Things To Do Near Sundance, Wyoming
Sundance is a great basecamp for exploring northeast Wyoming, Devils Tower Country and the northern Black Hills. From local parks and museums to national monuments, scenic drives, outdoor recreation and western history, there is plenty to see and do within a short drive of town.
Use this guide to explore favorite local stops, nearby attractions and regional destinations that make Sundance a memorable place to visit.
Sundance Square
Sundance Square
Sundance Square is located in the heart of downtown Sundance next to the historic Old Stoney building. It is a great place to stretch your legs, enjoy a picnic, cool off at the splash pad or take a break while exploring town.
During the summer, Sundance Square hosts community activities including movies in the park and other local events.
Bearlodge Mountain Recreation & Black Hills National Forest
Bearlodge Mountain Recreation & Black Hills National Forest
The Bearlodge Mountains and the Black Hills National Forest offer miles of scenic trails, forest roads and outdoor recreation opportunities just minutes from Sundance. The area is popular for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and off-road recreation.
The Bearlodge Ranger District covers the northern portion of the Black Hills on the Wyoming side and includes approximately 170,000 acres in east-central Crook County. The district is known for uncrowded trails, sweeping views and easy access from Sundance.
The Black Hills National Forest stretches across western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. Visitors will find rugged rock formations, canyons, open grassland parks, streams, lakes and forested recreation areas throughout the region.
Nearby Forest Service campgrounds include Cook Lake, Reuter and Sundance Trailhead. Game species in the area include white-tailed deer, mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, Merriam’s turkey and ruffed grouse.
Please remember to tread lightly and carry a current travel management or land-use map. It is your responsibility to know local land management rules, restrictions and permit requirements before you ride or explore.
Bearlodge Ranger District
101 S. 21st Street
Sundance, WY
Phone: (307) 283-1361
Bearlodge Ranger District ORV Permits Wyoming Off-Road Vehicles & Trails
Crook County Museum & 1875 Gallery
Crook County Museum & 1875 Gallery
Experience the history of Crook County and the western frontier at the Crook County Museum & 1875 Gallery, located inside the historic Old Stoney building in Sundance.
The museum features thousands of artifacts, detailed exhibits, western history displays and the original courtroom where the Sundance Kid had his trial. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring local ranching, early settlement, the Vore Buffalo Jump, frontier life, historic tools, firearms and more.
The 1875 Gallery showcases regional art including bronze sculpture, colored pencil, watercolor, photography, collage, jewelry, pottery and oil paintings. It provides a place for local and regional artists to show and sell their work.
120 N 4th Street
Sundance, WY 82729
Phone: (307) 283-3666
Visit Museum Website Museum Facebook Page
Crook County Museum Loop
In northeast Wyoming, Devils Tower may be the landmark many visitors seek out, but the surrounding communities hold cultural treasures of their own. Sundance, Hulett and Moorcroft each have museums dedicated to preserving the history, stories and people of the region.
Consider making a day of it with a museum loop tour through Crook County. Additional area museums include the Hulett Museum & Art Gallery and the West Texas Trail Museum in Moorcroft.
Sundance Country Club
Sundance Country Club
Sundance Country Club is a public 9-hole golf course designed for a variety of skill levels. The course uses the natural landscape for its fairways and greens, offering a relaxing round with beautiful views of the surrounding area.
Club and cart rentals are available. The course is generally not crowded, making it a great place to enjoy a casual day outside.
1612 East Cleveland Street
Sundance, WY
Phone: (307) 283-1191
Open to the public from 8 a.m. to dusk on weekends and 9 a.m. to dusk on weekdays.
Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower National Monument
Located about 28 miles from Sundance, Devils Tower National Monument rises above the surrounding grasslands and ponderosa pine forests. This remarkable geologic formation has been a sacred place for Northern Plains tribes for thousands of years.
In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt established Devils Tower as the nation’s first national monument. Today, visitors come to hike, climb, photograph, learn about tribal connections and experience one of the region’s most iconic landmarks.
