MORE Area Attractions
THE TRI-STATE MUSEUM
Western South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana have a rich and fascinating history. This cool history museum on the banks of the river park, has amazing exhibits, weekly events and special programs. Enjoy their Riverfest Festival or other River Walk activities. Play some frisbee golf on our course, jog or bike the city trails. Check out the history of the Tri-State from rodeos and outlaws, pioneers and early settlers, Native Americans, early American antiques, firearms and even some dinos. Well worth a visit.
THE GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER OF THE NATION MONUMENT
In 1959, with the admission of Alaska and Hawaii to our union, Belle Fourche, became the geographical center of the USA! Technically, the actual spot is about 20 miles north of Belle in the middle of a rancher’s field, but who wants to go to the middle of nowhere to see the middle of nowhere (LOL!- You can also visit this too- just kidding- we need T-shirts that say this!). In the early 2000’s the US Coast and Geodetic Survey named Belle Fourche the official center of our nation and build a beautiful monument behind the museum at the riverfront park. Great photo spot and place for a picnic.
ROCKY POINT STATE RECREATION AREA
After a day of dinosaur digging under a blazing sun, you can cool off in the waters of the Belle Fourche Reservoir and Rocky Point State Recreation Area. Its a great place to kayak or canoe, have a picnic, camp at the campground or take a dip in the warm shallow waters. Visit what was once the largest earthen dam in the world at Orman Dam or try your hand at some local fishing! Fisher-people will love this reservoir for its abundant and very tasty Walleye! You can even beach comb for Cretaceous aged marine fossils like ammonites and clams (but don’t touch the vertebrates because that is illegal).
BEAR BUTTE STATE PARK
A short 30 minute drive East gets you to one of the most under utilized state parks in western South Dakota. This is Bear Butte, the core of an ancient volcano that is related to the geology of Devils Tower. Bear Butte is a quiet, spiritual place, revered as sacred to the Native American Tribes of the Area. Expect a very rugged hike to the top, but amazing views all around.
THE ANNUAL BLACK HILLS ROUNDUP
Who’s ready for some RODEO! Belle Fourche hosts the second largest event in the Black Hills, every fourth of July, the Black Hills Roundup! This is a four day event with a professional PCRA rodeo competition, kids and high school events, a downtown cattle drive, fourth of July parade and small-town carnival. The fireworks are amazing with the entire town lit up in a 360 degree view! Grab your cowboy hats and American flags for a great holiday barbecue!
THE ANNUAL STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY
In Early August, for two weeks, its time to be “Born to be Wild”, with the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This is the largest event in the Black Hills with some years totaling over half a million bikers in attendance. The whole town of Sturgis comes alive with folks from all around the world, show and shining their favorite Haleys and Indians. Take your ride on one of the many scenic routes all around the Black Hills, do a poker run, sip your favorite beverage at one of the many restaurants and taverns or see a world class rock or country music performance at many one the local venues.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BELLE FOURCHE
Prior to the construction of I-90, Belle Fourche was known as the antique capital of South Dakota. With the construction of I-90 forcing many travelers south, Belle hit on some harder times in the 1970’s-1990’s. Tourists heading to Yellowstone, often by-passed the town and went south east by a mere 10 miles. The last two decades, however, have seen a re-emergence of Belle Fourche as the “Gateway to the Northern Hills”, “Where you and the West are one”. Check out the many shops, western stores and food venues down town. Walk the streets where the infamous Sundance Kid along with the Wild Bunch gang patrolled. Hang out in a notorious cow town made famous by the John Wayne film “The Cowboys”. Join in on our many local annual events, such as The annual Black Hills Roundup, the Christmas Parade of Lights and the Thursday night street parties. Everything from pick-up truck rallys to cattle drives can be found in our cozy little slice of the American Dream.
SPEARFISH CANYON
Visitors to the Black Hills should not miss Spearfish Canyon, one of this northern Black Hills most scenic areas. This is simply a beautiful scenic drive with lots of places to get out and go for a hike or dip your feet in the clean, clear and cold waters of Spearfish Creek. Check out Spearfish Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, the Devils Bathtub and my personal favorite… Roughlock Falls. Keep an eye out for mountain goats, deer, elk or even mountain lions. Try your hand at fly-fishing the streams for rainbow and spotted trout. Or just drive up the canyon enjoy the tall, limestone canyon walls and have a nice dinner at one of the nearby restaurants or bed and breakfasts. If you love the outdoors, Spearfish Canyon should not be missed.
