Capture memories that will forever remind you of your experience in the Black Hills and Badlands. A region that is known for its natural, sweeping beauty, we are here to guide you to picture perfect moments.
Sunrise & Sunset
There’s nothing quite like capturing the sun as it rises and sets across the region. While visiting the Black Hills and Badlands, we have perfect spots to photograph the first and final rays of daylight.
Badlands National Park offers colorful and bright captures of sunrises and sunsets. For early risers, check out Big Badlands Overlook or the Door Trail, a short 1-mile out and back hike to watch the sun rise over the buttes and pinnacles. A sunset moment in the park will lead to another opportunity to capture the vast night sky, as well. We recommend Pinnacle Overlook for a great sunset shot of the Badlands.
A unique sunset experience is watching the sun slowly dip behind Mount Rushmore National Memorial. As the sun sets over the iconic carvings, you can watch the transition as the stars start to peak out into the night sky. Pair the sunset with the Memorial’s Evening Lighting Ceremony, where the Monument glows against the night sky.
Take your photography adventure to the next level with an early morning hike up Crow Peak in Spearfish or to Little Devils Tower or Black Elk Peak in Custer State Park to capture the vibrant sun rising over the Hills. Be sure to use a headlamp or a flashlight if trekking up the trail before dawn. The sunrise hike pairs well with hot coffee, too.
Whether you’re driving or hiking to your location, we recommend arriving 30 to 45 minutes prior to sunrise to capture the evolution of the soft early morning hues.
Fall Foliage
An autumn visit to the Hills is not complete without a scenic drive through the golden yellows, reds, and oranges against the dark forest pine. Driving through the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway in the Northern Black Hills will leave you in awe. Be sure to stop at Roughlock and Spearfish Falls where the fall foliage creates a stunning natural frame for the waterfalls.
Starry Night Skies
Black Hills National Forest is a designated dark sky location, making it and surrounding areas the perfect spot to capture the starlit skies. We recommend grabbing a photo of the night sky are Badlands National Park, Bear Butte State Park near Sturgis, and Devils Tower National Monument, located in the Black Hills of Wyoming. These locations are further away from larger communities, which minimizes light pollution and illuminates the massive night canvas where on a clear night you can see thousands of bright stars.
The Badlands Observatory in Quinn offers year-round night sky tours and allows visitors to view the vast evening sky from an observatory deck and capture their own photographs.
Wildlife
There’s nothing quite as exciting as getting a shot of the bison, majestic against the rolling hills of Custer State Park. Bison roam in the park, as well as in Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park. Be sure to stay a safe distance from the bison when capturing the perfect shot.
With the cooler autumn temperatures, wildlife like bison, begging burros, and pronghorns, will be more active, allowing more opportunity to photograph them in their natural habitats.
Equipment
While you can capture the perfect moments in the region without a full photography set up, we have a few suggestions for equipment that can be helpful when capturing shots of the region.
If using interchangeable lenses, we recommend a 70 to 200m zoom or 400mm+ lenses for capturing wildlife, like birds, white tail deer, elk, big horn horn sheep, and bison, at a safe distance. Wide angles such as 24-35mm lenses are perfect for capturing scenery.
Tripods are not required but do offer stability when capturing the evening sky or a perfect sunset shot. If you’re doing this, put that camera on a timer to put yourself in that “picture perfect” scene.
And don’t worry. If you are an amateur photographer or just love snapping pictures to remember your time in the region, you will find exceptional opportunities at these locations and throughout the Black Hills and Badlands!