What's open now in the Black Hills (winter guide)
Status from today's check of official sources, Oct 31, 2026, 12:39 PM CDT (Central time), plus each place's winter notes.
Winter weather changes fast. Unknown means no official wording confirmed open or closed. Before you drive, check SD511 or dial 511, and check the park's own page.
Open
Needles Highway (SD 87) Open
SD511 reports Dry/Normal on the Needles Highway (SD 87), and no official source we check reports a closure.
Winter: Game, Fish & Parks says the highway closes to vehicles with the first snow of the season and does not reopen until April 1, or later depending on conditions.
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US 14A) Open
SD511 reports Dry/Normal on Spearfish Canyon (US 14A), and no official source we check reports a closure.
Winter: This is a state highway maintained by SDDOT. After storms, check SD511 or dial 511 before driving it.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Open
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.
Today: Parking structure and grounds today: 6:00 am to 9:00 pm Mountain time (October 1 – October 31 schedule).
Winter: Winter (Nov 1 – Mar 9) parking structure and grounds hours are 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mountain time, and the visitor center is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., per NPS.
Jewel Cave National Monument cave tours Open
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.
Today: Scenic Tour: 9:00 a.m. , 9:30 a.m.*, 10:45 a.m.*, 12:45 p.m.*, 2:15 p.m.*, 2:45 p.m. · Discovery Tour: 9:45 a.m.*, 11:45 a.m.*, 1:45 p.m. , 3:45 p.m.*
Winter: From Oct 18, 2026 to May 2027 the visitor center is open Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Mountain time, and closed on Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1 (NPS).
Badlands Loop Road (SD 240) Open
SD511 reports Dry/Normal on the Badlands Loop Road (SD 240), and no official source we check reports a closure.
Winter: NPS: "Badlands Loop Road can be icy and slippery after a storm. The park plows the road when it is safe to do so, but the Loop Road does close due to weather conditions occasionally in the winter." Call (605) 433-5361.
Partly open
Iron Mountain Road (US 16A) Partly open
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.
Winter: Game, Fish & Parks says Iron Mountain Road closes periodically in winter, depending on conditions and how quickly it can be cleared safely.
Wind Cave National Park cave tours Partly open
Tours are running on the October 1 to October 31, 2026 schedule, but Natural Entrance Tour Route Closes For Season October 1, 2026.
Today: Fairgrounds Tour: 9:00 am, 11:40 am, 1:00 pm, 1:40 pm and 2:20 pm · Garden of Eden Tour: 10:00 am, 11:30 am, and 2:00 pm · Accessibility Tour: 9:30 am and 3:15 pm
Winter: From Nov 1, 2026 to April 24, 2027, NPS lists: Fairgrounds Tour at 1:00 p.m., Garden of Eden Tour at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and the Accessibility Tour by arrangement. Visitor center open daily 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Mountain time.
Unknown
Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road Unknown
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".
Check SD511 or the park: Custer State Park scenic drives (SD GFP).
Winter: SD GFP: "The road is open year-round but does require careful driving during winter conditions." We show that as the usual pattern, not as a live status.
Crazy Horse Memorial Unknown
No clear open or closed wording was found on the official site.
Check SD511 or the park: Crazy Horse Memorial: plan your visit, or call (605) 673-4681.
Winter: The tourism board lists Crazy Horse Memorial as open year-round in its 2026 calendar. Hours vary by season; call (605) 673-4681.
Sage Creek Rim Road Unknown
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.
Check SD511 or the park: Sage Creek Rim Road (NPS), or call (605) 433-5361.
Winter: NPS: "Sage Creek Rim Road is open year-round, but may be closed in the winter due to weather conditions." Call (605) 433-5361 before you go.
Events such as holiday festivals are on the separate South Dakota events calendar.