Hike, Kayak & Ride: Black Hills, Badlands & Mount Rushmore

This was my fourth Road Scholar trip. The Black hills beauty certainly did not disappoint. In fact, the variety of scenery, and the agenda planned to get the participants engaged first hand with it, was a very appealing aspect of the trip. Be prepared for full days to get this emersion experience completed in a week. The K-Bar Ranch, where we based ourselves, is comfortable, with sweeping views from the dining deck. Breakfasts were tasty, with good selection variety at a buffet. Lunches were casual and mostly on the road, dinners were adequate, with beer and wine available from a cash bar. If I had a change to suggest, it would be to upgrade one or two of the dinner menus. Besides the gorgeous landscape, I thought the essential ingredients that made this week work so well were the Road Scholar staff members. Rapid City native Bob Chalberg, our lead guide for the week, was aided on our hikes by one of two assistants as well as a bus driver who stayed with us all week. All were locals, all were notable for their enthusiasm, midwestern friendliness and were genuine catalysts in bonding the travelers into a group who were enjoying each other as well as the scenery. Mid-week, when I broke my arm on the trail, Bob was a consummate professional, managing numerous challenges to get the rest of the group to their next event, provide first aid on the spot and also accompany my husband and me to the E.R. in Custer, all in rapid fire order. I stayed to finish the week, and despite my mishap, I left feeling it was a fine Road Scholar adventure. If you like to hike, consider this trip.

I would recommend this program for anyone who does not know about North Dakota and is interested in indigenous history, grand vistas and inspiring hikes through two opposite terrains: the Black Hills and Bad Lands.

This was our first trip with Road Scholar, to a place where I had never been before. Both exceeded my expectations. The program was diverse and well calibrated between hiking in nature and visiting interesting places and events. What exiting moments to see the buffalo round up and to participate in the volksmarch to the Crazy Horse memorial.

This trip was amazing! South Dakota is a beautiful state. This was my 8th trip with RS, all of them wonderful, but this one was my favorite so far. Our guide, Bob Chalberg, made this trip so enjoyable with his knowledge, sense of humor and organization. We saw many unbelievably beautiful vistas. The activities were just right and we met some great people on this trip. Highly recommended!!

I HIGHLY recommend this trip - great hikes, wonderful short 20 mi ride on Michelson Trail with E-bikes! Beautiful landscape and monuments. Jennifer was a 5 star guide and her trail sweep, Bob, was great. Both Jennifer and Bob made sure everyone was accommodated for the activities. We had been wanting to see the monument (Rushmore & Crazy Horse) for some time, but had no idea how wonderful the parks were. Great informational sessions on geology, and Native American culture, and significant history of this area. One of our favorite RS trips!

A very interesting part of the country to see and hike. Great variety every day. Mount Rushmore was much more than I imagined it would be and the Crazy Horse Monument was a true highlight and something I knew nothing about.

Excellent program, with varied activities in beautiful (fall) settings. The two special events -- the buffalo round-up at Custer State Park and the Volksmarch to the Crazy Horse memorial -- were outstanding, as was the day in Badlands. Strong leadership and support for all the activities. We appreciated the mix of activities and learning, hands-on and from the several knowledgeable, enthusiastic instructors. Highly recommend.

This trip to the Black Hills was an incredible experience! There was a big variation of activities and I felt good about accomplishing them all. Bike riding was joyous in a beautiful environment; the hikes were all different and all of them were satisfying; the kayaking was in a lovely lake setting; the horseback riding was on some pretty trails through the trees and across streams. I learned so much new information about Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Monument and the Badlands of which I did not know prior to the trip. And, watching a herd of buffalo thunder past was breathtaking. I loved all the activities--they were just right, not too little and not too muchs. Great guide, Bob Chalbert, lots of fun! He obviously loves South Dakota!

This was a great program that had us moving the entire week. We hiked, rode a horse, and kayaked some of the most beautiful scenery in the western part of the state. I have a new appreciation for the unique beauty of South Dakota.

A beautiful & active trip with wonderful Road Scholar guide, speakers & staff at our experiences. Learned so much about the history of the area far beyond anything I could have read about - be it about the topography, geology, development of Mt. Rushmore & Crazy Horse or most importantly the painful history of our Native Americans.

Don't worry that this program is too difficult. Few participants have ridden horses in the last 40 years. Plus, it was just a slow walk. The bike riding was mostly downhill. The kayaking was very short and on a smooth lake. There is quite a few hikes but most are only 1-3 miles with many participants going slowly.

