Elk Creek Resort and Lodge

Get out into many an outdoor day from here, or use the resort as a base for famed attractions like Mount Rushmore and the Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns. At the Black Hills National Forest, tackle South Dakota's highest mountain of Black Elk Peak,  the highest summit in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains; the easiest and most popular route is from the trailhead at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park. Some spectacular caves are in this area too, including the world's sixth longest (140 miles) at Wind Cave, 10 miles from Hot Springs. Also see the Black Hills Caverns, with gem mining, tours and fossil digging, and the Jewel Cave National Monument, the third longest cave in the world. The world's biggest mountain carving is nearby – not Mount Rushmore but the Crazy Horse Memorial, a memorial for all Native American tribes and with several museums. From here drive down to spectacular Rushmore, via the world's biggest reptile collection at the Reptile Gardens. The Bear Country seasonal drive-through wildlife park with wolves, bears, elk and other North American animals is a short drive from Rapid City.