Hill City: Experience the Lakes and Wildlife of the Black Hills
Hill City, a small town in the Black Hills, is full of exciting outdoor recreation opportunities. From kayaking, boating and pontooning to water-skiing, scuba diving and cliff diving, nearby Pactola Lake is your one-stop destination for water recreation. Pactola Lake also offers biking and hiking trails and 83 campsites. Just two miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial sits Horsethief Lake. The lake is a popular fishing spot year-round. It also attracts visitors for hiking, non-motorized boating and ice-skating in the winter. Drive through Bear Country USA wildlife park and see black bears, grizzly bears, elk, mountain lions, buffalo and more.
Experience the Wine and Wonder of South Dakota
Mickelson Trail
Hill City offers one of the best spots to jump on the Mickelson Trail, a 109-mile premier South Dakota trail that features trestle bridges, railroad tunnels and a seemingly endless expanse of natural beauty.
Black Elk Peak
Emerging from Black Elk Wilderness in gorgeous Custer State Park, Black Elk Peak is the highest elevation between the Rocky Mountains in the western United States and the Pyrenees Mountains in France. Take a beautiful hike to the peak, which features an aged fire tower that offers a perfect venue for amazing views.
1880 Train
Take a two-hour train ride through the Black Hills on a vintage steam engine with 1880 Train. This fun-filled tour will give you a sense of South Dakota's gold mining past, as well as incredible views of the Black Hill.
Black Hills Institute of Geological Research
These folks know fossils. Check out the extensive collection of dinosaur, mammal, reptile and other specimens, including a T.rex fossil skeleton named Stan.
Hill City boasts all sorts of Black Hills adventures. From lake activities to wildlife parks, you won’t want to miss these exciting opportunities in Hill City.
23935 Highway 385
Hill City, SD57745
United States
PLACES to Stay
A lodge overlooking the hills? A cozy B&B? A campsite under the stars? You’ll find all these and more among our long list of options.
Where to Eat and Drink
Fuel your Black Hills adventure with a well-crafted coffee drink, or spend dinner delving into history with a full chuckwagon experience. It’s all on the menu here.
WhAT to see and do nearby
While Mount Rushmore is the big draw here, you’ll want to stick around to go digging for gold, spot bears at a drive-through wildlife park and see one of the world’s biggest T-Rex skeletons.
Check Out These Hill City Businesses