Black Hills, Badlands & Mount Rushmore - Hike, Kayak & Ride: Had a great time. David was a great trip leader. Amazing scenery. The activities were so much fun. Lots of wildlife. We were busy but that's what I was looking for. The other Road Scholars were very enjoyable. I highly recommend this trip!

Thoroughly enjoyed our first Road Scholar trip to South Dakota! Our tour guide, Bob, did an excellent job sharing his passion about his native land. It was a super active trip with opportunities to hike, bike, and kayak. Will definitely be on the lookout for other 'spirited' trips like this!

Great trip to touch on the beauty and history of South Dakota, with enough variey of exercises and activities to be very physically involved and enjoyed. I would recommend this trip to my active friends.

This program shows a beautiful part of South Dakota at a good pace with fun, informative activities.

This was my ninth RS trip and one of the best I've been on. Jennifer was extremely knowledgeable and a delightful guide, Susan was impressive with her coach-driving expertise, the lodge was very comfortable, food was good, and So. Dakota was beautiful. To top it all off, not only did I learn a great deal, but I was also fortunate enough to share this great experience with a wonderful bunch of people! Definitely five stars!!

As always, Road Scholar does an EXCEPTIONAL job with their trips, and the Badlands / Black Hills adventure was no exception. The activities, leaders, new experiences, and reasonable cost are the reasons we return to Road Scholar again and again!

We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this trip. A unique part of the country, a geological treasure. The activities were well planned, the group leader was passionate and knowledgeable, and the accommodations pleasing. A wonderful, memorable experience.

This was first Road Scholar program. Because we had such an exceptional experience, we are eager to sign up for more! The quality of the itinerary, lodging and meals, trip leader, and trip value make Road Scholar the absolute choice for us! We highly recommend this particular program in South Dakota if you seek active participation, amazing wildlife and landscapes, and learning and sharing with interesting leaders and fellow travelers.

The description of this program was completely accurate. Diverse activities every day and even though I can count on one hand the number of times I have kayaked or been on a horse, I still had a great experience. Great Program Leader and great bus driver!

This program lived up to our expectations giving us a perspective on a part of the U.S. that we always wanted to explore.

Great program - our leader David was excellent and very knowledgeable about each place we visited. The hikes we did were different each day and varied terrain made them interesting. Horseback ride was fun! Weather was a challenge - we had both very hot and cold/rainy days to contend with but I was satisfied with what we accomplished at the end of each day. I would like to go back to do the Mickelson Trail biking program, we only got a taste of the trail - I'd like to do more!

The trip to Mt. Rushmore and Badlands was awesome! Bob, our guide, was fantastic. We made lots of friends and had loads of laughs. I highly recommend this trip.

I had a wonderful time on the trip

The was amazing. The Group Leader was excellent and had a thorough understanding of the sites we visited. The sites we visited were all great. The activity level was plenty strenuous for me, as well as well adapted to those how needed less rigor.

This is a wonderful trip. The natural beauty is stunning. Being able to experience it with people that have similar interests in immersing themselves in activities that bring you "up close and personal" to this area makes it especially enjoyable. The tours and evening programs provided a well rounded opportunity to learn more about the history of this part of South Dakota. Bob, our group leader, was exceptional. He set the tone for the special cohesiveness our group found.

This program had a good variety of activities and sites in South Dakota. The BadLands are well worth the trip.

This program was action-packed & the Black Hills of South Dakota are amazing! I am definitely planning a trip back to the Black Hills again. Bob Chalborg, our group leader, was warm, congenial, and inviting! A charming man who really knows the area well. I enjoyed the hikes and also the afternoon spent at Sylvan Lake kayaking. A great trip & super value!!

If you can hike 3-5 miles and want to see this beautiful area, this trip is a beautiful experience. I highly recommend it. mun takeda

What a wonderful trip. Our leader, Jean-Claire accommodated every request for the group. Beautiful hiking , biking, and kayaking….she was from the area and added extra highlights.

Exploration of this part of South Dakota was amazing. As with the other seven Road Scholar trips we have experienced, this was a memorable one! A perfect amount of movement each day with hiking, bicycling, and a short horseback ride and kayaking on Lake Sylvan. Each day was well planned out to maximize our opportunities to take in the highlights of SD. The group we were in was considered a small group (22 people), from all parts of the country and a pleasure to be around. The team lead (David Ireland) was wonderful, extremely knowledgeable about the area and a perfect guide for this trip . Randy, in addition to being an excellent bus driver, had a great upbeat attitude and was much appreciated. The three evening presentations were nice additions, providing information on the culture, geology, and history of the area. The trip was a perfect contrast and therapy for the past couple years of challenges.

