Hey everyone,

We are planning a little weekend trip in June to go see Mount Rushmore and some of the other sites in the area. We are planning on landing at Custer. I've lined up a rental car from a place until town and the airport has some limited camping sites on the field. So, my questions to you all are:

- Anyone done this trip and have any advice?
- Anyone from the area with any good to know local knowledge?
- Any "don't miss" places between there and northern Utah? We are planning a lunch stop in KLND, Hunt.

Thanks for any info! Should be a fun trip for the kids.

Cory


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So your not going into Krap? Love that identifier! I was through there twice a few years ago. KRAP had a nice small pilots lounge and self service fuel that some one was starting. Great folks and place to lounge. Unfortunately, the car rental agency at the airport tried to rip us off with a $150/day car when I called. I got on line and booked the same car through the same agency for $30 just five minutes later. The motel we stayed at tried to pull something similar. The Black Hills are beautiful with some great people, but hold on to your wallet. We found too many folks tried to take advantage of us. We almost got scalped at the Crazy Horse monument too, come to think of it. We just flew over it the next day instead and got some great pictures for free!

Camping is better over at Custer state park (3V0), IMO.

Check out the hot springs at KHSR:
http://www.hotsprings-sd.com/

If you are going to make a "low" pass at Rushmore - just do it once - don't circle back.

Stop in and say hi to Ray Jillet up at Spearfish (KSPF). You could camp on the field there, too. Courtesy car available for free - and you can take it to go visit the monuments as I recall. Worth a call. Ask about the "south dakota road hunt."

Make sure you swing by devil's tower.

There's a real nice grass strip with camping on the field just east of Chadron in Hay Springs (4V6). Beautiful field - easy walk into town - great steakhouse right there.

We stopped there on our way to MN, landed at both KCUT on day 1 and stopped for a while at KRAP on day 2 due to weather. KCUT was a nice quiet little airport. Flying over the Black Hills was really cool, scenic in a different but as spectacular way than Idaho.

We rented a car through "Custer Car Rental" who had the rental dropped off at the airport before our arrival and picked it up after we left, no issues. We stayed at the Shady Rest cabins, nice people and we had a great time. If you can avoid the weekend it would be best, and make sure to look up when Sturgis is because the preceding weekend through the one after will have the area packed. We showed up right in the middle of it.

We did a fly-by of Mt. Rushmore on our way out early in the morning, much more impressive from the ground than the air. I'd be hesitant to fly by during mid-day because there are endless helicopters flying loops around the area all day. I think helicopter rides were about $100 for 15 mins in a R-44. Devils Tower is cool, worth flying by. Have time to explore the town for a while, it is a cool little place to visit.

Thanks Mike and Greg. I read about KRAP having the tendency to be a bit of a trap. I'll look into those suggestions Greg. Thanks!

In my initial planning, I opted for Custer for its central location. I looked at Custer State Park, but ruled it out due to the lack of access to a car. I thought about trying to find a courtesy car to use for the monuments, but thought it best to have a sure thing since time is limited and I don't want to disappoint the kids. Custer has a place that rents cars and has two campsites on the field with a fire pit. The cars are more expensive than what I found at KRAP, but are in line with what I found in Afton a year or two ago. $65 for a mid-sized car and $85 for a minivan. I figure where we aren't paying for a hotel I'm ok spending a little more on a car.

I'll check out those other options too though. Thanks!

hey Cory. the wife, kids, and i flew into rapid city two years ago. we stayed for a few days and rented a car. that way we could do all the tourist stuff. it was summer so the thunder storms where real bad and i was happy to put the plane in a hanger in rapid city. we drove to custer state park (3V0) and that place defiantly has a good camping spot. also the hanger is vacant there and has no door so if it starts hailing you have a place to shelter the plane. never made it to KCUT airport but we did drive through town. i would recommend rapid city and rent a car. rapid city has a lot of cool stuff to see.

Thanks Scott and Justin. Good info. That is who we have the car through as well. I thought of hangar space and asked about it. It is limited in CUT. He did say though that they usually don't get the big stuff until July and August. But I guess you never know. We will be there in mid-June. The Crazy Horse Stampede Rodeo is going on that weekend. Hopefully it won't make things too busy. We only have three days to do this trip this time, so we will probably only hit one of the caves, maybe Crazy Horse, and Rushmore...which is the main goal of the trip. Anyone done the laser show at Crazy Horse? Anyone gone down to the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs? It's a little drive and wondering if it is worth it. Anyone been to either or both caves? I've read about both and I think I visited the Jewel Cave when I was about 9...Adam's age. I still remember it to this day. That's probably the one we will go to. Thanks again! Appreciate the info!


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Forgot about the caves. We did Jewel Cave and the kids really enjoyed it. I'd do it again, It is easy to get through and a good way to spend a few hours. Haven't done Crazy Horse but you can see it from the main road driving to Rushmore, still a work in progress.

Did you do the whole tour? I know they have the short presentation that is supposed to be good for kids. I just didn't know if the whole 1hr+ tour would be too much for Tyler...as in keeping his attention. He's 4. But that is what I'd rather do.

A couple more questions. I thought I once saw something about a strip across the road from a gas station or something at Devil's Tower. Also, anyone know what's with the note on the sectional about staying 3 miles away for reasons of "National Welfare"?


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Don't forget Deadwood where Wild Bill Hickok was killed. Spearfish Canyon Hwy. ALT 14 pretty drive. Next time go during bike week at Sturgis. The family can get a real education. hehehe.

Hehe! Yeah I bet! I thought about Deadwood but I think it will be skipped this trip...just due to time constraints. But who knows. If we end up staying an extra day we might.


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I would contact Ray Jillet at Spearfish. I recall there being an impromptu fly-in at the KOA right next to the tower, just across the river. I believe the hay meadow there is landable, but only 1,000ft. Caveat - I didn't participate, but I recall the conversations during planning.

I think this is the place:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Devils+Tower+KOA/@44.5902211,-104.7094606,2642m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x53330667a734a5d3:0xf80f586a189dca00!8m2!3d44.5909116!4d-104.6985829

Devil's Tower is considered a sensitive Native American site. I believe the reasoning is pretty similar to Mt. Rushmore. I know that can be debated - but in the end it comes down to people complain when you get too close. My own take on that is you get a pretty good view from 3 miles away - I don't really see a need to get any closer.

You can also call Hulett (W43) and ask if they have a crew car to drive over. How close do you want to get?

Seriously authentic finger crack. 5.11+ ?

I don't care about getting close, except unless there was a place like the KOA to land...which is within three miles. More than anything I was curious about the "Welfare" wording on the chart. Usually when you see those boxes it is "security", not "welfare", and are around places like Dugway and the INEL in Idaho.

Nice pic!


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Mr. Clean - 5.11a

8GCBC wrote:Seriously authentic finger crack. 5.11+ ?

We stop at KCUT every year on the way back from Michigan. Great place. No cool places on the way home, except for Devils Tower. Leave early am and avoid the wonderful Wyoming headwinds coming home.

Good advice! Thanks!


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I'm based at KLND and I wouldn't mind grabbing lunch with another BCP'r

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Awesome! I'll keep you in the loop!


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Robber's Roost is probably a little north of your flight path on the east side of Wyoming, but Donnie likes visitors. He's got a nicely groomed, 2 runway, strip on his property. I can get you his contact information if you email me. A stop might be good enough for a free hat. Keeps his pacer in an old loafing shed next to the house.