Accessibility tips for Devils Tower/Black Hills?

[mama_sylvia]

We just bought a 1988 Winnebago Superchief and are planning a trip to this area, probably in October of this year. I can only walk very short distances and can't climb at all. DH was more mobile but is battling a bout of sciatica that has limited his walking.

I have looked on the Forest Service websites but haven't really found information on what is accessible. If you have visited this area, I would love tips on what is/isn't accessible at the usual destinations (Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse) as well as clues to what other features are accessible and enjoyable. I have a scooter but it doesn't get around well on anything except pavement - even dried out ground, that looks as hard as pavement to me, it can't manage. I have a manual wheelchair but no one to push it for me.

I would also welcome suggestions for where to stay in a 27' class A. I'm not bad at backing but I need room.

[mama_sylvia]

Thanks, that is exactly the kind of information I need.

[thestoloffs]

At Crazy Horse, the museum, exhibits, and videos are all in an accessible building with reasonable RV parking. (So is the restaurant.)

There is an observation point beside the building, with telescopes.

However, I wouldn't recommend any of the tours, as the terrain is very difficult for limited walkers or scooters.

[mama_sylvia]

Thanks so much for the info and tips. I don't use the scooter except for distances I can't walk, so in a campground it won't matter. Everything I need is in the MH. I'm still laughing at the Devils Tower campground showing Close Encounters!

[RoyF]

At Devil's Tower, while the visitor center is interesting, we thought the best part was watching climbers from the parking area near Belle Fourth campground. Bring good binoculars.

[SleepyBadger]

mama.sylvia wrote:
We just bought a 1988 Winnebago Superchief and are planning a trip to this area, probably in October of this year. I can only walk very short distances and can't climb at all. DH was more mobile but is battling a bout of sciatica that has limited his walking.

I have looked on the Forest Service websites but haven't really found information on what is accessible. If you have visited this area, I would love tips on what is/isn't accessible at the usual destinations (Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse) as well as clues to what other features are accessible and enjoyable. I have a scooter but it doesn't get around well on anything except pavement - even dried out ground, that looks as hard as pavement to me, it can't manage. I have a manual wheelchair but no one to push it for me.

I would also welcome suggestions for where to stay in a 27' class A. I'm not bad at backing but I need room.

We were just there mid-July. You won't have any problem at Mt Rushmore as it is all paved with either concrete or blacktop as far as surface goes. They have several parking areas, with a handicap sticker they should put you close to the entrance. If they don't it will be a long uphill to get to the entrance (I want to say it was between a 1/4 and 1/2 mile from our parking spot to the viewing area. We did not go on the trail to get closer at Mt Rushmore. You could try Keystone but it looked like a typical tourist trap as we drove through. We stayed at Holy Smoke campground. Full hookups but that was it. Not really much there. (edit: all gravel at the campground)

Devil's Tower has rv parking along the side of the road. There was a ranger making sure only rv's parked in those spots but depending on how busy it is you may have a long way (1/2 mile) to get to the main visitor's center. There was a concrete sidewalk to get you to the visitors center. The trail to get closer to Devil's Tower is all blacktop if I'm remembering correctly. You only have about 1/8 of a mile from the visitors center to the debris pile at the bottom but it is uphill again. There is a KOA at the entrance where we stayed. Sites are pretty close but there was room and lots of grass. Expensive but convenient and they show Close Encounters every night.
(edit: forgot to mention that the driving surface is all gravel at the KOA so that might be an issue for you)

We did not stop at Crazy Horse.

Enjoy your trip.

[Islandman]

For info, I think you should check with the National Park Service on Devils Tower and Mount Rushmore, as they are not in the USFS domain. I'm not sure who has jurisdiction on Crazy Horse, so can't help you there. You won't have any problems at Mt. Rushmore as everything up there is ADA compliant; a wheeled walker might be helpful for DH to get around as there is a seat to sit on when he gets tired.