Category: Blog

Here in the Black Hills of South Dakota, we pride ourselves on the abundance of outdoor experiences – not just for the locals, but for the travelers who come visit!

Most of our favorites are right next to Keystone – right next to Holy Smoke Resort.

Aside from the obvious, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial, the Rushmore Tramway Adventures, the Rush Mountain Adventure Park, Big Thunder Gold Mine, and 1880 Train are just a few we want to shout out.

But our area has everything from hiking, cruises, mountain biking, paddlesports, and rockclimbing – plenty to do while you’re here exploring the area!

Hikers will enjoy Black Elk Peak – previously Harney Peak – a natural, historical, and cultural gem to our Black Hills Area. The trail ends at the fire lookout tower, which is only accessible by a hiking trail (just under 4 miles). You’ll start out near Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park. We would say the trail is moderately difficult, but because of its significance and popularity, the trail is heavily traveled. 

TIP: Many mountain bikers also enjoy the same trails as hikers, so be sure to take out the ear buds and watch out for your fellow adventurers!

Bikers (motorcycles) will appreciate Iron Mountain Road, one of the most scenic areas of our great country. The turns are fun and the views are truly spectacular, unlike any you’ve ever seen! We promise you’ll have a great time.

For bikers here for the Sturgis Rally, we recommend being exceptionally cautious as some of the turns do not give you a direct line of sight for oncoming traffic. We would recommend arriving a few days before the Rally or extending your stay to a few days after for increased safety precautions.

Mountain bikers, shouldn’t feel left out either! The Black Hills offer many different trail experiences at a variety of difficulty levels, so there’s something for everyone.

The Centennial Trail (also open for hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding), George S. Mickelson Trail (also open year-round for our off-season guests) and Storm Mountain Trail (another popular hiking trail) are our top three picks – but there are several others to enjoy on our side of the state as well.

If you’re more interested in water activities, our lakes and reservoirs offer the opportunity to beat the heat by boating, kayaking, and canoeing! If you don’t have a way to bring your own equipment, families and travelers have the ability to rent from a majority of local businesses.

For the brave, you can also rockclimb in Custer State Park, at Devil’s Tower National Monument, Falling Rock, Spearfish Canyon, and more! We recommend you are an experienced climber and have a spotter or a group with you for this specific activity. We want everyone to stay safe and have an enjoyable vacation! If you’re a beginner or traveling solo, you should look into Sylvan Rocks, a climbing school and guide service and only 24 miles from us!

TIP: We suggest anyone venturing out for the day to bring some snacks, sunscreen, and a few bottles of water with you. If you’ve forgotten any these necessities, we have some available at the office or if you’re looking for a place to eat, we can recommend restaurants based on where you’ll be spending your day!

Ready to book your stay? Give us a call or find your cabin or RV site on our website.

Cabins, vacation homes, and RVs… oh my!

What is your preferred way to camp during the summer?

Cabin camping lets you and your family be in the great outdoors, while keeping their preferences for a comfortable vacation experience. Being one with nature doesn’t mean you have to undergo the discomforts and inconveniences that traditional tent camping comes with. In fact, cabin camping offers a long list of perks and some cabins are complete comfort for families traveling during the summer and is a popular option for many of our guests!

Cabin camping means…

A structurally sound place to stay with the comforts of home, but away from home.

Most cabins come with amenities and utilities that offer you the same flexibility and comfort of home, without bringing everything and the kitchen sink. For example, each of our cabins are equipped with modern facilities – air conditioning, satellite TV, wifi, fully furnished (all queen size beds!), and are complete with a full kitchen!

The full kitchen ensures a way to cook meals without worrying about a possible burn ban or hauling coolers and cook-top options with you during your stay. This is incredibly appealing to our travelers who are trying to pack light and have planned to travel across the midwest and have several other stops planned.

That’s not even addressing the lovely indoor plumbing and electricity.

Multi-generational families will see the benefit as well since sleeping arrangement for infants, young children, and grandparents are more comfortable than an air mattress (or the ground).

Something our travelers should know, is the Black Hills are also no stranger to thunderstorms or hail weather during the summer. This means a cabin would provide adequate and safe shelter during the night! (PS – bikers coming for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally should take the appropriate measures for the weather too!)

Little to no consuming campsite setup – which more time for fun!

Tent camping requires a lot of setup (and equipment!) to bring and cuts into valuable family bonding time. Especially for larger families when tent camping could also mean multiple tents! Whereas a cabin offers more comfortable sleeping arrangements without the extra packing (and unpacking).

