Dog-Friendly Activities in Keystone, SD

Big Thunder Gold Mine is a pet-friendly attraction in downtown Keystone, SD. Experience this Black Hills Gold Rush legend with Fido and the family! They offer a mine tour, a museum, on-site gold panning, and claim panning. Dogs are welcome everywhere, including the gift shop and Big Thunder Family Bar & Grill's patio. Just be sure to keep your pup leashed and close to you.

Professor Samuel’s Old Time Photos is a pet-friendly old-time photography service in Keystone, SD. The staff is awesome and love shooting dogs in classic clothing.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, SD is pet friendly in certain areas. Pups aren't permitted beyond the columns at the entrance to the memorial, but you can still see the sculpture from the entrance. Elsewhere at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, leashed dogs are welcome to join their owners on Blackberry Trail, a designated National Recreational Trail with a moderate rating. Or, follow the yellow paw prints from the parking lot to the pet exercise area that will take you and your pooch on a shady walk under the pines to a lovely view of Mount Rushmore.

Rush Mountain Adventure Park is a dog-friendly amusement park just 20 minutes from Mount Rushmore in Keystone, SD. There is a roller coaster, zip line, ropes course and cave tour. Dogs are allowed throughout the grounds, but can’t accompany you on the rides or cave tour. If you don’t have someone in your party to watch your dog during the cave tour, there are two free kennels available in the employee break area behind the gift shop.

Black Elk Peak is a pet-friendly trail in Keystone. If you're visiting nearby attraction the Crazy Horse Memorial, spend an afternoon hiking up one of the greatest lookouts in the state. At just over six miles, the trail is no walk in the park, but the stone fire tower that blends into the rock provides unbelievable views from the top and makes the journey worthwhile. The trail is rated as moderate and can be completed in a few hours.

Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, also known as Iron Mountain Road, is a figure-eight route designed to highlight the region’s incredible natural beauty. This 70-mile byway built in the 1930s winds through a portion of Custer State Park and a section of Needles Highway with a peek-a-boo view of Mt Rushmore and a chance to drive through Needle Eye Tunnel. Fido can stretch his legs on the way at Cathedral Spires Hiking Trail.

Let Fido run and play at Mount Barkmore Dog Park in Keystone, SD—a complimentary, fenced grassy dog run provided by Grapes & Grinds. Conveniently off Highway 16, it’s a handy pit stop with a water station. Open seasonally from May 15 through September 31. Please note it’s a small courtesy space, not a city-funded park.

Custer State Park offers 71,000 acres of amazing views and dog-friendly outdoor experiences in Custer, SD. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the park. The 18-mile Wildlife Loop allows pets and humans to explore the park and view the indigenous wildlife from the comfort of the car. There are also many dog-friendly hiking trails where pets are welcome to join the fun. Set out on a hike along Black Elk Peak Loop, a seven-mile route with stunning views of the cathedral spires and Black Hills wilderness. Visitors should note that dogs are not allowed at designated swimming beaches or in any park buildings (including camping cabins, lodges and comfort stations).

Pet-friendly Bear Country USA in Rapid City, SD offers visitors a chance to view wildlife from the comfort of their own car. You and Fido will travel through several enclosures on the three-mile drive through the park and see black bears, elk, reindeer, cougars, bobcats, bighorn sheep, buffalo and more. Dogs are welcome to enjoy the drive-through park but are not allowed in Babyland, where the cubs live, and not allowed around the wildlife walkway area. They can be on a leash near the gazebo area at the end. The park is open seasonally from May through November.

Cathedral Spires Hiking Trail is a pet-friendly hike in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. This moderate to strenuous hike is just over 1.5 miles in length out-and-back and takes visitors along an enchanting trail with unusual rocky outcrops along the way. This hike is a great place to stop and stretch your legs if you're driving along Needles Highway. Dogs must remain on a leash as the area is frequented by a variety of animals, including mountain goats.

Fido can walk amongst prehistoric giants at the pet-friendly Dinosaur Park in Rapid City, SD. The park, open to the public since 1936, is free to explore. Dinosaur Park's hours vary seasonally, so make sure to check the website before planning your outing. Dogs are not allowed inside buildings. All pups must remain leashed.

Lost Cabin Beer Company, located in Rapid City, SD, is pet friendly! You're welcome to bring Fido with you to enjoy the patio or hang out inside as there is no food prepared on the premises. Their tap list includes amber lagers, hazy IPAs, ales, saison and wheat beers.

Take a drive to the pet-friendly Needles Highway in Custer, SD. This spectacular trip through ponderosa pine and Black Hills spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen and rugged granite mountains can't be missed if you're visiting South Dakota. The name comes from the needle-like granite formations that sprout out of the ground.

Check out the pet-friendly Legion Lake Loop, a one-mile trail that goes past a store, cafe and beach in Custer, SD. This easy-to-moderate trail also features beautiful views of the lake.

There's a creek for pups to play in at the off-leash dog park at Braeburn Park, located in Rapid City, SD. Just be careful, as the area isn't fenced.

The pet-friendly Sunday Gulch Trail is a popular hike in Custer State Park, located in Custer, SD. At nearly four miles in length, this trail is considered quite difficult as a bit of scrambling is required. The trail will take you near Sylvan Lake. In the beginning, you’ll traverse over large boulders down a valley to some great views of big granite spires and the northern Black Hills all around you. There are handrails to aid you in your journey along the pathway. You'll be pleased they're there on the way back down. Leashed pups are allowed to join, but make sure to clean up after them.

Experience the Wild West with Fido at dog-friendly Four Mile Old West Town Museum, open seasonally from mid-May to the end of September in Custer, SD. Small pets are welcome to join you for self-guided tours of this historic site, featuring an old west town, boardwalks and artifacts.

Woodland Republic Brewing & Blending in Rapid City, SD, is a dog-friendly brewery where well-behaved, leashed pups are welcome to join you indoors. Enjoy a unique selection of craft beers in a relaxed, pet-friendly atmosphere—perfect for hanging out with your furry companion while sipping something cold and local.

Leashed dogs are welcome to join you for a tour at the pet-friendly Dinosaur Museum in Rapid City, SD. Enjoy learning about dinosaurs and seeing life-size displays. Be sure to check their website for admission prices and hours of operation.

Cosmos Mystery Area is a dog-friendly tour in Rapid City, SD, which operates seasonally from April until October. Leashed pets are welcome as long as they are friendly, well socialized and tolerant of children. This is a fun interactive tour of gravity hot spots. Purchasing tickets online in advance is strongly recommended.