Black Hills National Forest (Paha Sapa)

Black Hills National Forest stretches across 1.2 million acres of towering pine forests, granite peaks, winding scenic byways, hidden lakes, and rugged backcountry landscapes that feel endless in every direction. Established in 1897 by President Grover Cleveland, this remarkable landscape earned its name from the dense ponderosa pine forests that blanket the mountains, giving the hills their dark appearance from a distance. Rising from the prairie like an island of stone and timber, the Black Hills span 110 miles long and 70 miles wide, reaching across western South Dakota and into northeast Wyoming.

Here, every road seems to lead somewhere unforgettable. Trails disappear into thick forests. Crystal-clear lakes reflect towering granite cliffs. Streams carve through deep canyons, caves descend beneath the earth, and some of the highest peaks between the Rocky Mountains and the Pyrenees rise above the landscape. Whether you’re hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, paddling, camping, or simply taking the scenic route, the Black Hills have a way of making every moment feel larger than life.

For the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota peoples of the Oceti Sakowin, these hills are far more than a destination. For generations beyond written memory, the Black Hills have stood at the spiritual and cultural heart of their homeland. Known as Paha Sapa, meaning “the hills that are black,” this sacred landscape has long been a place of prayer, ceremony, storytelling, and connection. Its significance continues today, woven deeply into the identity and traditions of the Lakota people.

Locals simply call the region “The Hills,” a name spoken with familiarity, pride, and reverence. Within this vast landscape, each area of the Black Hills carries its own personality, history, and sense of adventure.

• The Northern Hills rise from northeast Wyoming through Spearfish and historic Deadwood and beyond, where dense forests and dramatic canyon walls create some of the region’s most breathtaking scenery. Here, Wild West history still lingers in old mining towns and legendary frontier stories. Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway winds through towering limestone cliffs, waterfalls, and vibrant forests so striking that legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright once described it as “more miraculous” than the Grand Canyon.
• The Central Hills form the beating heart of the region, home to world-famous landmarks like Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Hill City, and Keystone, alongside the sparkling waters of Pactola Resevoir and Sheridan Lake. But beyond the iconic stops are quieter discoveries waiting to be found: hidden mountain lakes, historic trails like the Flume Trail, forgotten mining remnants, and scenic overlooks where the only sound is the wind moving through the pines.
• The Southern Hills softens into wide-open valleys, peaceful forests, and some of the region’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders. Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, and local treasure Angostura Reservoir invite visitors into a slower rhythm of exploration, where scenic drives stretch for miles and moments of quiet wonder seem to appear around every turn.

No matter where you wander within the Black Hills, the experience feels deeply rooted in something timeless. These are landscapes shaped by ancient geology, living history, sacred traditions, and generations of adventure, a place where every road into The Hills becomes part of the story you’ll carry home with you.