Mount Rushmore & Badlands Combo Self Guided Audio Tours Mount Rushmore & badlands self guided audio tour
ID: GYG443225-798063
Category:
Country: United States
Description
Discover South Dakota’s beauty and history with these audio tours of Mount Rushmore and the Badlands. Learn how both came to be, uncover secrets buried within the stone, and bring the past to life.
Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map all in one.
Once downloaded, your tour of Mount Rushmore begins outside the Information Center. As you walk toward the mountain, you’ll stop at a memorial to the sculptor behind this monument and hear his story.
Next, you’ll stroll down the Avenue of Flags, before arriving at the main viewing platform, boasting a clear view of Mount Rushmore. Too many people? A less-crowded platform waits just ahead, where you’ll hear how workers carved the presidential faces.
Then you’ll stop at the Sculptor’s Studio, where you can see a plaster model of the monument’s original design and learn more about Borglum himself. After that, you’ll walk the Presidential Trail, a boardwalk through lush natural scenery. Along the way, you’ll hear about the Lakota perspective on Mount Rushmore.
Your tour ends at the conclusion of the Presidential Trail, back at the main viewing platform.
At Badlands National Park, your tour begins in the town of Wall (or Philip if it’s more convenient). Upon entering the park, you can choose to detour to a prairie dog colony that’s perfect for animal lovers! That’s followed by Pinnacles Overlook, a great place to see bison or bighorn sheep.
At Ancient Hunters Overlook, next, the ancestors of the Lakota used to butcher bison they’d hunted. Then you’ll pass Yellow Mounds Overlook, which reveals millions of years of geologic history!
Homestead Overlook comes next. Here, you’ll find out how the Homestead Acts forever changed the Badlands. Then, at Burns Basin, you’ll get a chance to see the site of one of those homesteads!
Prairie Winds Overlook is next, offering views of lush, flowing prairie. Then there’s Panorama Point, one of the park’s best spots for photos. After that, you’ll learn how to identify a golden eagle, one of the Badlands’ most iconic residents.
The Fossil Exhibit Trail follows, and is a must-see for anyone with younger travelers. This trail uncovers the history behind the many fossils and prehistoric creatures of the Badlands.
Next, you’ll come to Saddle Pass Trail, a hike that’s great for birdwatchers. Then there’s the Cliff Shelf Trail, which takes hikers through a juniper forest to break up the rocky landscape.
You won’t want to miss the next trio of trails known as The Notch, The Castle, and The Door. Boasting a whole breadth of difficulties and lengths, there’s something for everyone here!
Finally, you’ll reach Big Badlands Overlook, offering some of the best views in the whole park. Your tour concludes here.
Highlights
- Experience how awe-inspiring Mount Rushmore can be in person
- Learn about its sculptor and find out how workers carved the monument
- Discover the beauty of the Black Hills along the Presidential Trail
- See wild bison and pronghorns in the Badlands
- Uncover a history of prehistoric beasts, Lakota hunting grounds, and more
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
• This is a self-guided tour; no guide will accompany you. The Action Tour Guide app functions as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one.
• Please arrange for a vehicle before you take the tour. You only need to book one tour per vehicle, not per person.
• After the booking, you will receive an email with a link to the Action Tour Guide app and a unique password to access the tour within the app.
• This tour has been developed by local guides, curated by creative writers, and narrated by professional voice artists.
• Many stops along the tour have animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms.
• This tour is valid forever - from the moment of booking. You will not need to edit or cancel the booking if your travel plans change.
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
You must bring your own headphones
You are required to bring and wear a mask
This is a self-guided experience and not an entrance ticket. It begins at the GPS-marked starting point in Wall or Philip. Be sure to check your email before you begin to download the Action Tour Guide app, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good data/wifi. From there, simply follow the audio instructions and the route. Have questions? Visit Action Tour Guide’s Help page: https://actiontourguide.com/faq/.
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
Cancellation is not possible. If you cancel it anyway or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity and the money you paid will not be refunded.
