Black Hills & Badlands National Park Multi-Adventure Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
5 days
4 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Casual Hotels
Black Hills & Badlands National Park Multi-Adventure Tour
Couples, Friends & Solos
5 days
4 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Casual Hotels
2026: May-Sep
South Dakota’s Prairies, Pinnacles & Mount Rushmore
Soak up the wild natural beauty of South Dakota, where plunging canyons, soaring pinnacles and colorful rock formations carve an unforgettable landscape. In this wide-open corner of South Dakota, there's plenty of room for adventure.
Highlights
- Bike through the striated and richly hued landscapes of the Badlands and the Black Hills’ pinnacles and pine forests
- Ride a scenic stretch of the Mickelson Trail, a former rail route with tunnels, trestle bridges and historic mining camps
- Pass through Wild West towns like Deadwood, rich with frontier history
- Visit Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, icons carved into the granite heart of the Black Hills
- Gather around the campfire at a glamping resort for s’mores and stories beneath a star-filled sky
Start/End Rapid City
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Day 1
Venture into a spectacular area of Badlands National Park • Pedal past rugged rock formations and prairie dog towns • Scenic overlooks throughout the route provide opportunities to take in picturesque cliffs and colorful spires • Join us at our welcome reception to toast the adventure-filled days ahead.
Night 1
Located six miles from the entrance to Badlands National Park in Wall, Frontier Cabins offers custom-built log cabins. Each standalone cabin features rustic wood interiors and modern amenities. Its setting on the edge of the Badlands makes it an easy and practical base for taking in the region's striking landscapes.
Day 2
Set out into the Black Hills by bike, riding along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway • Marvel at the 1,000-foot limestone cliffs of this ancient gorge that predates the Grand Canyon and features towering walls less than a mile apart • Relax at our rustic retreat located at the base of the canyon walls.
Night 2
Set in the heart of Spearfish Canyon, this rustic lodge is surrounded by soaring limestone cliffs and forested canyon walls. Simple, comfortable rooms and inviting common spaces offer a relaxed place to unwind, and an onsite restaurant makes it easy to settle in after a day outdoors. Its scenic setting provides easy access to nearby waterfalls and trails in the Black Hills.
Days 3-5
Pedal into the heart of the Black Hills while cruising the car-free, packed-gravel Mickelson Trail along a 19th-century railroad grade • Lace up your hiking shoes for a morning among the granite spires of Custer State Park • Hit the trail—if you choose to hike to the summit of 7,242-foot Black Elk Peak, you’ll reach the highest point in the state! • Visit the yet-unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial, a modern-day engineering feat of epic proportions and currently the world’s largest mountain carving • Settle into your upscale safari-style tent and enjoy an evening of campfire camaraderie or serene stargazing • Take in the grandeur of the 60-foot sculptures carved into rock at Mount Rushmore, one of the country’s most iconic sites.
Nights 3-4
Praised by Condé Nast Traveler, this unique glamping resort is nestled among ponderosa pines on the site of a gold mining settlement, located within a few miles from Mount Rushmore.
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Our glamping accommodation features spacious, canvas-walled safari-style platform tents that blend comfort with a sense of adventure. Each tent includes simple yet thoughtful touches—a king bed, small battery-operated fans and lamps, a wood stove, a USB charging pack and an en suite bathroom. The experience is off the grid, with no electricity, air conditioning, reliable Wi-Fi or cell service. With canvas walls and doors, sounds may carry from nearby tents and chirping crickets, so we suggest packing earplugs. Please download an itinerary for more details about this unique luxury camping experience.
The properties we use on this trip are chosen for their character and ideal location—they are not known for their food. Meals can be simple and menu options tend to lack variety, with few other restaurant options nearby. Please be aware that options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low-carb meals will be especially limited and substitutions are rarely available.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates to see pricing, hotel or itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy, in USD.
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