After arriving in Rapid City the previous afternoon, we were ready to explore the Black Hills on April 29th. We headed out around 9:30 and made our way to Custer State Park, starting at the visitor centre where we learned about the park’s impressive bison herd.

It wasn’t long before we got to see some of the bison for ourselves, along with some big horn sheep. Seeing these animals out in their natural surroundings was a great way to start the day.

From there, we drove Iron Mountain Road, Highway 16A, which turned out to be an amazing drive. The road winds its way through the Black Hills with some fantastic views, including several great glimpses of Mount Rushmore along the way. The combination of the road itself and the scenery made the drive one of the highlights of our time in the area.

Eventually, we arrived at Mount Rushmore and spent some time touring the site. We learned about the sculptor, how the monument was constructed and, of course, the four presidents carved into the mountain: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

We also learned why each president was chosen. Washington was selected because he was the first president and is considered the father of the United States. Jefferson represented the Louisiana Purchase and the country’s westward growth. Roosevelt was chosen for his role in the Panama Canal and his belief in the trust of the common man, while Lincoln represented the emancipation of the slaves.

After Mount Rushmore, we continued on to Sturgis. Naturally, we had to stop at the Harley-Davidson dealership there before driving around town and taking a look at the famous motorcycle community.

The following day, April 30th, we headed west and crossed into Wyoming, continuing our journey north toward home.