COMPLIMENTARY $3.95 2019/2020 YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE PARKS BLACK HILLS, BADLANDS & MOUNT RUSHMORE ACTIVITIES • SIGHTSEEING • PRESERVATION EVENTS • TRAILS • HISTORY • MAPS • MORE OFFICIAL PARTNERS T:5.375” S:4.75” WELCOME S:7.375” SO TASTY EVERYONE WILL WANT A BITE. T:8.375” Welcome to the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota! As you explore our fine state, I’m confident you’ll find some of the best scenery, most unique attractions and friendliest people in the country. Our scenic drives, such as Spearfish Canyon and the 70-mile Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, will surprise you with amazing views around every corner. Just 50 miles east, you’ll find a moon-like landscape in Badlands National Park. If you need to stretch your legs, you’ll find more than 400 miles of nature walks and hikes. South Dakota is also home to two of the world’s largest Chad Coppess/South Dakota Dept. of Tourism mountain carvings: patriotic Mount Rushmore National Me- Governor Dennis Daugaard & First Lady Linda Daugaard morial and Crazy Horse Memorial, a tribute to Native Ameri- cans. I encourage you to visit both and learn the history and story behind each of these magnificent sculptures. I also encourage you to take a drive through Custer State Park, the country’s second largest state park, where wildlife abounds. Along Wildlife Loop Road, you’ll have a chance to see antelope, deer, prairie dogs, “beg- ging” burros and the park’s 1,300-member bison herd. In fact, Austin-Lehman Adventures named Custer State Park one of the world’s Top 10 Wildlife Destinations. In addition to all of this, the Black Hills weaves in family attractions that have been around for generations, colorful ©2019 Preferred Brands International. All rights reserved. International. Brands Preferred ©2019 Native American culture, vibrant Old West history, an abun- dance of outdoor adventure, two of the world’s longest caves and several unique festivals and events. This Oh, Ranger! guide to the region was created in part- nership with American Park Network. I hope you enjoy your time in South Dakota, and you’ll visit us again soon in the land of Great Faces and Great Places. Sincerely, TASTY BITE® is all-natural and perfect for the trail. Look for the yellow pouch in the Dennis Daugaard international food aisle.* Governor tastybite.com *Keep wildlife wild; Don’t feed the animals. | BLACK HILLS, BADLANDS & MOUNT RUSHMORE 1 A23899_2d_9tas_2967_Q2_Print_Oh-Ranger.indd 04.04.19 A23899x01D_OhRanger_smp.psd Epson A23899X02C_Tasty Bite Final 032919-Product_smp.psd HP FINAL Client: Tasty Bite APPROVAL SIGNATURES ROUND(s) 3 Filename: 19tas_2967_Q2_Print_Oh-Ranger.indd SIZE / Date: 4-2-2019 2:32 PM MECHANICAL SPECS (w x h) FONTS & IMAGES PROOF FORMAT Job #: 2967 Bleed: 5.875” x 8.875” Fonts TRAFFIC Insert Date: 4/1 Trim: 5.375” x 8.375” Knockout (HTF49 Liteweight), Acumin Pro Condensed (Light), Pubs or Loc: PROD. Oh Ranger Viewing: 5.375” x 8.375” Acumin Pro (Black, Regular, Bold) Magazine Description: None Live: 4.75” x 7.375” Images STUDIO Scale: 1” = 1” Print Tasty Bite Final 032919-CMYK.psd (CMYK; 448 ppi, 494 ppi; AD Notes: None ACTUAL SIZE (w x h) 66.93%, 60.7%), Tasty_Bite_Logo.ai (17.81%), Tasty Bite Final 032919-Product.psd (CMYK; 536 ppi; 55.95%) CW Bleed: 5.875” x 8.875” Mekanism Trim: 5.375” x 8.375” Inks CD 640 Second St Viewing: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black SF, CA 94107 5.375” x 8.375” BM 415.908.4000 Live: 4.75” x 7.375” Gutter: None Designer: Dustin Page Printed at: None CLIENT LODGING & DINING CONTENTS Unforgettable Adventures. Welcome 1 What’s New! 4 American Park Network® publishes OhRanger. com, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ and Oh, Ranger!® guides —a collection of visitor guides for public Plan Your Visit 6 lands all across America —and operates Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi in parks and public lands. American Important Numbers 10 Park Network is an official partner of the National Forest Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association, National Fish and Wildlife Lodging & Dining 12 Foundation, American Hiking Society and the Student Conservation Association. History & Culture 13 Publisher & Editor-in-Chief MARK J. SAFERSTEIN Mount Rushmore 16 Associate Publisher & Executive Editor The Making of Rushmore 18 Joel S. Saferstein Group Sales & Partnerships Director Badlands National Park 24 Alex Frenkel EDITORIAL / PRODUCTION Centerfold Map Editors: Monette A. Bailey, Daniel Johnson, Jacqueline Kehoe, Amanda McConnon, Exploring the Black Hills 27 Julie McCool, Danielle Taylor, Wendy Willis Proofreader: Scott Tabor Crazy Horse 29 Production Manager: Mario Arce Graphic Designers: Karla Aldana, Dennisse Cruz, Tatiana Hurtado, Yamileth Recinos Things To Do 30 DIGITAL Camping 36 Technology Manager: Scott Falconer ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING Walking & Hiking 37 (212) 