National Parks and Native Trails of the Dakotas

Visit United States

Day 1

Welcome To Rapid City Make Travel Matter

Begin your exploration of the Tribal Nations of North and South Dakota at a Welcome Dinner featuring Stephen Yellowhawk of the Lakota Sioux tribe.

During this Make Travel Matter experience Stephen will regale you with oral histories and traditional song and dances of his tribe.

Day 2

Exploring The Badlands National Park And Oglala Sioux Tribe Make Travel Matter

Discover how deeply the Lakota people are connected to their land, customs and ancestors as you enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village.

Take in the sights along the iconic Badlands Loop Road, arriving at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where you’ll meet talented Native artists. Later, visit Wounded Knee Memorial, site of the 1890 Massacre, told in vivid detail by a local storyteller who’ll share personal stories passed down through generations as you look upon the historic lands where it unfolded.

Day 3

Visit Mount Rushmore And The Crazy Horse Memorial

Head to one of America's most iconic sites and learn of its complicated past.

Embark on a self-guided walk in the majestic Black Hills before today’s highlight: the Crazy Horse Memorial. View a depiction of the famous Oglala Lakota warrior riding a horse and pointing to his tribal land, a striking monument that has been a work in progress since 1948. Take a locally guided walk to the base of the mountain where we will get even more immersed in the story of the land through a visit to the museum.

Day 4

Spend The Day With The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Make Travel Matter Connect with Locals

Get an insider’s view from a Local Specialist at the Rosebud Indian Reservation, home to the Sicangu Lakota Oyate Nation, for a deeply meaningful MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.

You'll learn the history and cultural heritage of the Rosebud Reservation, in addition to understanding the socio-economic issues impacting the Lakota in today’s modern world. Later, sample delicious and authentic Lakota food over lunch at Sinte Gleska University. Founded in 1971, the university's mission is to provide higher education opportunities while preserving and promoting the Lakota culture and traditions. The university aims to integrate Lakota perspectives and values into its academic programs and foster a sense of identity and pride among its students. After lunch, you will meet Lakota elder Victor Douville for a Star Knowledge Presentation.

Day 5

Day Trip To Lakota Youth Development Connect with Locals

The future of the Lakota Oyate (Lakota Nation) takes center stage as you meet Marla C.

Bull Bear, Executive Director of Lakota Youth Development, a non-profit organization whose mission is to reclaim Lakota language, culture, and spirituality by promoting healthy lifestyle education for Lakota youth through culturally based strategies. Listen to Indigenous storytelling, enjoy a performance put on by tribal youth, and appreciate an Indigenous plant walk all before sharing a meal with tribal members of the Rosebud Reservation. We continue to Chamberlain where you'll witness to awe-inspiring Statue of Dignity, a soaring sculpture of a Native woman standing high on a bluff above the Missouri River.

Day 6

Sitting Bull & Standing Rock Indian Reservation Connect with Locals

Travel along the Native American Scenic Byway stopping in South Dakota’s capital, Pierre, for a tour of the town and the State Capitol.

Next up, visit Sakakawea Monument & Sitting Bull Monument, believed to be the final resting place of Native American spiritual and social leader, Sitting Bull. Unlock more of the life and story behind Sitting Bull’s grave at Fort Yates Military Cemetery, where Sitting Bull was originally buried. Learn how the US Army abandoned Fort Yates in 1903 and had all the graves moved except for Sitting Bull’s. In the 1950s a group of businesspeople from Mobridge, South Dakota received permission through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to move Sitting Bull’s remains from the neglected grave in Fort Yates to Mobridge in an effort to attract tourists to their town.

Day 7

The Mandan, Hidatsa And Arikara Nation Make Travel Matter

Visit Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center before Earth Lodge Village where you'll experience traditional archery and parfleche painting.

Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the MHA Nation Interpretive Centre where Native artifacts are on display.

Day 8

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Sightseeing Stays With Stories

Stop at Crows Flies High for views of Lake Sakakawea and the Four Bears Bridge.

Take the scenic route to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park that climbs through the canyon to must-sees like the Oxbow Overlook. Arrive in Medora for a free afternoon. Your Stays with Stories is the historic Rough Riders Hotel filled with western charm and 1880s nostalgia. Enjoy a last dinner reflecting on the countless impactful moments.

Day 9

Farewell In Bismarck

End your tour with a drive through a portion of the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Say your final goodbyes before arriving at Bismarck airport.

Dining Summary

2 Dinner (D)

8 Breakfast (B)

4 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

Chamberlain: The future of the Lakota Oyate "Lakota Nation" takes center stage as you meet Marla C. Bull Bear, Executive Director of LYD, and the Rosebud tribal youth members for a traditional storytelling. Enjoy a traditional meal during this Be My Guest Experience, and plant knowledge as you get a true taste of the prairie and everything Grandmother Earth has to offer. Learn about their mission to reclaim their language, culture, and spirituality and how this experience supports local youth.

Dive Into Culture

Pine Ridge Reservation: Learn the History of Wounded Knee as told by Warren Yellow Hair as you look upon where it happened. Listening to stories told from generation to generation will give you a perspective that cannot be gained from a history book but rather an authentic and emotional experience.

New Town: Enjoy a guided tour of the Earth Lodge Village and see how the MHA people used to live. You will also try your hand at archery and parfleche painting to gain a deeper understanding of the culture of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 11: Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Iconic Experience

Badlands National Park: Enjoy the spectacular sights as you make your way through Badlands Loop Road.

