Visiting Black Hills National Forest
The Black Hills National Forest is one of the most popular attractions in South Dakota. Covering 1.2 million acres, this is actually the oldest mountain range in North America. The granite peaks still tower over 7,000 feet into the sky, for all that age. In addition to the immense grandeur of nature found in the park, it is also home to immense heritage.The Lakota name the land Paha Sapa, thus giving us "black hills." The area is not truly black, but thickly forested with ponderosa pine and other trees. From a distance on the Great Plains, the mountains appear black against the sky, though. The area is rich in historical sites and amazing attractions. The Crazy Horse Monument is being carved in the northern part of the Black Hills and will be the largest sculpture of its kind in the world when completed.In addition, you can find numerous ghost towns scattered throughout the area. These towns grew up when a new deposit was found and died with the gold vein. Deadwood is one of the most famous examples of this type of town. You’ll find many others, though; many offering tours through the ruined towns.