There are many ways to experience the water (warm or cold!) in the Hot Springs area, but Cascade Falls is one of the more unique, must-do options if you like off-the-beaten-path experiences. Located fifteen minutes south of Hot Springs on South Dakota Highway 71, Cascade Falls is a multi-level waterfall in Cascade Creek, which flows […]
Things to Do
Fall River County Pioneer Museum
If you love history, architecture, or antiques, the Fall River County Pioneer Museum in Hot Springs is a great way to spend an afternoon. Located in a former school, this four-story sandstone building has loads of history to explore: Each room (the former classrooms) has a different theme, such as general store, medicine, glassware, toys, […]
Hiking at Wind Cave National Park
While there is a charge for cave tours at Wind Cave National Park, there’s no entry fee to enter the park so hiking is free and really quite accessible: several of the trailheads are right off US Highway 385 or South Dakota Highway 87, so it’s easy to hop in the car and drive from […]
Evans Plunge Mineral Springs Pool
Evans Plunge is one of the oldest tourist attractions in the Black Hills, welcoming visitors to its natural spring-fed pools since 1890. (It’s so fun to see historical photos of the pool – you can see that the overall shape of the indoor pool hasn’t changed but boy, the swimming fashions sure have!) Evans Plunge […]
The Mammoth Paleontological Site
In 1974, a new housing development was being excavated on the south side of Hot Springs, South Dakota when a bulldozer uncovered something unexpected: large bones and ivory! It was confirmed to be remains of mammoths, and soon a paleontological dig started. Today, you can tour the Mammoth Site, which is still an active dig […]
Cascade Springs Picnic Area
Cascade Springs is a small picnic area about thirteen minutes south of Hot Springs on South Dakota Highway 71. This is not to be confused with Cascade Falls, which is a popular swimming hole. If you’re looking for the place to jump in and swim around, you want Cascade Falls, which is two miles farther […]
Chautauqua Park in Hot Springs, SD
Chautauqua Park is a picturesque city park nestled in Hot Brook Canyon on the north end of Hot Springs, about a 2-minute drive or 10-minute walk from The Evanston Suites vacation rentals in downtown Hot Springs The main park areas are located where the canyon widens a bit. I love how it’s situated; it feels […]