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3 Perfect Days in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Through My Lens

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The Black Hills of South Dakota might be the most underrated three days you can spend anywhere in this country. Most people drive through, hit Mount Rushmore, and leave. That is a mistake.

This video covers the full Black Hills experience across three days, from the open prairie of Custer State Park and its 1,400 wild bison to the longest caves in the world, the highest summit east of the Rockies, and one of the most ambitious art projects in human history still being carved out of a mountain as you watch.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:20 Getting to Black Hills
0:40 Custer State Park
1:05 Wildlife Loop & Bison
4:57 Chalet Motel in Custer
5:29 Purple Pie Place
5:55 Miners Cup
6:10 Wind Cave National Park
6:37 Rankin Ridge Trail
7:50 Visitor Center at Wind Cave
8:48 Natural Entrance Tour
11:58 LMNT Electrolytes (Sponsor)
13:15 Black Elk Peak Hike
16:49 Mt Rushmore
19:02 Miners Cup
19:20 Jewel Cave for Tickets
20:00 Hiking to Crazy Horse
22:40 Face of Crazy Horse
24:00 Crazy Horse Tunnel and Arm
24:54 Crazy Horse Visitor Center
25:55 Black Hills Burger and Pizza
26:13 Jewel Cave National Monument
27:30 Scenic Tour of Jewel Cave

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20 Comments

@ThroughMyLens Creator 3 months ago Pinned

I said that the hotel was called the Alpine Inn but it was called the Chalet Motel - No idea why I called it the Alpine Inn. Here is a link to the hotel - https://hotelscom.stay22.com/californiathroughmylens/kg_7zCyH3J

@calledtojourney 3 months ago

The Needles Highway is an incredible drive, and the narrow spots are especially fun in your own vehicle. We took our 24' motorhome through them, and it barely fit the width of the roadway! The Black Hills are an amazing area, and the nearby Badlands national park is a lot of fun too.

@TravelBeyondLimits5689 1 month ago

I collect state and national Park stamp, stamps and stickers. I have a national passport book. Great video!

@ВаняПучко 3 months ago

The more I watch, the more I like it

@JustSharingMyOpinionGetOverIt 3 months ago

Hi Josh! Sorry this is long but I just want to say:

1.) You and your Dad’s travel vlogs, and hope and kindness, have seriously given me hope in life, and help me have a more positive outlook on the fact that folks like y'all genuinely do exist out in the world. During tough times, I find comfort in playing your videos while working. Your narrations and adventures overpower my anxiety and self-doubt, and watching your videos calms my anxiety down.

2.) Also no shade intended to your wife and kids, but my favorite videos are the long ones with your dad and the ones in the states. They’re especially wholesome and comforting, especially for those of us without kids. It’s nice to see you and your dad having fun together. Maybe a 2-hour Colorado video drop? Maybe that's so selfish of me to ask but I thought I'd throw it out there! 😂

@jodieschossow6497 1 month ago

I'm from the area and I miss the Hills so bad! You should see the faces with a full moon rising behind it. Magnificent! And you didn't get a chance to swim in Horse Thief lake! On the backside of Mount Rushmore. There is so much beauty in the Hills, 3 days just aren't enough time.

@whatsitlike6392 3 months ago

I like that you got to find out about a viewer in a retirement community. Your videos help folks explore that might not be able to on their own. How cool is that.

@TheHistoryUnderground 3 months ago

Love the Black Hills. One of the coolest and most unique parts of the country.

@mbrawthen 3 months ago

I have been to the BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA MANY TIMES. I have never spent a day there that wasn’t PERFECT‼️🙏🏽😱👊🏽❤️🇺🇸
And I LOVE❤️ the DAKOTAS‼️👍🏽

@sunshinejenny777 1 month ago

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!!! 🎉🎉🎉 I LOVE THIS AREA. ONLY BEEN ONCE!! Love the footage of the Bison bison !!! They are sooo cool! I love your quest to see every US National Park!!! That is my bucket list but over my lifetime.

@TheBalanceSeeker 3 months ago

The Black Hills are the most underrated area of the countey. Breathtaking and SO MUCH wildlife!

@gnomevoyeur 3 months ago

I've visited the USA twice from Australia. The first was a summer trip and I spent days in Florida in July which was not good for me. I'm a bigger guy and sensitive to heat. The second trip I chose a bit of an extreme shoulder season ie March to be cooler. It was fine in the South West but scary in the North West. Looking at the weather patterns I was a bit optimistic but also got really unlucky. The coldest weather I have ever experienced was 12F in Deadwood in the last week of March 2024. All the roads were frozen. I literally couldn't drive uphill the last mile to Mt Rushmore and have to go back one day. I did get to visit the museum at Crazy Horse and it was fantastic.

@rrpower-fevr 3 months ago

This park absolutely deserves to be a national park

@Ela-travel 3 months ago

The Black Hills are shown in such a complete and eye-opening way here, going far beyond the usual tourist stops and really highlighting the depth of the region’s landscapes, wildlife, and history. A well-paced journey that captures both the natural beauty and the scale of human projects in this area.

@JBOTBackroadsBeaches 2 months ago

South Dakota is SO underrated. We were so surprised how much we loved it!

@CleverSwine 1 month ago

I'm glad you stayed in Custer. It's very central and charming. I camped in the forest, 15 west, not far from Jewel Cave.

@mattheath2820 3 months ago (edited)

I recommend hiking the Cathedral Spires trail to the Little Devil's Tower summit which involves a fun little rock scramble. It has the best scenery in the park in my view, and only 3--4 miles round trip.

@EverydayLifeWithCindy 1 month ago

Great video! Can’t wait for our family vacation

@aj-ig6mg 2 months ago

If you go back, you have to go through Spearfish canyon. So big, you almost feel like you're in the rockies. Spearfish creek is also great trout fishing!