This was a terrific week of adventure and exploration in the Black Hills, Rushmore and Badlands, all under the superb, good-natured leadership of David Ireland. RS characterizes this trip as SPIRITED, and indeed it is, certainly in the physical exercise of hiking, biking, horseback riding and kayaking, but also spirited in the group camaraderie, spirited in the lively and varied speakers who gave a cultural, scientific context to our explorations, spirited in our unique opportunities for the early-morning buffalo round-up and the Volksmarch up Crazy Horse monument, spirited in David's proud and personalized sharing of his South Dakota home. This week really was the best of the Road Scholar approach--stunningly beautiful terrain and vistas, insightful and educational background lectures, professionally coordinated and organized excursions and events with thorough, thoughtful preparation, yet plenty of opportunities for spontaneity and immediacy, and just plain, down-to-earth, memorable fun, whether enjoying a sack-lunch picnic in the shade of a single tree, the sharing of the Buffalo Box around an evening's campfire, unexpected and close-up encounters with SD Gov. Kristi Noem at Rushmore and round-up, my first buffalo burger, the evening lighting ceremony featuring military veterans lowering and folding the flag, even David's sixth-grade-teacher Dad Jokes ("Who's your favorite rock group? Mt. Rushmore"). For us, the highlight was the extensive hiking, biking and kayaking with spectacular golden quaking aspens and birch all around us (what a contrast to our more subtle Florida autumns!). Michelson Bicycle Trail is stunning. Badlands territory is surreal. Kayaking on that pristine mirror lake is sublime. --Ben and Joyce Wiley/Florida

Beautiful area with great diversity and a superior trip leader.

What a great trip and experience!! Everything about this trip was beyond my expectations. The group leader was the main contributor for this great experience!

This program is a wonderful way to experience the Black Hills and the Badlands through the variety of outdoor and educational opportunities. The hikes were 3 miles or less, but all involved some challenge. Our group leader, Jean-Claire, was resourceful enough to change one of our hikes to a shorter but still interesting and challenging hike on a day that was unseasonably hot. The trail ride on horseback was an hour, which was just the right length for me. The kayaking is fun--it's in a small, scenic lake--again about an hour. I would have enjoyed more time to bike on the Mickelson Trail. The only criticism I have of this program is that there should have been more of an orientation to the bikes, as they varied in terms of how to change gears (which you need to do on this ride). The K Bar S Lodge is a wonderful facility for programs like this--a great location, nice rooms, and outstanding food! As usual with Road Scholar, the educational components added a great deal to our enjoyment of the entire program. Highly recommended!

This program will certainly increase your knowledge of the Black Hills and South Dakota. The variety of activities will keep you engaged and physically challenged.

This trip was fabulous. Each hike was different, but each was challenging and strenuous. The K Bar S Lodge was accommodating to my vegan plant based diet, and the entire itinerary was well paced. The Motor Coach was comfortable and had a toilet on board. Our excellent leader Jennifer also arranged for well timed bathroom breaks. The horseback ride, bike riding, and kayaking were scenic. Remember to bring walking poles, hiking boots that you have worn before, hat, and sunglasses. I read one book on the Lakota Indigenous people before the trip and appreciated the local history much more. The evening presentations were excellent, the Lodge was comfortable., and our bus driver Mert, was amazing. We were surprised by how small the Rapid City airport is, remember to book your local cab or transporter van before you land - there are none lined up outside the airport.

Spectacular hikes; excellent leadership; well organized; on schedule.

This program provided a very active and very fun week! We saw so many diverse places and learned a lot. I made new friends and overall had a fabulous experience.

This program exceeded my expectations. It provided a unique and diverse overview of South Dakota. I was interested in seeing and learning about Mount Rushmore, but this program provided so much more than that. I came away with a deeper understanding for and appreciation of South Dakota. I loved the hikes, the horseback ride, the bike ride and the kayaking. Overall, it was a great program with a wonderful leader/guide and a fun group of people.

This is a beautiful (Black Hills) and very unusual (Badlands) part of South Dakota. I love the mountains and was surprised to find such a wealth of new experiences here. Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse memorials are inspiring. This is a part of our country we should all visit.

This trip was terrific. Every detail was really well planned. Each activity was challenging, but fun. We were so impressed with this area of South Dakota. But the real bonus was our leader David Ireland. Having lived in this area his entire life, he enhanced the trip with tons of extra information & interesting stories. We just were so fortunate to spend our time in South Dakota with such a well-informed person who shared his passion about the history, culture, and science of his home state. Bravo David!!