FROM A DISTANCE

Tourists visit the Black Hills of South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore. And it is quite impressive to see!

But what many people fail to realize is that there is more than one way to see this great monument. Most people view Mt. Rushmore from the Avenue of Flags. Others hike up the trail below the faces. And others go to the evening show to view it under the lights against the night sky. All these views are worth the time.

In recent years, it has also been possible to watch an amazing fireworks display atop Mt. Rushmore that ushers in the 4th of July. You have to arrive early (before noon) to get a seat in the amphitheater, but it is well worth it even if you don’t. Unfortunately, the fireworks were cancelled this past holiday due to the fire danger.

But a unique view that many people miss is the view from a distance. Near the northern end of Iron Mountain Road (which is a scenic drive in and of itself), you can get a glimpse of Mt. Rushmore through a tunnel, and from alongside the road. Hopefully these pictures will whet your appetite – click on them for a larger view.