Kids Summer Fun
Bring the family on a Black Hills summer vacation, where kids can enjoy an afternoon gliding down the Alpine Slide, inspecting dinosaur fossils, swimming in a reservoir, or panning for gold.
- Favorite summer activities for kids include swimming, cave tours, and panning for gold.
- The Alpine Slide is a family favorite, with chairlift rides, park area and restaurant.
- A guided tour is a great way for the entire family to take in the sights, sounds and information of the Black Hills.
Overview
Don’t hesitate to bring the kids on your Black Hills summer holiday – a range of exciting activities are available to keep them occupied throughout the day. National Park attractions, activities in the National Forest and Recreation Areas, and private amusement parks and kid-friendly facilities dot the region, providing family fun for everyone.
What to do for Kids Summer Fun
Biking
Bring your bikes or rent a bicycle for each member of the family and pedal down a portion of the George S. Mickelson trail and other great mountain biking paths, with a chance to spot wildlife along the way.
Panning for Gold
Head on over to Custer State Park for a gold panning demonstration, or take the kids to one of the area mining facilities that cater to tourists and let them spend the afternoon in search of their own little fortune.
Boating
Rent a canoe, kayak, or paddle boat and float a reservoir or river. For avid water-skiing families, Pactola and Sheridan Lakes are open to skiers.
Hiking
Pack snacks and plenty of water and lead the kids on a hiking trek with over one million acres to explore. Make sure the children have sturdy shoes, sun screen, and scan the areas ahead of them for rattle snake habitat.
Horseback Riding
For pre-teens, teenagers and younger, sure-seated horse riders, book a one or two hour ride with an area outfitter and tour the wilderness on horseback as a family. *Age restrictions apply.
Swimming
Black Hills National Forest has 11 reservoirs, three with designated swim beaches including picnic areas and nearby amenities. Angostura Reservoir also features one of the best, sandiest beaches in the area, so pack your suits!
Wildlife Expeditions and Tours
Embark on an exciting Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour followed by a wagon hayride and Chuckwagon Dinner Show featuring western-style grub and Cowboy music show.
Kid Friendly Summer Attractions
Alpine Slide
Just 2.5 miles east of Mt. Rushmore is a kid’s dream attraction: The Alpine Slide. Take in the views on a chairlift ride to the top and then watch as your children enjoy 2,000 feet of winding, thrilling fun. $3 per children’s ride.
Amusement Parks
Dinosaur and fossil-themed parks, water parks, indoor go-cart racing, pitch-n-putt courses, they’re all here in the Black Hills.
National Parks
- Badlands: Take the kids on a hike down the Fossil Exhibit Trail and learn about the area’s unique geological history.
- Mt. Rushmore: Visit this National Monument in the evening when spotlights light up the Presidents’ faces.
- Wind Cave and Jewel Cave: Go underground for exciting cave tours featuring exotic geological formations.
Rentals and Fees
Don’t worry about packing all of your recreational accoutrements for a Black Hills summer vacation – here you will find several rental companies offering everything from bikes to boats and all sorts of equipment in between. To save time and hassle, try looking into your options and booking rentals prior to the start of your visit.
Hire a Guide
Sometimes the easiest way to discover such a diverse and unique area as the Black Hills is to allow a guide to find the perfect tour and activity for your family. Be sure to let them know your family size, the age of your children, and what kind of adventures you are seeking. A guide will take the worry out of planning every little detail of your trip.
View the local providers:
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