South Dakota With My Kiddo: Hiking, History, and Roadside Quirks
South Dakota With My Kiddo: Hiking, History, and Roadside Quirks
Last summer, I adventured to South Dakota—not for the first time, but this time with fresh eyes. It was my 10-year-old daughter’s first visit, and experiencing the state’s wild landscapes, quirky stops, and iconic sights with her made everything feel brand new. Hiking was a part of our trip, but it was just one piece of an adventure that mixed natural beauty, American history, and a little bit of roadside oddity.
Hiking Highlights: Badlands to Black Hills
Notch Trail – A Ladder, a Ledge, and a View
The Notch Trail was high on my list of stops in the Badlands. Right off the bat, there's a steep wooden ladder that leads to a narrow cliffside path. It’s not for the faint of heart, but the payoff is worth it: a sweeping view over the White River Valley from the Notch itself. It’s a tough hike, and I won’t lie—I was a little nervous about the ladder and ledges. But my daughter impressed me. She handled it all with confidence, focus, and just the right amount of thrill-seeking. It was a proud parent moment and easily one of our trip highlights.
Notch Trail
Door Trail – Simple, Scenic, and Kid-Approved
Door Trail in Badlands National Park is flat, short, and starts with a boardwalk, but what makes it fun is what comes after. Once the boardwalk ends, you’re free to roam across a moonlike landscape of cracked earth and scattered formations. The numbered trail markers became a game for my daughter—spotting each one, running to the next, turning it into her own mini adventure. It’s kid-friendly in the best way: easy to navigate, yet full of discovery.
Cathedral Spires – Tough Climb, Big Reward
In Custer State Park, we tackled the Cathedral Spires Trail. This one is no joke—rocky, steep, and steady climbing for over a mile. But those granite spires? Absolutely worth it. They rise up like something out of a fantasy novel. The trail tested both of us, but my kid powered through with determination. At the top, surrounded by towering stone, she looked both tiny and mighty—and I think we both felt a little stronger after making it there.
Cathedral Spires Trail
Beyond the Trails: Must-Stops and Classic Sights
Of course, hiking wasn’t all we did. South Dakota is full of iconic stops and weird, wonderful detours—and we made time for both.
Mount Rushmore – A Classic for a Reason
My daughter asking me one day if I had ever heard of Mount Rushmore was the driving force behind our trip to South Dakota. Even if you’ve seen it before, standing in front of Mount Rushmore never loses its weight. My daughter had seen photos but seeing it in person hit differently. We walked the Presidential Trail, learned some history, and just took in the sheer scale of it all. It’s one of those places that somehow feels both touristy and meaningful.
Mount Rushmore
Corn Palace – Quirky Americana at Its Best
No road trip through South Dakota is complete without a stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. It’s weird. It’s wonderful. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a building decorated entirely with corn. The themes change each year, and it’s part museum, part performance space, part curiosity. We didn’t stay long, but it was a fun stop that had us both smiling.
Wall Drug – A Detour That’s Practically Required
We also made the obligatory visit to Wall Drug. Yes, it’s a giant roadside attraction. Yes, it’s a little chaotic. But it’s also part of the South Dakota experience and one that I loved when I was a kid. We wandered through the maze of shops, posed with the giant jackalope, and grabbed lunch, followed by blackberry shakes. It’s kitschy in the best possible way, and my daughter loved every second.
Wall Drug
Needles Highway – Scenic Cruising at Its Finest
One of my favorite parts of the trip was driving Needles Highway, but not gonna lie, it was somewhat terrifying and intimidating to drive. The narrow, winding road snakes through towering granite spires and tunnels barely wider than my truck. We took our time taking in the views and soaking up the quiet beauty of the Black Hills. It’s not just a drive—it’s an experience.
Lake Sylvan – A Perfect Pause
After the Cathedral Spires hike, we headed straight for Lake Sylvan, and I’m so glad we did. Surrounded by smooth granite rock formations and pine forest, it’s the kind of place that feels like an instant exhale. We sat by the water, soaked in the calm, and just let the day slow down. We also walked around the lake a bit, taking in the reflections on the water and the way the light hit the rocks. After such a challenging hike, it was the perfect reset—peaceful, beautiful, and grounding.
Lake Sylvan
Bear Country USA – Personalities on Parade
One of the most unexpectedly fun parts of the trip was visiting Bear Country USA. It’s a drive-through wildlife park near Rapid City, and while you stay safely in your car, the animals roam free. We were on the lookout for bears (obviously), but we also spotted elk, wolves, mountain goats, and more. The bears stole the show though. They lounged, played, wrestled, napped—each one with its own personality. We laughed more than once at their antics, and it turned into one of those light, fun moments that sticks with you long after the trip.
Storybook Island – A Childhood Favorite Shared
And then there was Storybook Island—a place I remember visiting as a kid, now brought full circle. I wasn’t sure if it would hold my daughter’s interest at ten years old, but I was wrong. She lit up as we walked through, pointing out characters she knew and loved from books, shows, and bedtime stories. The park is full of whimsical sets and statues—from Wizard of Oz to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs—and it’s completely free to visit. For me, it was a sweet, quiet joy to share a place tied to my own childhood memories and see her enjoy it just as much.
Dinosaur Park – Kitschy and Classic
High above Rapid City sits Dinosaur Park, a quick and fun stop that brought on a wave of nostalgia. Walking among larger-than-life dino statues from the 1930s, with sweeping views of the city below, felt like stepping into a roadside time capsule. It was quirky, free, and full of photo-worthy moments—exactly the kind of stop that makes a road trip memorable.
Dinosaur Park
Chapel in the Hills – A Quiet Surprise
Just outside Rapid City, we found a pocket of peace at the Chapel in the Hills—a stunning replica of a 12th-century Norwegian stave church. Surrounded by tall trees, it felt serene and sacred. We walked quietly through the grounds, taking in the intricate wooden carvings and the hush that hung in the air. It was a beautiful contrast to the louder, busier stops of the day and gave us space to breathe and reflect.
De Smet – Walking in Laura's Footsteps
Before we wrapped up the trip, we made a meaningful stop in De Smet, the little town made famous by Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books. It felt like stepping into a different time. We visited the Original Surveyors’ House, where Laura and her family lived during By the Shores of Silver Lake—a place that feels surprisingly personal after reading her words.
We also toured the home Charles “Pa” Ingalls built in 1887–1889, the First School of De Smet that Laura and her sister Carrie attended, and the exhibition room full of original Ingalls-Wilder family artifacts. My daughter has read parts of the series, and seeing the real places and items helped those stories come alive in a new way. For me, it was part nostalgia and part reverence—for the power of books, the strength of those pioneering women, and the quiet resilience that still lingers in the prairie air.
Cabinets built by Charles Ingalls
Final Thoughts
This trip had everything I love about travel: a mix of effort and ease, big views and small details, roadside kitsch and literary roots—and most importantly, time to connect with the person right beside me. Hiking alongside my daughter, seeing her push herself and light up with excitement—those are the memories I’ll hold onto the longest.
South Dakota may not have been new to me but sharing it with her made it something entirely different. And even better.
Let’s keep rambling.
—Kelly