Is it open? Black Hills and Badlands roads and attractions
Current open/closed status for seasonal roads, caves and attractions, read from official sources (NPS, SD511/SDDOT, SD Game, Fish & Parks). Checked Oct 31, 2026, 12:39 PM CDT (Central time).
We never guess "open". A place shows Open or Closed only when official wording says so. Otherwise it shows Unknown, and you should check SD511 or the park.
Winter guide: what's open now →
Roads and drives
Needles Highway (SD 87)
Open Custer State Park
SD511 reports Dry/Normal on the Needles Highway (SD 87), and no official source we check reports a closure.
Iron Mountain Road (US 16A)
Partly open Custer State Park to Mount Rushmore
SD511 reports a closure on part of Iron Mountain Road (US 16A): US-16A at Junction South Dakota 40-Keystone (mile 33.83). The other mapped segments report Dry/Normal.
Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road
Unknown Custer State Park
No current official notice for the Wildlife Loop Road. Game, Fish & Parks describes it as open year-round, with careful driving needed in winter; we do not treat that as a live "open".
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US 14A)
Open Spearfish to Cheyenne Crossing
SD511 reports Dry/Normal on Spearfish Canyon (US 14A), and no official source we check reports a closure.
Badlands Loop Road (SD 240)
Open Badlands National Park, North Unit
SD511 reports Dry/Normal on the Badlands Loop Road (SD 240), and no official source we check reports a closure.
Sage Creek Rim Road
Unknown Badlands National Park, North Unit
No current NPS alert for Sage Creek Rim Road. NPS says this gravel road may close during or after heavy rain or snow and asks visitors to contact the park for its current condition: (605) 433-5361.
Parks, caves and memorials
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Open Near Keystone
The NPS hours page says the memorial is open all year, seven days a week (except December 25), and no NPS closure alert is posted.
Crazy Horse Memorial
Unknown North of Custer
No clear open or closed wording was found on the official site.
Wind Cave National Park cave tours
Partly open North of Hot Springs
Tours are running on the October 1 to October 31, 2026 schedule, but Natural Entrance Tour Route Closes For Season October 1, 2026.
Jewel Cave National Monument cave tours
Open West of Custer
Open today (Saturday) on the published NPS schedule (October 18, 2026, to May 2027). Tours are by guided ticket only; same-day tickets are not guaranteed.
Plan around events
This site covers places only. For festivals and craft shows, see the separate South Dakota events calendar.