Things to Do Near Jewel Cave National Monument

If you are looking for a rad thing to do in Custer, we are it! Old Pine Social will be axe-throwin', Bocce ballin', and Hammerschlagen-in' Friday through Wednesday. Come enjoy our selection of local craft and domestic beers on tap and a more than decent wine list. We will have tasty bites to enjoy while you kick it on the best patio in Custer. Also feel free to bring food in from one of our amazing Custer restaurants. All ages are welcome. Our hours are 2-9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday; 12-9 p.m., Saturday; and 12-7 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.

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.

Want serenity and seclusion? We offer sites that are spacious, level and shaded with both 50 & 30 amp full hook-ups. Primitive tent sites and camper cabins are also available. Our shower-houses and restrooms are sparkling clean. Additional amenities include: Wi-Fi, fire pits, picinic tables, laundry, game room, playgrounds, horseshoes, volleyball, hiking and biking. We're open May 20 - October 1.

Black Hills Aerial Adventures offers flightseeing tours over the breathtaking Black Hills and Badlands. Flights are available seven days a week, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m., May through October. Our heliports are located near Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial and Badlands National Park. Reservations are not required, but are welcome. Our helicopters can accommodate 3-4 passengers. With prior arrangement, we can accommodate most requests for customization. See our rates on our website.

The third-longest cave in the world features a variety of cave tours below the surface and a 1,279-acre park with nature trails above ground. With a name derived from the crystals that line its walls, Jewel Cave is even more significant as one of the longest caves in the world, with more than 208 miles of mapped and surveyed passages. Located near Custer in the southern Black Hills, this national monument also features three self-guided above-ground trails: the Roof Trail, the Canyons Trail and the Hell Canyon Trail. Plus, there is a visitor center with an information desk, park store, exhibits, a theater, information about the Junior Ranger program and more.

Adventure Rentals is your location for off-road and on-road rentals in Custer. Spend the day taking in the breathtaking beauty of the Black Hills from the comfort of our rentals. Explore the spectacular, mountainous scenery by land on our UTVs, bicycles, or scooters, or take to the water and discover South Dakota’s picturesque lakes with our paddle boards or kayaks. You can even experience the thrill of the open road on a state-of-the-art Polaris Slingshot. Our hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Sunday. (We also have second location near Hill City.)

Blue Bell is a Western-themed main lodge surrounded by 29 modernized, secluded cabins with kitchenettes, and many with stone fireplaces. There is a general store, plus chuck-wagon cookouts in the valley and hay rides. Horse trail rides and hiking trails originate from this lodge. Experience hearty ranch house dining in the dining room and lounge. We serve up true Western flavor with cattle-drive classics featuring bison, beef, chicken and fish, and even some rattlesnake sausage.