Please comment on our vacation plan - roads and campgrounds - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

mic111 · 05-09-2012, 09:22 PM

Thank you both for the pictures! Do you know where we can walk our dogs around there? I understand they don't allow them on the trails in the monument itself but are there surrounding hiking trails in the area?

no8fann · 05-10-2012, 09:22 PM

You won't need reservations at Wind Cave because all their tours are first come, first serve. Check both caves' websites for the current schedule when you plan to be here - as we ramp up for the busy season, we add tours, so be very careful when reading the schedules to be sure you are looking at the one for when you are planning to be there!

Minuteman will let you make reservations up to 7 days in advance. http://www.nps.gov/mimi/planyourvisi...servations.htm

Mammoth Site is a privately owned venue, and I don't believe reservations of any kind are required or recommended. They do occasionally have special events, so I would check their website to see if there is anything scheduled during your visit. If you have kids that love dinosaurs, it's a really fun spot!

There is also another site that might help your trip planning - Black Hills Vacations could possibly help with your itinerary and reservations. I haven't used them, but I know a lot of folks who come to our park do!

SD4020 · 05-10-2012, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mic111

Thank you both for the pictures! Do you know where we can walk our dogs around there? I understand they don't allow them on the trails in the monument itself but are there surrounding hiking trails in the area?

OUtside of Devils tower there is a KOA campground. As far as other trails etc. I am not totally positive. I am thinking so. But I woudn't bet my retirement on it either.

mic111 · 05-10-2012, 10:28 PM

Thanks!

Appreciate the info on the reservations. I have recorded the tour times so we can time our visit.

I'm still debating how many campground reservations to make or whether to just wing it. Advantage of reservations is we have a place to land if were touring late. Disadvantage is it locks us into a schedule where we have to move on even if we really like where we are.

SD4020 · 05-10-2012, 10:56 PM

Reserverations would depend on when during the season you are planning the trip. From 4th of july to middle of August I'd suggest reservations. (End of July and early August are busy with sturgis motorcycle rally.)

I'd think early june or late august I'd wing it. But I plan to be spontaneous...

mic111 · 05-11-2012, 02:32 PM

Thanks! Were probably going to be there in May. I just wasn't sure how popular these campgrounds would be. Right now most are showing good availability and since it is national forest as a last resort we could go boondock which is mostly what we do here in Colorado. However here the boondocking is most available away from the popular tourist attractions and I was figuring it was the same there.

no8fann · 05-11-2012, 10:56 PM

Most of the Black Hills is National Forest, and many of the roads are very passable, so you would likely find something not too far away from any given point in your itinerary. I believe only about half of the campgrounds are reservable. Keep in mind that there are also campgrounds on Wind Cave NP property & Badlands NP (not for Rushmore or Jewel Cave, as they are not "Parks" by definition). Rarely do these fill up in May, only moreso in the peak season, and even then, it's ususally still possible to find a site somewhere. If you decide on Dispersed Camping, check in the area where you are for restrictions. Black Hills National Forest - Camping & Cabins

ispersed Camping

Regardless of where you camp, please remember to follow all fire restrictions! They vary from area to area, so always check & never assume! We thank you ahead of time! We aren't trying to ruin your vacation, we're just trying to protect the resources we all enjoy and the places we live. To you, it's a vacation spot. To us it's home. Coming from Colorado, I am sure you can respect that. You guys have lost more trees than we have to that blasted little bug! =(

[Note: the smiley in the hyperlink is just weird, and totally not my doing!]

mic111 · 05-12-2012, 10:54 AM

Thanks for the link! We never start a campfire. I don't like the smoke. At least 3 or 4 times last year we put out other's left behind campfires in the Colorado National Forest. Personally I wish they would ban them outright since it appears a very limited number of people know how to actually put a campfire out.

I think I will go without reservations for us to have the freedom to decide based on the park if we want to stay.