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Wildlife Biologist’s Guide to the Black Hills: Private Tour

5 Reviews 4.20 out of 5 stars Based on 5 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor | Rapid City, USA
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from $699 per person

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Wildlife Biologist’s Guide to the Black Hills: Private Tour Image 1
Wildlife Biologist’s Guide to the Black Hills: Private Tour Image 2
Pasque Flower along the trail.
Prairie Dogs, a keystone species abound and folic out on the plains.
A male bighorn sheep still shedding his winter coat and enjoying the grassland.

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7 to 8 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation

Overview

This isn’t just a tour—it’s a deeply personal exploration of the natural world, guided by a professional wildlife biologist who brings every moment to life. Designed exclusively for your group, the experience is entirely private and tailored to your interests, pace, and curiosity.

What sets it apart is the focus on nature in its purest form—no monuments, no crowds, just the living heartbeat of the Black Hills. You’ll explore vast prairies, winding byways, underground caves, and wildlife-rich habitats with a guide who reads the landscape like a storybook.

Rather than simply pointing out animals or naming plants, your guide offers insight into the complex relationships that tie geology, ecology, and wildlife together. You’ll walk away with not only stunning photos but a meaningful connection to the land itself.

Unhurried, immersive, and rich with discovery—this tour invites you to slow down, look deeper, and experience South Dakota as few ever do.

What's Included

  • Lunch A picnic lunch will be included and enjoyed along the tour.
  • Snacks
  • Bottled water
  • Gratuities
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Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point
Pickup details

Your wildlife biologist will pick you up in one of our vehicles, which features the logo on the side, including a Passenger Van, Tahoe, or Yukon. If you have any questions or would like to customize your tour, please contact My XO Adventures directly.

What To Expect

Wind Cave National Park

Beneath the surface, Wind Cave is one of the oldest and most complex cave systems in the world. Known for its rare boxwork formations—thin, honeycomb-like calcite structures found in few other places—this underground labyrinth is a geological marvel. As you descend into the cave with your guide, you’ll uncover the science and mystery behind its formation, unique airflow, and Lakota cultural significance.Above ground, a completely different story unfolds. Here, mixed-grass prairie stretches across rolling hills, dotted with ponderosa pine forests and home to bison, elk, coyotes, prairie dogs, and endangered black-footed ferrets. It’s one of the last remaining intact prairies in North America.With a wildlife biologist as your guide, this stop offers not just sightseeing—but insight. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of the delicate balance that exists between geology, biology, and ecology in this extraordinary place.
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2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Wildlife Loop Road

Wildlife Loop Road offers a front-row seat to the untamed beauty of Custer State Park. This scenic 18-mile route winds through open grasslands and rolling hills, where bison herds roam freely and prairie dogs pop in and out of their burrows. Keep watch for pronghorn, wild burros, white-tailed deer, and even the occasional coyote or elk.With a wildlife biologist as your guide, you won’t just spot animals—you’ll understand their behaviors, habitats, and the intricate web of life that defines this ecosystem. The journey is slow-paced and deliberate, allowing for spontaneous encounters, in-depth interpretation, and remarkable photo opportunities.This isn’t a drive-through attraction—it’s a living, breathing landscape where every curve in the road could lead to a once-in-a-lifetime moment with nature.
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2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Custer State Park

Custer State Park is a sanctuary of South Dakota’s wildest wonders. Spanning over 71,000 acres, this living landscape is home to one of the largest free-roaming bison herds in the country—often seen thundering across open prairies or calmly grazing near the road. Beyond bison, the park’s rich biodiversity includes pronghorn, elk, bighorn sheep, wild burros, coyotes, prairie dogs, and over 200 species of birds.Your private guide—an expert wildlife biologist—helps you read the land like a living storybook. Explore alpine meadows, ponderosa pine forests, granite spires, and aspen groves while learning how every plant and animal plays a role in this ecosystem.From the winding curves of Wildlife Loop Road to quiet trails known only to locals, this part of your tour is immersive, educational, and unforgettable. It’s not about checking sights off a list—it’s about seeing nature through new eyes and feeling deeply connected to the land around you.
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2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway

The Needles Highway is more than a road—it’s a winding journey through one of the most visually arresting landscapes in the Black Hills. As part of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, this 14-mile stretch weaves through towering granite spires, narrow tunnels carved by hand, and thick forests of pine and spruce.The cathedral spires, shaped by eons of erosion, create a dramatic backdrop for wildlife sightings and quiet moments of awe. Mountain goats, deer, wild turkeys, and marmots are often seen navigating the same terrain—and with a wildlife biologist at your side, every stop becomes a lesson in geology, habitat, and natural adaptation.You’ll drive through iconic one-lane tunnels like the Needle’s Eye Tunnel and pause at scenic overlooks where rock, sky, and silence converge. This part of the tour isn't rushed. It’s designed to let you breathe in the alpine air, spot wildlife in unlikely places, and learn how nature shaped this rugged masterpiece.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Wildlife Biologist’s Guide to the Black Hills: Private Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-166604P10

Reviews

4.20
5 reviews

Average 4.20 out of 5 stars based on 5 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

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Frequently Asked Questions (6)

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Wildlife Biologist’s Guide to the Black Hills: Private Tour?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MDT).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Lunch. A picnic lunch will be included and enjoyed along the tour.
  • Snacks.
  • Bottled water.
  • Private transportation.
  • Air-conditioned vehicle.
The following is NOT included:
  • Gratuities.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Wildlife Biologist’s Guide to the Black Hills: Private Tour is as follows:

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Wildlife Biologist’s Guide to the Black Hills: Private Tour will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024

What's Included

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • LunchA picnic lunch will be included and enjoyed along the tour.
  • Snacks
  • Bottled water
  • Private transportation
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Gratuities

Additional Info

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

Lowest Price Guarantee

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

We guarantee the lowest price on all the tours available to book on our site. We'll refund the difference if you find the exact tour cheaper online until 48 hours before your tour starts.

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Receive your refund

If everything checks out, we'll refund you the price difference.

Refund Terms & Conditions

The following conditions apply to all lowest price guarantee refund requests:

  • The lowest price guarantee is available to any customer who makes a qualifying purchase through our website. The qualifying purchase must be a minimum of US$20 (or equivalent).
  • The lowest price guarantee covers retail and prepaid rates available to the general public. This does not include discounts or promotions you may receive (or be eligible for) from third-party sites or organizations such as AAA or AARP or special offers made as part of a membership program, corporate discount, daily deal, group, or rewards program.
  • City Boat Tours promotions cannot be combined with the lowest price guarantee.
  • If you find a lower retail or prepaid rate for the same tour, offered on the same date, time and priced in the same currency as your original purchase, on any other website between the time you book on City Boat Tours and 48 hours before your trip starts, we will refund the difference.
  • The lowest price guarantee does not apply where a lower overall price is found by breaking down the purchased tour into one or more parts sold separately.
  • City Boat Tours reserves the right to verify the lower price details. Examples of acceptable forms of verification include a web screenshot or a web address.
  • All refund decisions will be made at the sole discretion of City Boat Tours.

Free Cancellation

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MDT).

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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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