What to Know:
Meet the animals that call the Black Hills home. The Wild Side of the Black Hills introduces the many animals of the region and the roles each one plays in keeping the ecosystem healthy.
Drop in between 1 and 4 p.m., learn with a Forest Service presenter, and make a plaster footprint of a native Black Hills animal to take home. The footprint takes about an hour to set and dry.
Getting there: the Pactola Visitor Center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385, about 15 miles west of Rapid City.
About the Pactola Visitor Center summer programs: The Black Hills National Forest hosts free, family-friendly programs at the Pactola Visitor Center through the summer and early fall. Each session pairs a short hands-on activity with a Forest Service presenter, and all ages are welcome. No registration is required. The visitor center sits above Pactola Reservoir on US Highway 385, about 15 miles west of Rapid City. Programs are free, and schedules can shift with weather, so check ahead before you drive out. The Black Hills Parks and Forests Association is glad to help share these Forest Service programs.
