Things to Do Near Jewel Cave National Monument

At the South Dakota Outdoor Shop we will outfit you to be outside doing what you love. Stop in our owner-operated store in Custer and let our excellent staff of outdoor-enthusiasts help meet all your adventure needs. From outdoor apparel and hiking, biking & climbing gear, to camping supplies, water sport rentals and beer & snacks, we’ve got everything you need in one spot so you can “Gear Up and Get Out”! Our hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12-4 p.m., Sunday.

Wild Spruce Market in downtown Custer is excited to provide a Black Hills source for specialty food, local produce & products, gluten-free & dairy-free choices, vegan & vegetarian options, and a mouth-watering selection of local grass-fed beef, bison, elk, chicken, and pork products. We also carry an assortment of natural health & beauty products...and we can't forget to mention our kombucha, wine, & beer bar - full of local taps and offering a place to relax. We have rotating local beer taps, an ever-changing kombucha on tap that is made just down the road in Rapid City, and a selection of house wines that can all be enjoyed at the bar or on our cozy patio. Our hours are 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday.

Located 3.5 miles west of Custer in Black Hills National Forest, the 19-acre Beaver Lake Campground has great rates, family camping and spacious, level, shaded and open sites to suit any size RV or tent. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings, and all tent sites have rain shelters. We also offer nine cabins as well as shower and laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi at the office, heated pool, playground, horseshoe pits, volleyball and basketball courts, dog park, and more. We are open April 1-November 1 and offer discounts for extended stays.

Pageant Hill in Custer is known as the spot where the annual 4th of July fireworks are displayed. But, it's a busy place the rest of the year, too. From sledding in the winter to disc golf and hiking year-round, Pageant Hill is a great spot to enjoy the outdoors. The area is mostly heavily wooded with some rocky outcroppings. The park is primitive and the disc golf course is ungroomed. There is a shelter and portable toilets, but no drinking water. For more information, contact the Custer Chamber of Commerce.

Few truly wild places remain in this country. Custer State Park is one of them. Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the park is home to a variety of wildlife and magnificent scenery spanning 71,000 acres. Nearly 1,300 bison roam the prairies and hills of the park, which they share with pronghorn, big horn sheep, elk and curious burros. Visitors often enjoy close encounters with these permanent residents along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road that winds around the southern edge of the park.

Located in the heart of the Black Hills of western South Dakota, Crazy Horse Memorial is the world's largest mountain carving in progress. When completed, the depiction of the great Lakota warrior will be 641 feet long and 563 feet high. Crazy Horse Memorial is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, with funding being provided by admission to the memorial and private donations. The purpose of the project is to protect and preserve the culture and living heritage of all North American Indians.

Located four miles south of Custer, Broken Arrow Horse Camp is a full hook-up RV park with facilities for your horses. We are in the middle of all the Black Hills attractions, plus miles and miles of trails. Come enjoy the hills with or with out your horse. We offer open-air horse barns, 40 pull-through RV sites, tent sites, five cabins, a four-room inn, outdoor kitchen, picnic pavilion, playground and general store. We are open seasonally, May through September. All reservations are handled by phone.

Legion Lake Lodge sits directly on the water's edge and features 26 cabins nestled in the surrounding forest (some with kitchens). The Centennial Trail is easily accessible. There is a convenience store to purchase fishing licenses and supplies, a playground, swimming and a hiking trail surrounds the lake. There is nothing fussy about eating at Legion Lake. Our menu features homestyle recipes like burgers and fries and homemade apple pie that you can enjoy on the deck, if the weather is nice.

Our old-fashioned hayride takes you on a 45-minute scenic drive on Custer State Park's beautiful backroads to a mountain meadow canyon for a chuck wagon feast. Along the way, you can sing-along to classic country and folk music tunes and look for wildlife along the road. Each paying guest gets a souvenir cowboy hat and bandanna to help you play the part. The meal includes your choice of a steak, burger, or veggie wrap. Reservations are required and must be made by 2 p.m. at Blue Bell Lodge.