while working in Rapid City when we first met.
Bear Country USA
After Reptile Gardens, continue a couple minutes further down the highway (towards the venue) and make a stop to explore Bear Country. Just make sure to not have any coolers of deli meat attached to the back of your car before entering the park.