SPEARFISH CITY PARK and DC BOOTH TROUT HATCHERY
Grab the picnic blanket, the dog and a raft for some good old summer fun at the Spearfish Park and DC Booth Trout Hatchery. This is one of my families favorite spots to just chill out. This gorgeous park is within walking distance to downtown Spearfish with all of their restaurants and shops. Guests are free to tube down the shallow river, or play on the large kids playground. The fish Hatchery is also an added attraction, with an observation window into the main pond to see all the mega trout they are raising.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DEADWOOD
No Black Hills vacation is complete without a stroll down the infamous streets of Deadwood South Dakota. Deadwood is the epitome of the “wild west”, with a rich and complicated history of miners, outlaws, lawmen, pioneers, entrepreneurs and gamblers. This is where Wild Bill Hickok was shot in the back and Calamity Jane learned how to master the art of foul language. Today Deadwood is still very much a wild place with small to mid-sized gambling casinos, dusty taverns, restaurants and shops. Take a ghost or brothel tours of its many architectually interesting buildings. Try you hand at the black jack tables or catch a concert from top performers at the Deadwood Mountain Grand. Watch the famous “Deadwood Alive” re-enactors tell the tales of outlaws and gunslingers with live performances throughout the day in the summer. Visit the Mount Moriah Cemetary, Days of 76 Museum, Adams House and Adams Museum as you step back into the past. No need to drive in as there is a public trolly system that ferrys people from most of the hotels on an hourly basis. Spend and hour or spend a week, there is always something fun to do in Deadwood.
ANNUAL COOL DEADWOOD NIGHTS
Deadwood has lots of festivals and activities ranging from a Valentines Day “Wine and Chocolate Stroll” to “Oktoberfest” to the crazy “Deadweird” Halloween bash. All are super fun! The biggest one held annually is called “Cool Deadwood Nights” which is a class car show and music festival held in late August. Check out all the American muscle cars, trucks, rat-rods and classic coupes at various contests, rides and show and shines for a two day event. This is one that if you are in the area for dino digs you should check out.
SANFORD WELCOME CENTER, NEUTRINO LABS, LEAD AND THE OPEN CUT
The Homestake gold mine in Lead South Dakota was one of the largest, most productive and deepest mines in North America . It was so deep (8,000 ft.), that when it closed in 2002, physicists thought that it could be used to detect dark matter and neutrinos, particles that are hard to detect on the Earth’s surface. Born was the Sandford Underground Research Facility, one of the deepest labs in the western hemisphere. While you can’t go underground to see all the crazy physics experiments you can visit the welcome center and learn all about their important, ground-breaking research. You can also peer over the size of the big “Open Cut” where the Homestake Gold mine did surface mining early on.
VORE BUFFALO JUMP
Bison were the most important food source for the Native American tribes of this area for thousands of years. One of the ways that they would be able to hunt and bring down the massive beasts was to surround them, get them to stampede and run them off of cliffs. Horrific for the bison, but a safer way to hunt for the tribe. Just over the Wyoming line, in a slim strip of land north of I-90 is the Vore Buffalo Jump, and archeological site with a small interpretive center worth a stop. The sinkhole the Native American hunters used to trap and kill the bison is exposed and thousands of bones and artifacts are on display.
DEVILS TOWER
About one hour east of the dinosaur museum, on the Wyoming side of the Black Hills and on the way to Yellowstone stands the natural monolith of Devils Tower. Devils Tower is really a geologic wonder and the first national monument declared by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906. This massive pillar of volcanic rock stands over 1,200 feet above the surface. It is the core of an extinct volcano and stands higher than the surrounding hills due to differential weathering. The tower is a mecca for hikers with lots of trails around it and to it. Mountain climbers are drawn to the spot and can climb with a permit. Some folks just like to drive up to the welcome center, past the prairie dog town and learn about the Native American beliefs, history of the monument and its geology. Some prefer to stay outside the National Monument and play a round of golf in nearby Hueltte, Wyoming. Me, I like to camp nearby and scour the infinite night sky, searching for aliens (thanks to the Stephen Speilberg movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind). I’ll find a few one day.