The first winter I spent in South Dakota was long and intense. Not only are daylight hours at their absolute minimum, but temperatures were around -40°F for more days than I can remember. I learned that year, that winter is not my friend.
The following fall as winter was creeping up again, I had a coworker who could not wait for the snow to come back. Was he insane?! I couldn’t believe what he was saying. He listened to my dismay, and explained to me that I just needed to find a winter hobby.
I thought about it, and he was right! The reason why so many locals love winters in the Black Hills, is because there are still so many opportunities for exploration and adventure. Rather than avoiding the snow, I might as well embrace it. For that reason, I am sharing with you all the best things to do in South Dakota during the winter. Try them out and I bet you will be surprised by how much fun this time of year can be too 
Disclaimer: Some of these activities will require a big investment in equipment, so you may have to pick which one you can see yourself committing to for the long run. However, I promise it will be well worth the investment, because you will likely only have to buy it once, then be able to use them for countless adventures for years to come.
With that in mind, let’s get into the best winter activities to do in South Dakota:
1. Skiing or Snowboarding in Terry Peak
Skiing and snowboarding seems to be the favorite winter recreational activity of Black Hills locals, and for good reason. Flying down that 7,100 ft peak at full speed is an amazing experience of pure bliss. And with Terry Peak being only an hour away from Rapid City, there’s no reason you won’t be able to make it out several times during the season.
While Terry Peak is not the biggest ski resort compared to the ones in Colorado, it’s also not as crowded. Most weekdays you will have the 29 trails all to yourself. I found this to be especially nice as a beginner at snowboarding, since I didn’t have to worry as much about crashing into other people. However, it can get pretty busy during the weekends and Christmas break.
Ski for Light
If the cost of equipment is the main thing holding you back from skiing or snowboarding, you can find gear at ridiculously discounted prices at the Black Hills Regional Ski for Light Ski Swap. Every year in Rapid City, just before the ski season starts (usually early November), the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center hosts a very popular consignment sale including everything that you need to get started. For instance, they have skis, ski poles, snowboards, snowboarding boots, helmets, goggles, gloves, ski jackets/suits… you name it, they consign it.
Plan on arriving early and waiting several hours until the doors open for sale at 12 p.m. People will usually start lining up as early as 9 a.m. Make sure you know exactly what size you will need for everything, because people start grabbing things off the the shelves immediately – think Black Friday but for skiers. OR if you want to avoid all the havoc, I’ve had friends who have volunteered for the Ski for Light Ski Swap and said they get first dibs on everything before the doors open up. You just have to commit to volunteering for the day.
2. Hike to Frozen Waterfalls in Spearfish Canyon
The next best thing to do during winter in the Black Hills of South Dakota is to go searching for frozen waterfalls in Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Not many people get to experience a natural beauty like this, and the photos that come out of it are just phenomenal. In fact, my frozen waterfall photos are my most liked photos on Instagram.
Hike to the same spots you saw in the summer, including Bridal Veil Falls, Roughlock Falls, and Spearfish Falls (seem my post on the 5 Best Hiking Trails in Spearfish Canyon for full details on how to find them). However this time, you’ll feel like you’re in a winter wonderland as everything is frozen in time.
I especially love the hike to Roughlock Falls during the winter, as the contrast between the stillness of the snowy creek and the towering limestone is breathtaking. While Iron Creek Trail is not known for its (smaller) waterfalls, it is also another beautiful way to experience winter in South Dakota. For more adventurous hikers, I recommend making the trek up to Community Caves, which is just unbelievable in the winter.
While it is not necessary for all hikes, I recommend buying a pair of snow cleats to help with traction on the icy trails – particularly Community Caves. These are the ones that I bought, and I’m always so much speedier than Emil in his YakTrax. (But please don’t tell him I said that. He’ll probably deny it 😂)
3. Snowshoeing
Did you know that you can rent snowshoes for free from any South Dakota State Park and the Outdoor Campus – West? Yes, completely free for a week or weekend! (Although, I recommend calling ahead to reserve your size.) There are so many amazing snowshoeing trails located throughout the Black Hills that you don’t want to miss out on.
