The vast expanse of the Black Hills National Forest covers
nearly 1900 square miles in southwestern South Dakota and northwestern
Wyoming. It encompasses countless unique and beautiful canyons, gulches,
open grasslands, streams, lakes, caves and rock formations. The 65 mile
wide, 125 mile long range of the Black Hills have been a sacred place
for several Native American tribes since before recorded history. Today
the forest is a multiple use forest, containing homes, mining, agriculture,
livestock and other industries, with 13,426 acres of the forest’s
1.2 million acres set aside as a Wilderness area.
The Black Hills National Forest offers visitors countless choices for
outdoor adventure. The forest contains 11 reservoirs for swimming or
boating, 30 campgrounds with the option of dispersed camping, 26 picnic
areas, 450 miles of trails and 1,300 miles of stream for fishing. Hunting,
as well as fishing, is permitted in the forest, though the states of
Wyoming and South Dakota both require hunting licenses (which the Forest
Service does not sell). All visitors who wish to enter the wilderness
must complete a Wilderness Self-Registration Form.
Visitors should take the Peter Norbeck
National Scenic Byway and/or the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway to get
some heart-lifting/stopping views of the forest’s natural wonders,
including Mt. Rushmore.
