We decided to skip the bwca this fall and go somewhere new. Never been to SD but the more I read, the more I want to. We are looking around the black hills area. I'm going to pull our camper but also bring my backpacking gear. We have ten days October 4th thru 14th. Looks like alot of gorgeous trout streams around the area? We don't really do touristy kinds of stuff. Fly fishing, hiking, secluded type camping is more our style. Also bringing dive gear for those clear waters.

Any suggestions as to must see, or must avoid? I've found some out of the way places online and Google earth I plan to explore. I like secluded areas to fish and explore, but we also usually take a couple guided trips as well. Can't beat local knowledge. Guides are usually very helpful as to finding good spots yourself after a trip. Thanks for any tips yall got and pm if you don't want the world to know. Thanks.

Rifle elk season will be going on. Not a lot of hunters but just be aware. You might want some hunter orange if you're out hiking through the forest.

Needles Highway is a must drive, of course there is Rushmore and Crazy Horse. The Blackhills are close to Devils Tower, it's a must as well IMHO.

Take the drive through the Badlands Nat Park on the way (or way back). Chadron Ne and The Museum of the Fur Trade is only about 100 miles drive south of Rapid City and is definitely worth seeing. Chimney Rock is just to the west and is interesting and not a tourist trap. Since you are so close by it doesn't make sense to bypass Rushmore but I wouldn't go into the site. It IS a tourist trap so I'd just get a view and go on your way. Can't help you with the deep woods stuff.

Go to the higher elevations it thins out the tourists some the Lead/Deadwood areas have many hiking trails in those places and trout streams also. You could spend days just driving the National Forest roads and you could see about anything along the roads. Deadwood has a lot of good places to eat and gamble if your into that if not you can still go for the food.

Check with the Deadwood chamber website you might find cheaper rates on rooms or camping options. They have a map they handout in the Hills of the NF they are easy to find about anyplace. Some of the bigger deeper lakes offer fishing opportunities also a long with streams

Custer State Park is someplace to explore out there just don’t pet the “fluffy cows.” LOL Custer is a tourist town but has good food, the 7th Calvary campground East of Custer has a good breakfast.

Needles highway is awesome. Was highlight of our family drip.

Skip Crazy Horse unless that's something you're really into.

Deadwood is cool.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/blackhills/recarea/?recid=82023

Beautiful country! Keep your eyes peeled for shed antlers and report back to me if you see any turkeys. There are tons of forest service gates/roads that you can hike for miles and miles. Don't do it in the dark. You can be walking along what seems like rolling topography and walk right out onto the edge of a cliff without much notice. I set way to close on a gobbler one morning and when he pitched down he was within 20 yards. I don't think I let him take 3 steps before I shot. He tumbled backflips for about 10 yards or so toward some big rocks and then just disappeared. When I walked over to those big rocks, turns out they were the top of a 100 ft. ledge and he was lying at the bottom.

I hear Pactola lake west of Rapid City is good for diving.

Should be a beautiful time to be there with the leaves changing color, Spearfish canyon will be nice but packed with people.
For fishing and hiking look at Grace Coolidge canyon in Custer state park, several ponds that hold trout as does the stream that flows down the canyon.
If your in the park several good hikes, I like Little devils tower hike and Lovers Leap.
Also enjoy the Hells Canyon trail, just be aware of hunters like others have mentioned.
Fishing in the creek below Pactola is a great trout area with some really big fish, try finding areas that are more inaccessible and the fishing can be really good.

Wow, thanks alot folks! Sounding better and better! May spend all ten days in the area! Thanks also for the heads up on hunters. Orange never crossed my mind. I guess I better get to tying.....my wife tends to slap stuff on her backcast....almost as much as me. Lol.

Shane - please add what you learn from the trip to this thread, both good and bad. I'm planning to retire out there in a couple years and am always looking for insights.

I'm thinking of retiring there as well but I don't see how an average person could unless you live in a tent. Property value is beyond crazy in the hills.

Check out Rockford a true step back in time.

Stand by goldmine

Deer field , Nemo

Last September was my 8th trip out there, wife and I brought the Enduro motorcycle and put on some miles in the Northern hills, stayed at Deadwood 3 night, love it there and night life is awesome also.

Weather can get interesting this time of the year, could be 80 one day and snow and cold the next

If you have any more questions let me know. I live West of the town of Custer a couple miles and work in Custer State Park. With the Buffalo Roundup being over now hopefully town will quiet down a little. It’s been a very busy year. There’s lots to see and do though out the Hills.

The Black Hills are the best place on Earth. I've been there several times. There are so many things to do (see) there that I don't know where to start. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
That said, 1 of my trips there was to flyfish & it could not have been worse. The 3 of us could hardly catch a fish there to save our lives, despite 1 expert in the group. I assume we were in the wrong areas or wrong time of year though. 1 of the 3 guys (the expert [but not a local to SD]) was disabled (leg issue) so we probably picked spots that were close to public access and not as good.
I sure enjoyed the prairie dog hunting, on another trip, east of the Black Hills.
As for the tourist sights, they are amazing and 1 trip there is not enough.