Fast or Slow, High or Low: Fun From All Angles at Rushmore Tramway Adventures

The small town of Keystone, South Dakota, is no stranger to iconic attractions and monumental fun. One of its most eye-catching icons has been carrying visitors up a pine tree-covered mountain since 1965.  Located only two miles from Mount Rushmore and now called Rushmore Tramway Adventures, this remarkable destination has been making waves and spectacular family memories for over two decades.

While the original park had only the sixteen chair gondola tramway and the incredible views of Mount Rushmore, the location's new owners have been making outstanding upgrades since 1999. Now with Alpine Slides, Ziplines, an Aerial Adventure Park, Summer Tubing Hill and more, the family-owned and operated site has become a thrilling, must-try experience for Black Hills travelers.

Scenic Chairlift

Take it easy and enjoy a ride to the top of the mountain on the beautiful scenic chairlift. Great for all ages, the chairlift offers a quiet immersion into the surrounding Black Hills landscape as you soar over pine trees, take in the views of Mount Rushmore and glide to the top of the mountain.

From there, you can explore the viewing decks and picturesque walking trails. Stop by the Mountain Top Grille to enjoy a lunch with a view of the presidents or sip a cold drink on the patio and enjoy the fresh mountain air.    

Mountain Top Grille

Satisfy your hunger with great grilled food and enjoy a sweeping view of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the background. Serving up brats, bison burgers, chicken sandwiches and more on the top of the mountain, the casual dining spot is the perfect place to relax and take in the scenery.

Sit on the patio with a local brew and a bison burger, or explore the sparkling mica paths, perfectly maintained flower gardens and soothing waterfalls. It's sure to be a memorable meal.

Alpine Slides

Choose your speed when you sail down the hills on the 2000-foot-long alpine slide. As one of the best-maintained slides of its kind, this attraction is great for both children and adults. Thrill-seekers who want to fly along the ground at speeds up to 40 mph and those who would rather glide down and enjoy the ride will each love this incredible slide. Children can ride with adults and, with two parallel tracks down the mountain, the whole family can take every dip and turn together.

Aerial Adventure Park

Climb among the trees and challenge yourself on the Aerial Adventure Park. The two-acre course has suspended bridges, log ladders, over 100 different platforms, cables and 11 ziplines ranging from 25 to 150 feet long. With eight courses all ranging in difficulty from easy to hard, it's sure to satisfy climbers of all ages and skill levels.

Climbers must be at least seven years old and weigh between 50 and 250 lbs. Your ticket is good for 1 hour and 45 minutes, so you can traverse the different courses as much or as little as you'd like. The 15-minute safety briefing before your course exploration ensures all climbers know how to properly use the equipment provided.

800 Foot Zipline

Race your friends and family down an exhilarating side-by-side zipline that stretches 800 feet long over the Black Hills. Reach speeds of up to 40 mph and let the adrenaline flow as you soar over pine trees and Black Hills granite. There are no age restrictions, but zipliners must be between 50 and 250 lbs.

Pinnacle Zipline Tour

Still need more to satisfy the thrill-seeker in you? You're in luck; the Pinnacle Zipline Tour is an extended zip lining experience that takes you to heights of up to 400 feet in the air and has five different lines set across a mile of forest.

Expect the tour to last around 2 hours and prepare to be immersed in the outdoors and the rich history of the area with knowledgeable and friendly tour guides to lead the way. With a view of Mount Rushmore from nearly every zipline, it's guaranteed to be a highlight of your Black Hills experience.

Summer Tubing Hill

Craving a tubing experience without the chilly winter weather? The new Summer Tubing Hill offers a familiar thrill of tubing down a snow-covered hillside during winter—without the snow, the cold or the snowsuit. This unique attraction with its 450 foot long lanes is the first and only of its kind in South Dakota.

Each lane is specially made from recycled traffic cones (hence their bright orange color) and offers gravity-driven fun for ages four and up. Reach speeds of up to 30 mph on three lanes or take it easy on the slow lane. The best part is the magic carpet ride to the top of the hill that eliminates the need to climb so you can tube all day long.

Book your tours and buy your tickets at this must-experience Black Hills Attraction by visiting RushmoreTramwayAdventures.com.