Devils Tower National Monument Devils Tower Country
The Vore Buffalo Jump
The Vore Buffalo Jump
Located about 13 miles from Sundance, the Vore Buffalo Jump offers a fascinating look into Plains Indian history. The site contains enormous quantities of bison bone and stone artifacts preserved in layers within a natural sinkhole.
For hundreds of years, Native peoples used the site as a buffalo jump. Archaeological research has revealed butchered remains from thousands of bison along with arrow points, knives and other tools. Only a portion of the site has been excavated, leaving decades of potential research ahead.
The Vore Buffalo Jump is one of the most accessible major Plains Indian sites to the traveling public and provides a meaningful stop for visitors interested in archaeology, tribal history and the story of the region.
Visit Vore Buffalo Jump Website
Inyan Kara
Inyan Kara
Inyan Kara, translated from Lakota as “Rock Gatherer,” is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its cultural importance. The mountain is recognized by the Lakota people as a sacred place and is also known as one of General Custer’s stops during his 1874 Black Hills expedition.
Inyan Kara reaches 6,368 feet and stands as a landmark for early travelers, explorers and visitors to the region. It is located in the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming and can be viewed from County Road 585.
Although Inyan Kara is located on U.S. Forest Service land, access is limited because private property must be crossed to reach it. Permission from the landowner is required, and there is no permanent trail to the summit.
For more information, contact the Bearlodge District Ranger Office at (307) 283-1361.
Keyhole State Park
Keyhole State Park
Located about 23 miles from Sundance, Keyhole State Park sits along the southeast shore of Keyhole Reservoir near the western edge of the Black Hills. The park is a popular destination for fishing, boating, camping, birdwatching and wildlife viewing.
Visitors may see mule deer, pronghorn antelope, wild turkeys and a variety of resident and migrating birds. Keyhole Reservoir offers fishing for walleye, catfish, smallmouth bass and northern pike.
The park includes multiple campgrounds overlooking the lake, with more than 170 sites featuring tables and grills. Many sites can accommodate large RVs and trailers.
Visit Keyhole State Park Website
Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish Canyon is a scenic limestone gorge carved by Spearfish Creek near Spearfish, South Dakota, about 32 miles from Sundance. Visitors are drawn to the canyon for its waterfalls, rock formations, forested slopes, wildlife and year-round scenic drives.
Spearfish Creek is home to wild rainbow and brown trout, and the canyon offers opportunities for hiking, photography, sightseeing and exploring the northern Black Hills.
Thunder Basin National Grassland
Thunder Basin National Grassland
The Thunder Basin National Grassland is located in northeastern Wyoming between the Big Horn Mountains and the Black Hills. Elevations range from 3,600 to 5,200 feet, and the landscape offers wide-open views, wildlife habitat and opportunities for quiet outdoor recreation.
Visitors can enjoy hiking, sightseeing, hunting and dispersed camping. The grassland supports wildlife year-round and remains an important landscape for grazing, natural resources and open-space recreation.
Visit Thunder Basin National Grassland Website
Crazy Horse Memorial
Crazy Horse Memorial
Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain monument complex in the Black Hills of South Dakota, about 80 miles from Sundance. The memorial honors Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior, and the culture, traditions and living heritage of North American Indians.
The site includes the mountain carving, the Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Cultural Center. It is located between Custer and Hill City, not far from Mount Rushmore.
Visit Crazy Horse Memorial Website
Custer State Park
Custer State Park
Custer State Park encompasses 71,000 acres in the Black Hills of South Dakota, about 88 miles from Sundance. The park is known for scenic drives, mountain lakes, granite peaks, hiking trails and abundant wildlife.
A herd of approximately 1,300 bison roams freely throughout the park and is often seen along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road. Visitors may also see pronghorn, deer, bighorn sheep, burros and a variety of birds.
Visit Custer State Park Website
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located about 90 miles from Sundance and welcomes millions of visitors each year. The memorial is one of the most recognized landmarks in the United States and offers exhibits, walking trails, scenic views and interpretation of American history.
From the history of the first inhabitants of the Black Hills to the stories represented by the mountain carving, Mount Rushmore gives visitors a memorable look at the region’s cultural and historic significance.