Instead, your time can be spent enjoying the beauty of the Black Hills in South Dakota – and if you’re only here for a few days, we’ve built an ideal two-day itinerary as a suggestion for how to spend your time here! Of course, if you’re here longer or have other interests, you can always let us know more about your trip and we would be happy to help you plan so you get the most out of your experience.

Enjoy the Black Hills while staying IN the Black Hills!

Camping is about enjoying the great outdoors, being one with nature, having adventures, and creating memories. Cabin camping provides a great balance between hotels (often located in more populated areas, away from nature, and/or in a city) and RV or tent camping.

For families looking for a place in the Black Hills or in the Keystone or Hill City area, you’ll wake up to the smells of pine, a breathtaking view, and a tranquil setting with our cabins!

Still unconvinced about cabin camping? Holy Smoke Resort also hosts 21 spacious, shaded RV sites and our RV park is open mid-April through mid-October! In addition, our vacation homes available for visitors to the Black Hills are great for larger parties or multi-family vacations looking to bunk together.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (also known as Sturgis Bike Week, Sturgis Bike Rally, etc.) is hands down one of the most notorious motorcycle rallies in the United States. South Dakota locals will be able to tell you it’s one of the largest events within the state and west river South Dakota sees hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts (on average around 500,000 people, with the high being over 700,000) from all over the country come to the Black Hills area over the course of ten days!

The Sturgis Rally started in 1938 by a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and initially began for stunts and races! Since then, The Rally has grown into the largest gathering of bikers in the United States; an event filled with vendors, concerts, parties, and introducing riders to the beautiful scenery of the Black Hills of South Dakota. Beginning the full first week of August every year, we look forward to our returning regulars and welcome newbies to the area.

Most bikers attending will drive campers, RVs, and trucks while towing a motorcycle trailer, then riding their bikes to and from Sturgis during the week; especially those traveling thousands of miles to South Dakota. Many visitors come to our area for more than just the motorcycle rally. Several opt to come before or stay after the Rally ends to enjoy Keystone and the surrounding Black Hills area’s family attractions, national parks, and outdoor activities – meaning that a camper, an RV, or an additional vehicle is a must-have during their vacation!

Being located in Keystone, South Dakota, Holy Smoke Resort is a prime spot to stay for these visitors. Our RV park offers 65 feet to 78 feet long pull-through sites, 50 amp service, full hook ups, water and sewer, free wifi, and electricity. Our cabins are equipped with modern facilities, are fully furnished, and have air conditioning. The best part is we are centrally located to everything you could want to see and do during your trip here in the Black Hills; including a gorgeous motorcycle route to Sturgis.

For our bikers, Black Hills Area Maps have been created to show various rides throughout the area along with an accompanying key to help you match your desired ride with your current skill level.

One of the favorite rides among intermediate riders includes Iron Mountain Road, which starts with Highway 16A – exactly where Holy Smoke is located! The route will take you through fun curves through the Black Hills and connects you to Highway 385, taking you into the historical towns of Lead and Deadwood, then finally through Boulder Canyon right into Sturgis.

Do you have time for a detour? More advanced riders enjoy the challenge of the Needles Highway. While on Highway 16A, you can venture West onto S. Playhouse Rd. which will have you on the second best scenic road in the Black Hills to ride – the Needles Highway. This route incorporates the natural beauty of western South Dakota, while the curves, dips, and inclines will upon your skill and savvy as a motorcyclist. After The Needles, you’ll be back to Highway 385 and you’re headed on the way to Lead and Deadwood.

Another popular question we receive is how to see Mount Rushmore! To ride through scenic views of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Crazy Horse Memorial, head South from Holy Smoke Resort toward Highway 244 which will lead you straight to the mountain of Presidents. Continuing West on Highway 244 will lead you to Highway 385, and you’ll be rewarded with the view of Crazy Horse Memorial. Staying on this road will land you right into the quaint town of Custer. Should you choose to venture through Custer State Park, we caution our motorcycle visitors… the buffalo are not a fan of the loud pipes! From Custer, you’ll be able to choose from several other ride options within the Black Hills area.

During the Rally, guided and group rides are also organized if you’re interested in meeting new people or don’t feel like riding solo the entire time.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an event we look forward to every year. The returning faces of past guests is always a treat and we love to hear what they’ve been up to over the past year. New riders, couples, and families find us and it’s a pleasure to meet new faces.