Join Wilderness Inquiry on a family friendly adventure to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Explore much of what the edge of the west has to offer. View spectacular wildlife as we base camp at Custer State Park, home to elk, deer, pronghorns, mountain goats, and nearly 1,500 bison during the summer months. Visit Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave and Jewel Cave. This Black Hills experience is filled with adventure and variety that highlights the area's diverse resources and geologic features.

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1: Your trip starts at Custer State Park in the evening. Help set up camp and then have a light snack. Afterwards, get to know your trip mates and share your expectations for the upcoming days while enjoying s'mores by the fire. You have several options for activities in Custer State Park and the surrounding areas. Your trip leaders will share those options with you daily.

DAY 2: Rise and shine for a day trip to Jewel Cave. Journey beneath the pine covered Black Hills into an ancient world of mystery, beauty, and adventure. A world of constant darkness will draw you into its vast crystal-lined chambers. Silence is punctuated only by the dripping of water and perhaps your own heartbeat. Head back to your campsite at the end of the day. Enjoy dinner around the campfire reliving the day's adventures.

DAY 3: Today you get to witness the magnificent features above ground as you head to Mount Rushmore. Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt all immortalized in stone, carved out by dynamite, and preserved to inspire millions of visitors. You will have the chance to witness this impressive display of work, learn about how it was done, and marvel at this monument. Put yourself in the artist's perspective and view the mountain sculpture and the original model from the very place Gutzon Borglum saw his dream become reality.

DAY 4: Load up in the van and head off to explore nearby Wind Cave. Noted as the fourth longest cave in the United States and the sixth longest cave in the world, Wind Cave will amaze you with its mystery and vastness. Known specifically for its "boxwork", Wind Cave offers a unique look at geologic features from the bottom up! Cave tours highlight the history, geology, and uniqueness that make Wind Cave such a famous destination. Enjoy lunch either above ground or below. End the day back at camp.

DAY 5: Your Black Hills adventure concludes with a possible early morning hike, breakfast, taking down camp, and loading up the vans. A last goodbye with your group along with plenty of group pictures will allow for lasting memories of your trip to Custer State Park.

Travel, Terrain, Etc...

TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: Much of your time will be spent along the open grasslands, rocky outcrops of the Black Hills, and well below the surface of the earth exploring one of the many caves. The Black Hills have been described as "Island in the Prairie" because they are an island of granite hills surrounded by a prairie sea. Most hiking routes will be along maintained trails through the different parks visited throughout the experience.

TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: The majority of your trip with Wilderness Inquiry will be hiking and exploring the different destinations. An average day will consist of 3-6 hours of hiking depending on weather conditions. The tours of Jewel Cave, Mount Rushmore, and Wind Cave will be guided tours with the National Park.

WEATHER: Temperatures can vary from mid 50's to 80F. Rainfall can vary. With the difference in topography, afternoon showers can be expected, but typically don't last too long.

LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: This is a camping trip. At night you will sleep in a comfortable Eureka Timberline tent. Typically, there are 3 people per 4-person tent (although other arrangements can be made). We recommend that you bring your own personal sleeping bag and "camprest" foam core inflatable mattress (a limited number of sleeping bags and mattresses are available as loaners for individuals who need them). The Group Camping facility at Custer State Park features picnic shelters, vault toilets, fire grates, picnic tables, and water on site. Showers and flush toilets are available within walking distance.

GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 18 to 20 participants, plus 3 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities.

CAMP CHORES: Our trips are cooperative in nature. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however most people pitch in where they can. Part of the adventure involves learning about daily camp activities.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary canoeing and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear that can usually be arranged.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: No previous experience is needed to complete this trip. This trip is open to families with kids of all ages; however it is recommended for kids age 3 and older.

Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.

[ Dates & Fees ]      

Custer State Park is South Dakota's first and largest state park. In 1910, South Dakota relinquished all rights to over 60,000 acres of timberland within the Black Hills Forest Reserve in exchange for nearly 50,000 acres of forest in Custer County and about 12,000 acres in Harding County. Together, these two parcels were designated Custer State Forest in 1912. After action by the State Legislature, having been prompted by the urging of Governor Peter Norbeck, Custer State Forest became Custer State Park.

The park grew rapidly in the 1920s, acquired additional lands; during the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps made many park improvements. CCC men laid out campgrounds and picnic areas, built a massive park museum, miles of roads, sturdy bridges and a stone fire tower, but, most importantly, constructed three dams creating Stockade, Center and Legion Lakes, all of which provide for water-based recreation. An additional 22,900 acres were added to the park in 1964.

Today, the park encompasses some 73,000 acres, making it one of the largest national parks in the country. Its ecosystems range from prairie to pines to unique geological formations of the Sylvan Lake area. The park is home to one of the nation's largest publicly owned bison herds, as well as elk, deer, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. Four state-owned, privately operated resorts offer dining, lodging, and recreational opportunities to the park's 1.8 million annual visitors. The mission of Custer State Park remains to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural, cultural, and recreational attributes of the park. Custer State Park in the Black Hills encompasses 71,000 acres of spectacular terrain and an abundance of wildlife. Within the park, you’ll discover a world of adventure!


Favorite outdoor activities include hiking 7,242-foot Harney Peak, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing, chuckwagon suppers and jeep rides to see the bison. A herd of 1,500 bison roams freely throughout the park, often stopping traffic along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road. The herd is one of the largest in the world. Bison can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. Historically, the animal played an essential role in the lives of the Lakota (Sioux), who relied on the 'tatanka' for food, clothing and shelter. Besides bison, the park is home to wildlife such as pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer, elk, wild turkeys, and a band of friendly burros.

The park boasts scenic drives such as the Needles Highway (SD 87), which twists and turns its way past towering rock formations and through narrow tunnels. At the end of one tunnel stands the Needles Eye, a granite spire with a slit only 3 to 4 feet wide but reaching 30 to 40 feet in the air.

Text above is from the Library of Congress and South Dakota Great Faces Great Places

 

For more information, visit these links:

South Dakota Custer Park information

AllBlackHills.com

National Park Service - Mount Rushmore

[ Dates & Fees ]

2009 Dates	Fee
06/24/2009 - 06/28/2009	$345
08/12/2009 - 08/16/2009	$345	Register Now
2010 Dates	Fee
06/23/2010 - 06/27/2010	$345	Register Now
08/11/2010 - 08/15/2010	$345	Register Now
Transportation This trip starts and ends at Custer State Park in South Dakota. The state park is approximately 660 miles from Minneapolis and 50 miles from Rapid City, SD. You can get there on your own, or take our van transportation from Minneapolis for an additional fee. Detailed meeting place instructions will be sent to you when you are confirmed for the trip.
Meeting Places:		Additional Round-trip Fee:
Minneapolis - WI Headquarters		$95 per person
Rapid City		$45 per person
Custer State Park		$0 (No charge)