Horses

with No Comments

Sadly, too many Americans these days have never ridden a horse. Happily, you can update your horseback status easily in the Black Hills. How long should a novice’s first trail ride be? That depends your tolerance for a little backside soreness when you sit down for dinner later. But by … Read More

Rattlesnakes

with No Comments

Along Black Hills trails and walkways you’ll occasionally see signs warning of rattlesnakes. Yes, western South Dakota is rattler country and the signs should be taken seriously. But it’s comforting to know many people who live in the Black Hills (maybe most) have never seen a rattlesnake in the wild. … Read More

Spearfish Canyon Birding

with No Comments

If you’ve never considered yourself a bird-watcher, there’s no better place to start than Spearfish Canyon. It’s home to 130 bird species, including some you’re unlikely to find in your backyard. This is where eagles launch themselves from the high rimrock and glide on canyon air currents, then suddenly drop … Read More

Spearfish Canyon Porcupines

with No Comments

Elk, mountain lions, eagles, bobcats, and deer make Spearfish Canyon home. But a few years ago porcupines stole the spotlight, made national news in the canyon for developing a taste for brake fluid. Yes, they bit into brake lines and drank the stuff, leaving drivers up a steep canyon with … Read More