Black Hills: Unlock the history of Crazy Horse Memorial. Learn how construction began in 1948 after Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, commissioned Korczak Ziolkowski, who worked on construction of Mount Rushmore. While the original idea was to carve a face into rock like Mount Rushmore, the monument will ultimately have a full body and horse. There is no completion date yet, but the face of Crazy Horse was completed in 1998 at 87 feet 6 inches (26.7 m) high. Enhance your visit exploring The Indian Museum of North America that is also part of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.

Chamberlain: The Dignity sculpture, a stunning combination of art and history. Specifically designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people Dignity of Earth and Sky is a soaring sculpture of a native woman standing high on a bluff above the Missouri River.

Pierre: You'll travel through and past the different indigenous communities and reservations in South Dakota.

Theodore Roosevelt North Unit: Head to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park this morning, the less frequented part of the National Park that should not be missed. The scenic drive starts at the bottom of the badlands and crawls up out of the canyon to the North Unit's most iconic view, River Bend Overlook. Unusual yet totally fascinating geological formations like the cannon ball concretions can be seen and a high chance of wildlife like Bison and bighorn sheep.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Rapid City: Get ready for a one-of-a-kind-experience meeting Stephen Yellowhawk to discover the history of his tribe during a festive evening of dance and song. A performer for more than 20 years, Stephen has a passion for dance and sheer determination to promote his Native American culture. Raised by his grandparents from the Lakota tribe and Onondaga Iroquois tribe, Stephen will share his family and tribal history, culture, and traditions with you. Your experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Philip: Travel to the past at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village and gain valuable insights into the culture and Indigenous knowledge of Lakota Country. Your experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 11: Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Rosebud Reservation: Get an insider’s view from a Local Specialist at the Rosebud Indian Reservation, home to the Sicangu Lakota Oyate Nation, for a deeply meaningful MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience that intertwines Native culture and life while adding to their growing economy of tribal tourism.

Rosebud Reservation: Join a Rosebud tribal member to learn about life on the reservation and food sovereignty projects, before sampling authentic Lakota dishes at Sinte Gleska University. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 11: Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Rosebud Reservation: Enjoy a visit to Sinte Gleska University where you will be given a Star Knowledge Presentation by a Lakota elder, Victor Douville.

New Town: Explore the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in central North Dakota. Spanning 988,000 acres along the Missouri River, this stunning region covers six counties: McLean, Mountrail, Dunn, McKenzie, Mercer, and Ward. You will visit the MHA Interpretive Centre, a striking new facility opened in May 2021. This centre features a captivating collection of artefacts and large displays detailing the history, traditions, and unique aspects of the Three Affiliated Tribes. Your Local Specialist will offer personal stories handed down through generations, enriching your understanding of this vibrant culture. Discover incredible artefacts donated by community members, making your visit truly unforgettable. This experience advances the UN Global Goals 10 & 11: Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities. 

Must-see Highlights

See Dignity Statue, Sitting Bull & Sakakawea Monument

View Crow Flies High outlook, The Dignity statue, Sitting Bull and Sakakawea Monuments

Visit Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Rosebud Indian Reservation, Standing Rock Indian Reservation, Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Fort Mandan, Oglala Lakota Living History Museum, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Scenic Drive to Badlands Loop Road Drive, Mobridge

Explore Stephen Yellowhawk in Rapid City, Marla C. Bull Bear in Pine Ridge, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Guide, Victor Douville Star Knowledge Presenter in Mission, MHA Guides at Earth Lodge Village

Visit Indigenous communities and learn, see & hear about history & traditions.

Connect with Locals during a lunch at Lakota Youth Development

Pierre: Unlock the best of Pierre, South Dakota over a sightseeing tour with your Travel Director. There’s no better place to discover the town’s history than at the State Capitol. Learn how it was built in 1908 and June 30, 2010 marked the 100th anniversary of the formal dedication. At this time, a time capsule was placed in a locked glass display case that you can have a look at. The capsule contains a South Dakota Quarter set from the U.S. Mint, Gov Rounds' 2010 State of the State Address, photos with personal messages from state and tribal officeholders, and several current newspapers from around the state, among other artefacts. 

Fort Yates: Visit the Sitting Bull and Sakakawea Monuments set in a remote spot overlooking the Missouri River. At this monument sculpted by Korczak Ziolkowski, known for Crazy Horse Memorial, learn about what would later become known as "The Battle in the Dark." The monument remembers Chief Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa Teton Sioux spiritual leader best known for his victory over George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. In the 1870s, after Sitting Bull became a great spiritual leader, he organized a resistance movement against US expansion on treaty-reserved lands. But on December 15, 1890, nine years after surrendering to the US government, he was shot to death by Indian police.  

Theodore Roosevelt South Unit: Located in western North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is dedicated to the preservation of the landscape that profoundly influenced the 26th President of the United States. The park is renowned for its stunning Badlands, diverse wildlife, and rich history associated with Roosevelt's time in the region. The park was established on November 10, 1978, and it encompasses approximately 70,000 acres divided into three separate units: the North Unit, the South Unit, and the Elkhorn Ranch Unit. We visit the North and South Units.

Trafalgar Difference

Medora: Enjoy your Stay With Stories experience at the Rough Riders Hotel. Bask in the 1880s nostalgia and its western charm, as you enjoy a dinner with your new friends.

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