Home / Black Hills

Well-being, rooted
in the Black Hills.

Ponderosa pine, granite, prairie, and very big skies. Here is how we live well with this land through the seasons, where we go to slow down, and how to stay safe and supported while you do.

A guest on old land

The Black Hills are the homeland of the Lakota, who call them He Sápa, and are sacred to the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, and other nations. Many people still pray and hold ceremony here. We try to move through these places as respectful guests: staying on trails, leaving offerings untouched, and learning the history from Native voices and museums rather than retelling it ourselves.

A ten-minute forest practice

  1. Arrive. Stop at a trailhead or any stand of pines. Put your phone away and feel your feet on the ground.
  2. Smell. Ponderosa bark warmed by the sun can smell like vanilla or butterscotch. Lean in and find out.
  3. Listen. Count five sounds: wind, birds, water, your breath, your steps.
  4. Touch. Rest a hand on bark, stone, or cool grass for three slow breaths.
  5. Leave a thank-you. Pick up one piece of litter on your way out.

Living with the seasons

Spring

March – May

Pasque flowers on the prairie edges, snowmelt in the creeks, and weather that swings from 70° to a blizzard in a day.

Try: Morning light walk: ten minutes outside before screens, even on grey days, to steady your sleep-wake rhythm.

Summer

June – August

Long evenings, afternoon thunderstorms, crowded byways in rally and tourist season, and pine-scented heat.

Try: Go early: walk popular trails at sunrise, when they are quiet and cool.

Autumn

September – November

Aspen and birch gold in Spearfish Canyon, the bison roundup, clear cool air, and the first hard frost.

Try: Gratitude gathering: on a walk, pick up or photograph one thing for each thing you are thankful for.

Winter

December – February

Quiet snow in the pines, sub-zero mornings, Chinook winds that melt everything overnight, and long dark evenings.

Try: Window light: sit near your brightest window for 20 minutes each morning with your coffee or tea.

Places to slow down

Each comes with a small practice to try there. Check road and park conditions before you go; some areas need a park pass.

Custer State Park

Sylvan Lake

A small granite-ringed lake with a level shoreline loop of about a mile. Good for a slow, mindful walk or sitting on the rocks.

Practice: Walk the loop once at your normal pace, then once at half that pace, noticing each footfall.

Northern Hills

Spearfish Canyon

Limestone walls, waterfalls, and spruce. Roughlock and Spearfish Falls are short walks that reward attention.

Practice: At a waterfall, try five minutes of open listening: let the sound fill your attention without naming it.

6 more places, each with its own practice

The Mickelson Trail, Wind Cave, Black Elk Peak, Bear Butte, Pactola, and Hot Springs, plus full seasonal rhythms. Open to members from $5/mo.

See memberships

Staying safe out there

  • Give bison at least 25 yards, more with calves. They are faster than they look.
  • Weather changes fast, especially in spring and fall. Carry a layer and water, and tell someone your route.
  • Cell service is patchy in the canyons and backcountry. Download maps before you leave.
  • Get off ridges and peaks when you hear thunder.

Support close to home

  • 988: call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time.
  • 211: the Helpline Center connects South Dakotans with local services, from housing to counseling.
  • 911: for any emergency.

Want company on the trail or a place to talk about life up here? Join the Black Hills Neighbors space in the Circle.