South Dakota Badlands Wildlife and History Tour

This isn’t just a tour—it’s a deeply personal exploration of the natural world, guided by a professional wildlife biologist who brings every moment to life. Designed exclusively for your group, the experience is entirely private and tailored to your interests, pace, and curiosity.
What sets it apart is the focus on nature in its purest form—no monuments, no crowds, just the living heartbeat of the Black Hills. You’ll explore vast prairies, winding byways, underground caves, and wildlife-rich habitats with a guide who reads the landscape like a storybook.

Rather than simply pointing out animals or naming plants, your guide offers insight into the complex relationships that tie geology, ecology, and wildlife together. You’ll walk away with not only stunning photos but a meaningful connection to the land itself.

Unhurried, immersive, and rich with discovery—this tour invites you to slow down, look deeper, and experience South Dakota as few ever do.

What to expect:

Duration: between 7 hours and 8 hours

Wind Cave National Park

26611 U.S. Highway 385, South Dakota

Beneath the surface, Wind Cave is one of the oldest and most complex cave systems in the world. Known for its rare boxwork formations—thin, honeycomb-like calcite structures found in few other places—this underground labyrinth is a geological marvel. As you descend into the cave with your guide, you’ll uncover the science and mystery behind its formation, unique airflow, and Lakota cultural significance.
Above ground, a completely different story unfolds. Here, mixed-grass prairie stretches across rolling hills, dotted with ponderosa pine forests and home to bison, elk, coyotes, prairie dogs, and endangered black-footed ferrets. It’s one of the last remaining intact prairies in North America.

With a wildlife biologist as your guide, this stop offers not just sightseeing—but insight. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of the delicate balance that exists between geology, biology, and ecology in this extraordinary place.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Wildlife Loop Road

Custer, 57730, South Dakota

Wildlife Loop Road offers a front-row seat to the untamed beauty of Custer State Park. This scenic 18-mile route winds through open grasslands and rolling hills, where bison herds roam freely and prairie dogs pop in and out of their burrows. Keep watch for pronghorn, wild burros, white-tailed deer, and even the occasional coyote or elk.
With a wildlife biologist as your guide, you won’t just spot animals—you’ll understand their behaviors, habitats, and the intricate web of life that defines this ecosystem. The journey is slow-paced and deliberate, allowing for spontaneous encounters, in-depth interpretation, and remarkable photo opportunities.

This isn’t a drive-through attraction—it’s a living, breathing landscape where every curve in the road could lead to a once-in-a-lifetime moment with nature.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Custer State Park

13329 US Highway 16A, , Custer, 57730-8351, South Dakota

Custer State Park is a sanctuary of South Dakota’s wildest wonders. Spanning over 71,000 acres, this living landscape is home to one of the largest free-roaming bison herds in the country—often seen thundering across open prairies or calmly grazing near the road. Beyond bison, the park’s rich biodiversity includes pronghorn, elk, bighorn sheep, wild burros, coyotes, prairie dogs, and over 200 species of birds.
Your private guide—an expert wildlife biologist—helps you read the land like a living storybook. Explore alpine meadows, ponderosa pine forests, granite spires, and aspen groves while learning how every plant and animal plays a role in this ecosystem.

From the winding curves of Wildlife Loop Road to quiet trails known only to locals, this part of your tour is immersive, educational, and unforgettable. It’s not about checking sights off a list—it’s about seeing nature through new eyes and feeling deeply connected to the land around you.

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway

Highway 16A, Custer, South Dakota

The Needles Highway is more than a road—it’s a winding journey through one of the most visually arresting landscapes in the Black Hills. As part of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, this 14-mile stretch weaves through towering granite spires, narrow tunnels carved by hand, and thick forests of pine and spruce.
The cathedral spires, shaped by eons of erosion, create a dramatic backdrop for wildlife sightings and quiet moments of awe. Mountain goats, deer, wild turkeys, and marmots are often seen navigating the same terrain—and with a wildlife biologist at your side, every stop becomes a lesson in geology, habitat, and natural adaptation.

You’ll drive through iconic one-lane tunnels like the Needle’s Eye Tunnel and pause at scenic overlooks where rock, sky, and silence converge. This part of the tour isn't rushed. It’s designed to let you breathe in the alpine air, spot wildlife in unlikely places, and learn how nature shaped this rugged masterpiece.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included