Explore Suggested Picnic Destinations

Explore some of our favorite picnic destinations throughout the Northern Black Hills and surrounding area. Each location has been selected for its scenic beauty, relaxing atmosphere, and convenient access for enjoying a Bear Butte Gardens Picnic Basket.

Many of these locations also offer additional recreational opportunities such as walking trails, fishing, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, wildlife viewing, playgrounds, and historic attractions. We encourage you to explore the area, support local public spaces, and enjoy the natural beauty of the Black Hills region.

Please remember:

• Practice "Leave No Trace" principles

• Follow all posted park and recreation area rules

• Help keep picnic areas clean and enjoyable for others

• Return your picnic basket and service items to Bear Butte Gardens after your outing

We will continue expanding this guide over time with additional picnic destinations, photos, amenities, seasonal recommendations, and travel tips.

How to Use the Map

• Click or tap any map pin to view information about that picnic location

• Use the “+” and “–” buttons to zoom in or out

• Drag the map to explore additional areas

• Select the square “View Larger Map” icon to open the map in Google Maps

• On mobile devices, you can often tap “Directions” to begin navigation

• Different pin colors may represent different types of picnic destinations, such as lakes, parks, scenic areas, or city locations

We recommend checking weather conditions, road conditions, and seasonal accessibility before traveling to your picnic destination. Some recreation areas may have limited services during certain times of the year.