Hill City: Experience railroads, museums, and nature

A trip to Hill City can have many different focuses: railroad history, museums, outdoor activities, or a summer event. When searching for a hotel in Hill City, you can first consider which of these possibilities you want to shape your stay. The offerings are not interchangeable: the 1880 Train is a narrated ride of a set duration, the George S. Mickelson Trail is a long route through the Black Hills, and the museums explore their own historical subjects.

Railroads and History

The 1880 Train connects Hill City and Keystone on a 20-mile round trip. The ride lasts two hours and includes narration. This makes for a railroad excursion with a defined duration; the route between the two towns gives the experience a different character from a museum visit or an outdoor activity. If you are interested in railroads, you can treat the ride as an experience in its own right.

The South Dakota State Railroad Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of railroads in South Dakota with the public. The museum offers a historical perspective, while the narrated ride itself is the focus of the 1880 Train. If you would like to include railroad history in your trip, you can distinguish between a ride and a museum visit, or consider both.

Another historical focus is the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum of South Dakota. It is located in the Hill City Visitor Center and honors and preserves the historical significance and achievements of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Its subject differs from railroad history: here, the focus is on the Corps and its achievements. The museum’s opening hours vary by season. Check seasonal hours before your visit so you can plan your museum visit accordingly.

The Hill City Arts Council also organizes the Hill City Art Walk. This adds an arts event to the historical subjects. For a culturally focused trip, you can consider the Art Walk and the two museums as different points of interest.

Hiking, Cycling, and the Mickelson Trail

The Black Hills National Forest surrounds Hill City and offers opportunities for hiking and cycling. Hill City also provides access to the 109-mile George S. Mickelson Trail through the Black Hills. These options give your plans two different points of reference for outdoor activities: hiking and cycling are the focus in the National Forest, while the trail’s total length of 109 miles offers a specific measure. These details describe different things and help you avoid treating the options as interchangeable.

Summer Event and River Floats

Held every summer, Hill City Wine, Brew & BBQ combines barbecue, local wines, craft beers, and live music in downtown Hill City. If you would like to plan your stay around the festival, check the current event dates before traveling.

Black Hills Paddlesports rents inflatable kayaks, paddleboards, and tubes for river floats in Hill City. This is a distinct activity option alongside hiking and cycling in the National Forest. When planning, you can choose between trails, a narrated train ride, and a river float, depending on which of these different experiences interests you.

Discover more destinations: Rapid City, Keystone.

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