Black Hills National Forest facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Black Hills National Forest
The Needles from Black Elk Peak in Black Hills National Forest
Black Hills National Forest Location in the United States
Location	South Dakota and Wyoming, U.S.
Nearest city	Rapid City, South Dakota
Area	1,253,308 acres (5,071.96 km2)
Established	February 22, 1897
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	Black Hills National Forest

The Black Hills National Forest is a large forest in the United States. It is located in southwestern South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. This forest covers more than 1.25 million acres (about 5,066 square kilometers). The U.S. Forest Service takes care of it. The main office for the forest is in Custer, South Dakota. You can also find local offices in Rapid City, Spearfish, and Sundance, Wyoming.

The forest is mostly covered with tall ponderosa pine trees. But you can also find other trees like aspen, bur oak, and birch. In the lower areas, there are grassy prairies. The forest mainly covers the mountains known as the Black Hills in South Dakota and Wyoming. Inside the forest is Black Elk Peak. This is the tallest mountain in South Dakota. It is also the highest peak east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States.

History of the Black Hills Forest

After some big wildfires in 1893, U.S. President Grover Cleveland created the Black Hills Forest Reserve. This happened on February 22, 1897. Later, in 1905, the reserve became a National Forest. It was then managed by the new Forest Service.

The name "Black Hills" might come from the Lakota language words pahá sápa. These words mean "hills that are black." This is because the hills look dark from a distance. Many different Native American tribes lived in the Black Hills for thousands of years. These included the Ponca, Arapaho, Kiowa, and Cheyenne tribes.

Geography and Location

The Black Hills National Forest spreads across parts of seven counties. Most of the forest is in South Dakota. A smaller part is in Wyoming.

The forest is located just west and south of Rapid City. You can easily get there from Interstate 90. The main office is in Custer, South Dakota. There are also beautiful roads that go through the forest. These include the Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway and the Spearfish Canyon National Forest Scenic Byway. These roads offer amazing views.

Even though they are surrounded by the Black Hills National Forest, some areas are separate. These include Jewel Cave National Monument and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The National Park Service manages these famous places. Wind Cave National Park also borders parts of the forest. Inside the forest, there is a special area called Black Elk Wilderness. In this wilderness, no motorized vehicles are allowed. Outside of this area, activities like mining, logging, and ranching are allowed. These activities happen through special agreements.

The Black Hills National Forest has three main mountain ranges. These are the Black Hills and the Elk Mountains in South Dakota. It also includes the Bear Lodge Mountains in Wyoming. The Black Hills range is the largest of the three.

Animals and Plants

While ponderosa pine trees are most common, you can find spruce trees in higher places. Many animals live in the forest. You might see moose, mule deer, pronghorn, and white-tailed deer. Black bears and even grizzly bears have been seen here. Cougars are also becoming more common because there are many deer and elk.

Other animals you might see include coyotes, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. The forest is also home to many birds. You can spot bald eagles, hawks, osprey, and peregrine falcons. Over two hundred types of birds live here, especially near streams and water.

Fun Activities

The Black Hills National Forest is a great place for outdoor fun. There are 30 campgrounds where you can stay. The forest also has 11 reservoirs that are full of fish for sport fishing.

If you love to hike, there are 450 miles (725 kilometers) of hiking trails. These trails can take you to quiet places and to the top of Black Elk Peak. With over 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) of forest roads, it's also a great place for driving and exploring.

Images for kids

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  The fire tower atop Black Elk Peak

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  The Bear and Beaver Gulches Botanical Area

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  Hikers on the Deerfield Trail

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  The Cold Springs Schoolhouse in Custer County

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  Lake Dorn circa 1940