Booking Express Travel knows that one of the most widely recognized images in the National Park System of the United States of America is Mount Rushmore. With almost three million tourists per year, it is one of the most visited national memorials in the country.
If you are planning a vacation in the western part of the US, Mount Rushmore can be the perfect starting point. If you are ready to explore this incredible national treasure, it is essential to have a plan and some insider knowledge about Mount Rushmore before you arrive.
Most importantly, Booking Express Travel recommends that you plan to arrive early because the number of tourists at Mount Rushmore increases as the day goes on, with the maximum number of visitors coming at midday. During that time, parking vehicles inside the park, as well as traffic on the roads leading to the memorial, get more congested and challenging.
The crowds early in the morning are much smaller, providing better photo opportunities as well as more unobstructed views. The grounds open at 5 am, so if you want to enjoy a spectacular sunrise, you can visit very early, get some panoramic photos and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Booking Express Travel Recommends visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Black Hills South Dakota.
The Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center is situated below the Grand View Terrace. The center opens at 8 am and is a must-see if you want to know the story behind Mount Rushmore. Take a walk among the exhibits, hear the story with a self-guided audio tour, and watch a 14-minute documentary that explains the carving of sculptures along the mountain and the reason behind the creation of Mount Rushmore.
The Presidential trail allows you to hike along the trail, which will bring you closest to the grand sculptures. The presidential trail offers you a scenic walk through nature, adorned with Ponderosa Pines and the wildflowers scattered beneath them. Also, if you are lucky and walk the path during the early morning, some say you have the best chance of viewing some of the local wildlife before the crowds drive them back into the woods.
Heritage Village and Sculptor’s Studio is near the Presidential trail’s first section and is also recommended by Booking Express Travel. The Village offers you opportunities to learn more about the original inhabitants of the area; the Dakota, Lakota and Nakota Indians. While in Heritage Village, take the time to learn about the local communities of American Indians, their traditions, and their customs. Also, if time permits, visit the studio where Gutzon Borglum worked on the designs of Mount Rushmore. At the Sculptor’s Studio, you will find a small scale model of the mountain and learn about the techniques and tools used in the sculpting of the famous faces.
In the Summertime, you can catch an incredible lightning ceremony that happens during the evening hours. Following a short program led by the park ranger, the national anthem is played while the sculptures are lite. The ceremony is held at the amphitheater from May to September, but you can check out the website of the US National Parks for exact time and dates.
With these tips, you are ready to plan your trip at Mount Rushmore, and Booking Express Travel hopes you make the most of your visit.
Before going, don’t forget that there are no overnight accommodations at the Mount Rushmore Memorial. However, you can stay overnight at Keystone, SD, which is very close, and you can still plan to visit the park in the early morning when many people find it most enjoyable.