581-3380 [email protected] Who’s Who at the Park 39 Business Development: Randy Burton, Mary Pat Kaleth, Pat Keane, Craig King, Kristi Rummel Nature & Wildlife 41 Feel-Good Savings. Operations Manager: Matthew Price American Park Network Just for Kids 44 41 East 11th Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10003 Photography 46 Heed the call of adventure with great insurance coverage. @OhRanger 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on RV insurance. ©2019 APN MEDIA, LLC · All Rights Reserved If You Only Have a Day 48 Oh, Ranger! and American Park Network are registered trademarks of APN Media, LLC. Cover: Bison roaming in Badlands National Park (Shutterstock) GET THE APP! The publisher of this guide and the advertisers herein are not geico.com | 1-877-434-2678 | Local Office affiliated with, or endorsed by, the National Park Service. IT’S FREE! DOWNLOAD NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION For answers to all your questions, Distribution requests Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or go to in all situations. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC [email protected] OhRanger.com 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2019 GEICO Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi™ installation/sponsorship [email protected] WHAT’S NEW! WE’RE ALL CONNECTED As a young man, John Muir, the naturalist known as, “Father of the National Parks,” Mark, Joel & Alex – connecting in parks! had an accident that left him temporarily blinded. It changed his life forever. When he science. I often find inspiration in parks. In its regained his sight, he emerged into the light traditional form, yoga was about joining with ever-determined to pursue his dreams of the collective universe. So, too, is Muir’s quote, exploration. Fortunately for the world, Muir’s best illustrated by an example from Yellowstone. trials led him to help move Congress to set When wolves were reintroduced there after a aside Yosemite, one of his many contributions 70-year absence, the rampant elk population to our nation’s preservation movement. could no longer leisurely nibble on willows, graze When faced with adversity, we have but in open meadows or congregate by the rivers. In two choices. We can either rise above our a short period of time, the forests and meadows circumstance or succumb to our demons of began to regenerate. Song birds appeared. doubt, fear, resentment and apathy. While Beavers flourished, building dams, which Muir was lucky to have his sight return, his created habitats for otters, muskrats and ducks. subsequent efforts drew strength from hope, Cooler waters, shaded by more trees, attracted compassion, kindness and love to rise up different species of amphibians and fish. Tree from personal adversity. roots stabilized the river banks, diminished Lately, it feels like we’re all dealing with erosion and even changed the geography of the too many hurdles. Every hour, “breaking” park! Indeed, pick out anything by itself and we news spews forth accounts of tragedy and quickly find that everything is connected. divisiveness. It was with this backdrop that I Now is the time to seek out connection— SOMEWHERE was preparing to teach a restorative yoga class, whether in a park, a yoga studio or anywhere to create a safe environment for my students you find inspiration—to find strength to rise up BETWEEN and provide an hour’s worth of peace and quiet and overcome the obstacles that face us all… to carry out into the world. What theme would capture their imagination and neatly underscore STUNNING our human need for connectedness? When teaching, I try to use examples that marry ancient tradition with contemporary and SURREAL GET CONNECTED AT YOUR FAVORITE PARKS! VISITUTAH.COM Parks are about enjoying nature, but what if you want to share a great picture or are awaiting an important email? If you’re looking to add connectivity to your park, or if you already have Wi-Fi and would like help adding content or generating sponsor revenues, please let us know at [email protected]. 4 BLACK HILLS, BADLANDS & MOUNT RUSHMORE | PLAN YOUR VISIT South Dakota’s Black Hills are home to over 200 miles in length, it is the third-longest one of the most famous memorials in the cave in the world. Wind Cave is also one country: Mount Rushmore, depicting four of the largest and most complex known prominent presidents in America’s history. caves in the world. Both caves offer ranger- Carved into South Dakota granite, George guided tours and activities! Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln stare out GETTING TO THE BLACK HILLS at the surrounding region. By Car: I-90 runs just north of the region The South Dakota Badlands are sure to the gateway towns of Spearfish and St- to amaze all who venture to the park. The urgis. You can get free state highway maps stunning reds, oranges and sand tones from the South Dakota Office of Tourism by reveal breathtaking geology.