Things To Do
Hiking in Custer State Park
Check out page 19 of the Tatanka guide to find the perfect trail for you! We love Little Devil's Tower and Black Elk Peak, you can start these trails right at Sylvan Lake!
Biking in the Black Hills
The Mickelson Trail stretches over 100 miles across the Black Hills - our favorite stretches of this trail are close to Sylvan Lake between Hill City and Custer! This link has a great annotated map of 2 and 4 hour rides and bike rentals!
Floating on Sylvan Lake
Rent a kayak, canoe, or stand up paddleboard right at Sylvan Lake to enjoy this serene mountain lake! Not crazy about being on the open water? There's beach access on the north end of the lake to lounge on the shore!
Crazy Horse Memorial
If you hope to visit a giant mountain sculpture in South Dakota, make it this one! The Crazy Horse Memorial is more than just the monument, but also museums, local Lakota artists, and programming to learn more about the Lakota people and South Dakota history!
Gold Discovery Days in Custer
Our wedding lands right in the middle of Gold Discovery Days, a weekend festival in Custer, SD! They host a 5K/fun run, a parade, hot air balloons, a car show, a craft fair, a cornhole tournament, and more!
Alpine Inn
Our favorite Black Hills steakhouse! They don't take reservations, but you can get your name on the list as early as 4pm... but you won't mind the wait, especially if there's live music in the bar!
Purple Pie Place
A must-visit for a sweet treat in Custer! There's ice cream, pie, a pig out front... what's not to love? Kyle recommends the Bumbleberry pie (but you really can't go wrong)!
Caboose Coffee Company
Just across the road from the 1880 Train Depot one of our favorite spots for coffee in the Black Hills, Jacob knows a great mocha when he finds one!
The Sour
Need a quick bite before beginning your journey home? The Sour Bakery has fantastic pastries, cinnamon rolls, and coffee to start your day!