Deadwood (Winter)

When glistening snow blankets the ground and Jack Frost nips at your nose, the historic town of Deadwood offers winter adventures. Spilling into a narrow gulch with many homes clutching steep sides of the canyon, Deadwood was a boomtown during the 1876 gold rush. Legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane made a name for themselves here. Some, like Hickok, died here. Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are buried side by side high above Deadwood in Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Since legalizing gambling in November 1989, Deadwood has sunk a fortune into restoring its legacy with Wild West casinos galore. Located a few miles from Deadwood, Terry Peak Ski ...

When glistening snow blankets the ground and Jack Frost nips at your nose, the historic town of Deadwood offers winter adventures. Spilling into a narrow gulch with many homes clutching steep sides of the canyon, Deadwood was a boomtown during the 1876 gold rush. Legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane made a name for themselves here. Some, like Hickok, died here. Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are buried side by side high above Deadwood in Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Since legalizing gambling in November 1989, Deadwood has sunk a fortune into restoring its legacy with Wild West casinos galore. Located a few miles from Deadwood, Terry Peak Ski Area in the legendary Black Hills is South Dakota’s largest ski area. Winter sports enthusiasts throughout the five-state region and beyond come to ski here. With 25 trails, 600 acres of skiable terrain, two high-speed quad detachable chairlifts, a double and triple chairlift and the snow carpet, Terry Peak is a popular winter destination. Started in 1938 when the Bald Mountain Ski Club installed a rope tow up Stewart Slope, Terry Peak Ski Area has elevations ranging from 5,900 feet to more than 7,000 feet. Even when no snow is predicted, elevations of 5,500-feet and higher can receive ample snowfall. Terry Peak's snowmaking system covers 60 percent of the mountain, assuring good snow conditions from the beginning to the end of the season.

About the Expert

Jackie Sheckler Finch has written several guidebooks, including The Unofficial Guide to Campgrounds in the Great Lakes States, and four times she was named Travel Writer of the Year by Midwest Travel Writers Association.