Black Hills, White Magic

Winter Adventures Await You in Black Hills of South Dakota

By Tom Atkinson

Photos courtesy of South Dakota Tourist Bureau

The stony faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt see a different world when Mother Nature throws a blanket of snow over Mount Rushmore and South Dakota's Black Hills.

Winter's visitors come to enjoy the region's wildlife, scenic drives, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and some of the top-rated snowmobile trails in the nation--as well as visits to the four famous faces.

Snowmobiling Paradise

In fact, two of the most prestigious snowmobile magazines, SnoWest and Supertrax International, rank the Black Hills Trail System among the nation's top ten snowmobiling destinations. With almost 350 miles of super-groomed trails, the Black Hills earned more No. 1 rankings than any other trail system (tops in grooming, signage and maps and second in services).

Popular scenic drives that can be busy with vehicles in summer often are solitary, contemplative routes past snowcapped peaks and ice-covered creeks. Winter weather in the Black Hills varies, but it is not unusual to enjoy 60-degree days in January or February.

Wildlife usually found in the high country (the Black Hills have 18 peaks over 7,000 feet) descends to lowland meadows and forested sanctuaries of the 1.3-million-acre Black Hills National Forest, where food abounds. You're certain to see deer, elk, buffalo and big horn sheep and to get some great wildlife photos.

Some of the snowmobile routes descend directly into historic Lead and Deadwood. Deadwood, one of the Old West's wildest and woolliest towns, still has its gold-rush flavor thanks to extensive historic restoration and 80 gaming halls. You even can play cards in the saloon where Wild Bill Hickok met his demise.

Just four miles from Deadwood are two downhill skiing resorts, Terry Peak and Deer Mountain. Both offer some of the most affordable, uncrowded skiing between the Rockies and New England.

And if you really want that uncrowded feeling, there are literally thousands of miles of trails for cross-country skiing.

Getting to the Black Hills, even for a short visit, is made easy by flying into Rapid City. Black Hills Central Reservations, a regional travel service, offers numerous fly/drive winter packages--some complete with snowmobiles or lift tickets.

Visit www.TravelBlackHills.com
or phone 866-329-7566.