When to Go

The biggest crowds come to Wind Cave from June to September, but the park and surrounding Black Hills are large enough to diffuse the masses. Neither the cave nor grounds above are ever too packed, although on busy summer days tours sometimes sell out over an hour ahead of time, so come early in the day and reserve your spot. Park officials contend it's actually less busy during the first full week in August, when the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally brings roughly a half-million bikers to the region, clogging highways for miles around. Most hotels within a 100-mile radius are booked up to a year in advance.

The colder months are the least crowded, though you can still explore underground, thanks to the cave's constant 53°F temperature. The shoulder seasons are also unpopular, though autumn is a perfect time to visit. The days are warm, the nights are cool, and in late September/early October the park's canyons and coulees display incredible colors.

Festivals and Events

JUNE

Crazy Horse Volksmarch. This 6.2-mile hike up the mountain where the massive Crazy Horse Memorial is being carved is the largest event of its kind and gives hikers the opportunity to stand on the Lakota leader's outstretched arm. It's held the first full weekend in June. 12151 Ave. of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse Memorial, South Dakota, 57730. 605/673–4681; www.crazyhorse.org.

JULY

Days of '76. This award-winning PRCA outdoor rodeo includes the usual riding, roping, and bull riding, two parades with vintage carriages and coaches, and Western arts and crafts. This five-day affair is one of the most popular events in South Dakota, featuring the top cowboys and cowgirls in the sport. Days of '76 Rodeo Grounds, 18 Seventy Six Dr., Deadwood, South Dakota, 57732. 800/999–1876; www.daysof76.com.

Gold Discovery Days. A parade, carnival, car show, stick-horse rodeo, hot-air balloon rally, hunt for gold nuggets, and bed races are all part of the fun at this three-day event in late July in Custer. Main St., Custer, South Dakota, 57730. 800/992–9818; www.golddiscoverydays.com.

SEPTEMBER

Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. The nation's largest buffalo roundup is one of South Dakota's most exciting events. Early on a Friday or Monday morning in late September or early October, cowboys and rangers saddle up and corral the park's 1,400 head of bison so they can be vaccinated. You'll hear the thunder of nearly 6,000 hooves before you even see the bison. Custer State Park, 13329 U.S. Hwy. 16A, Custer, South Dakota, 57730. 605/255–4515.

Deadwood Jam. A quarter century strong and still filling the streets of Deadwood with live music, the Black Hills' premier music festival showcases an ecelectic collection of country, rock, and blues for two days in mid-September. Deadwood History & Information Center, 3 Siever St., Deadwood, South Dakota, 57732. 800/999–1876; www.deadwood.com/events/deadwoodjam.