The spot I was most disappointed in not getting to snowshoe is actually Needles Highway. After the road has been closed for the season, Needles Highway is traffic-free, making it a beautiful winter haven for snowshoeing. Seeing the famous granite spires covered in a blanket of snow is a completely different experience than the one you had in the summer.
Other snowshoeing trails in the Black Hills include the Big Hill Trail, Eagle Cliff Trails, George S. Mickelson Trail, Crow Peak, and anything in Spearfish Canyon. Each trail has its own way of displaying the wonders of winter in the Black Hills.
If for some reason you’re not able to pick up snowshoes at the State Parks, Roam’n Around and Scheels in Rapid City, and Edge Sports in Lead also provide snowshoe rentals for a fee; or you can buy your own for endless adventures in the snow. Click here to see snowshoes on Amazon.
4. Cross Country Skiing
The main difference between downhill skiing and cross country skiing is the source of movement. While downhill skiers develop speed by going downhill, cross country skiers must create their own natural movement while going up and down the terrain.
Cross country skiing might sound intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before, and don’t have anyone to teach you. Luckily in the Black Hills, the Eagle Cliff Ski Association (ECSA) hosts a free demo day in January where instructors teach attendees the basics.
It is similar to snowshoeing in the fact that cross country skiing allows you to explore trails during the winter, and many of the places that offer snowshoeing also offer cross country skiing. However, there are even more trails available for cross country skiing, and because these trails require special maintenance, they are often only accessible to cross country skiers.
Therefore, if you really want to enjoy all the possibilities for winter fun in the Black Hills, it’s worth giving it a shot. I hear the peacefulness of gliding through the snow on a quiet day alone is worth learning cross country skiing.
Again, rentals are available at Roam’n Around and Scheels in Rapid City, and Edge Sports in Lead for a fee. Or the best possible option – buy your own cross country skis. Click here to see cross country skis on Amazon.
5. Fat Biking
Fat biking is the perfect sport for adrenaline junkies, in my opinion. If you want speed, distance, and sharp turns with amazing views, then fat biking is for you. It’s an excellent way to stay active during South Dakota winters, as pedaling a massive bike up and down snowy inclines will surely get your heart rate up.
While the most popular trails are Big Hill Trail and Iron Creek Trail, any place that has packed snow is good enough for your fat bike. That includes anywhere in Custer State Park, Lookout Mountain in Spearfish, and Sturgis.
In addition, the large fat biking community in the Black Hills will keep you motivated and on your A-game. My favorite bicyclists to follow for inspiration on Instagram are the Huot Brothers @huotbroscycling. However, fat biking is definitely going to be an investment – a good fat bike will cost you upwards of $2,000.
6. Snowmobiling
With 350 miles of groomed trails and nearly all of the Black Hills National Forest open to off-trail riding, snowmobiling is the ultimate way to explore the Black Hills in the winter. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience as the Black Hills’ trail system has consistently ranked as one of the top 10 places to snowmobile in North America according to SnoWest magazine and SuperTrax International.
What could be more memorable than hopping on a snowmobile and driving straight out of your hotel into the grand “mountain” views of the Black Hills? The trails are typically open from December 15 to March 15, depending on weather. Rental rates for a double-seater for a half day will cost upwards of $150. Visit https://gfp.sd.gov/snowmobiling/ for more details about the trails in the Black Hills.
Those are my top picks for the most fun things to do in South Dakota in the winter. Hiking and snowboarding taught me to absolutely love the snow, but snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and especially snowmobiling make me know that I’ll have to come back for more adventures some day.
That’s it for now! Let me know in the comments if you think I missed any other really cool things that make winter one of the best seasons in South Dakota.
1 Comment
Pingback: South Dakota Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know