7 Most Scenic Small Towns In South Dakota For Nature Lovers

There is the gory beauty of glass and glitz, the shine and sheen of blinking neon lights and flashy facades. However, real beauty is always found in nature’s benign sky, where the soft wind breathes through a lush and lusty landscape. If you love the austere grandeur of a mountain backdrop, the beauty of a thundering waterfall, or the simplicity of a tender wildflower, check out these seven South Dakota towns. They are simply the best for nature lovers.

Custer

If you know a thing about the Black Hills Region of South Dakota, you certainly have an idea of its wild, whimsical beauty. Custer, a small, tasty town about an hour from Rapid City, is the oldest in the Black Hills Region. This means one thing: there is no shortage of outdoor beauty and attractions in and around town. Custer State Park, for example, where herds of bison thunder through a stunning, unwieldy terrain, is a hop-step-and-jump away. Custer itself is surrounded by towering granite peaks, pine-speckled forests, and crystal-clear lakes, many of which are inside one of the largest state parks in America. Sylvan Lake, just about 6 miles from downtown Custer, has even served as the setting of a Hollywood movie. Miner’s Cup, on Mt. Rushmore Road, serves the best coffee you will ever taste. And they have outdoor seating. If you have the time, you will enjoy a round of golf at the Rocky Knolls Golf Course, a 9-hole beauty in a nice setting with beautiful trees.

Hill City

Hill City is also enveloped in the Black Hills Region of South Dakota, whose natural splendor rubs off on it and makes it one of the most picturesque locations in the state. One of the most exciting aspects of Hill City is that the town's outdoor beauty is just as scintillating as its flourishing art scene. Beauty sips into the deepest chambers of the soul at places such as the Jon Crane Gallery, where mind-rousing prints capture the essence of the Black Hills. Also, ArtForms Gallery is on the same stretch and can effortlessly blow away your entire souvenir budget in a blink. If you want to venture out a bit and breathe the fresh, playful air around, you will be happy to realize that Hill City provides easy access to both Black Elk Peak and Mickelson Trail, one of the premier rail trails in the West.

Spearfish

Spearfish is a quiet and quaint town with a small, beautiful college, fantastic green spaces, and great breweries. Talking of breweries, you will want to snag a shady, outdoor table at Crow Peak Brewing Company and enjoy their “Pile of Dirt” porter in a fun, kickback atmosphere. It is also a nice place to sit and watch a glowing sunset, especially if you come in the final minutes of daylight. Keep in mind that you can easily spend the whole day at the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives, feeding the fish, walking the trails, and touring Booth House, an imposing, historic edifice, with period furnishings and some interesting Booth Family memorabilia. Of course, you can't miss to see Spearfish Canyon, known for its lush cliffs, waterfalls (including the 60-foot Bridal Veil Falls), and vibrant autumn colors. The whole area is also ideal for scenic drives, and you don't want to miss the therapy that comes with cruising through one of the most beautiful landscapes in the West.

Keystone

Keystone is a small, picture-perfect town surrounded by the majestic beauty of the Black Hills National Forest, which adds a shade of tranquility to an already peaceful location. The landscape features dramatic and honeycombed rock formations, another aspect that makes it Instagram-worthy. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial, one of the town's defining attractions, is a doorbell away. At the Big Thunder Gold Mine, funny and knowledgeable guides transport you back to the fascinating story of discovery, anticipation, disappointment and accomplishment. Whatever your schedule, don't forget to pass by this kitschy, old working mine. Other interesting touch points include Keystone Museum (don't miss the gift shop), and Keystone Pub Grub, which serves phenomenal Jalapeño popper burgers.

Deadwood

Architectural Digest describes Deadwood’s Main Street as “trapped in a time where life stands still” and ranks the town among the 55 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America. A byproduct of the Gold Rush, Deadwood was once a typical Wild West town, filled with saloons, bars, and prostitutes. A tingle of excitement will serenade your heart as you amble through Deadwood, a town many believe to be South Dakota's most beautiful. Historic Downtown Deadwood invokes the spirit of the Gold Rush era, especially with its cool old buildings, its nostalgic ambience, and its famed casinos. If you have a thing for stage coaches and carriages, a visit to the Days of '76 Museum will be quite an enjoyable experience. Still on the town's history, the deceivingly small Adams Museum is full of interesting Old West legends and boatloads of fascinating artefacts. You can also make advance plans with Deadwood Ghost Tours & Haunted Pub Crawls, especially to enjoy the town's spine-tingling ghost stories. Alternatively, hit up the George S. Mickelson Trail, a nice, well-maintained stretch with only a few road crossings.

Hot Springs

Hot Springs, famous for its red sandstone architecture, is a small, charming town with one of the best golf courses in South Dakota. Southern Hills Golf Course is a Black Hills beauty with 18 holes, swoon-worthy scenery, and a clubhouse. If you want to give it a shot, book a tee time online or over the phone. Keep in mind that Big Time Pizza on Chicago Street is an intimate mom-and-pop place that serves some of the best pizza in the state. Also, KSK Antiques & Pawn has some interesting knick-knacks, including used guns and knives, antique coins, and beautiful jewelry. You can also swing by The Mammoth Site, an incredible piece of history that boasts the world’s largest concentration of Columbian mammoth remains. To shift gears for something outdoorsy, check out Cascade Falls, a heart-stirring marvel about 10 miles out of town.

Wall

You can call it the “geographical center of nowhere.” You can also call it by its more tantalizing and meaningful moniker: the “Gateway to the Badlands.” Because that is what Wall is, the main jumping-off point to the hordes of tourists visiting the Badlands National Park. The park, with its deep canyons and jagged rock spires, is endlessly strange in the most heart-gripping way. It is often like stepping into an alien planet. The National Grasslands Visitor Center does not just give insightful information about the area. It is an attraction by itself. Don't miss the little gift shop at the site. However, to many people, this town's defining attraction is the Wall Drug Store, a truly phenomenal place with a ton of small-town USA history. They also serve food. So brace yourself for some delicious cherry pie. If you want a true diamond in the rough, it has to be the Dakota Sky Stone, an awesome jewelry store on Main Street known for exceptional customer service.

The Takeaway

Tired of the hollowness of big-city sparkle? North Dakota is dotted with several charming small towns where nature whispers freshness, re-birth, and unconventionality. You will enjoy sipping craft brews under glowing sunsets, strolling main streets backdropped by jaw-dropping mountain peaks, and exploring ruggedly beautiful landscapes. Each of these towns is different. However, you will find one that you will feel like hugging; downtown areas that stop you mid-step. Whatever your version of beauty, you will find a North Dakota town that exceeds your expectations.