Black Hills Hot Air Balloon Flight: Unforgettable Scenic Adventure
4.9
296 Ratings
Custer
Embark on an unforgettable hot air balloon flight over the stunning Black Hills. Experience breathtaking views of Custer Valley and Custer State Park, and spot wildlife in their natural habitat. Book now!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Black Hills Balloons Passenger Meeting Location - Make your own way to the centrally located meeting point in Custer, SD. From here, you will be taken to the launch site where the crew will begin the task of unloading and preparing your balloon. Take part in a short safety briefing and enjoy photo opportunities as the balloon is being inflated.
- Black Hills National Forest - Once the balloon is ready, you’ll gently take to the skies for an approximate 1-hour flight over the Black Hills National Forest. If you are new to ballooning, you’ll be surprised at the silence and serenity you’ll find high above the treetops. It’s truly magical.
Upon landing, the ground crew will pack the balloon while you and your pilot celebrate the flight with complimentary champagne, light snacks and a story about the origin of hot air ballooning.
Flights depart at sunrise and are weather dependent and always at the discretion of your experienced pilot.
What's Included
- Bottled water included
- All fees and taxes covered
- Experience a Hot Air Balloon Flight
- Enjoy a complimentary Glass of Champagne
What's Not Included
- Hotel pick up and drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Embark on an unforgettable journey! Experience a breathtaking hot air balloon ride across Custer Valley and the globally acclaimed Custer State Park. Situated just a few miles from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Wind Cave National Park, your aerial tour across mountain ranges, valleys, lakes, and plains represents one of the ultimate ways to observe the Black Hills. There’s a chance you’ll spot species such as elk, antelope, deer, and buffalo, and possibly even a rare mountain lion. The majestic Black Hills is the sole location globally where such a historic, wild scenery and rich wildlife can be experienced from a hot air balloon!
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Minimum age is 4 years
- Black Hills Balloons will text and email the day before the flight before 6.30 pm for a flight status update and weather check.
Location
747 Mt Rushmore Rd
Mount Rushmore Road
Diagonally across from Lynn's Dakotamart, the local supermarket in town.
You must call the evening before the flight between 630pm and 8pm to reconfirm the meeting time and good weather.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(296 Ratings)
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Passenger284190
Oct 17, 2023
Beautiful morning flight over the Black Hills - This was an amazing experience. Highly recommend. Tour operator was knowledgeable and professional. We had a fantastic time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R9002simaryh
Oct 10, 2023
High-flying... - The views were great! Launch and landing were gentle. All the people from pilots to chase crew were professional and on top of things. The explanation of the origin of ballooning was entertaining. A worthwhile bucket list trip for my mother_in-law, husband, and me.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
161alant
Oct 5, 2023
Up, Up, And Excellent All The Way - My wife and I have wanted to go on a balloon ride for decades, and finally did it. It lived up to making our lifetime memory list. The ascension, views, and the entire experience were outstanding. The staff was polite, professional, humorous, and we loved the champagne toast and stories at the end of the flight. There are so many things to see and do in southwest South Dakota, but definitely add this great balloon ride experience to your itinerary.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jean_b
Oct 4, 2023
Great Attempt! - 4 of us arrived at Black Hills Balloon at 6:30am on Monday 10/02. Damian and Mike were amazing. We loaded up in the cars and headed towards the takeoff field. They blew up the balloons and we climbed in the baskets. 5 minutes later the fog rolled in and we couldn’t take off. They had to cancel. We felt so bad for them. They worked so hard to make the morning special. We wished the fog hadn’t rolled in but safety was Damian’s and Mike’s top priority. We got wonderful pictures in the balloon basket and received a full refund. Definitely taking a Balloon ride next time we come back. Thanks for trying!
Review provided by Viator
Minnesotajones
Oct 1, 2023
Great way to start a morning - The best way to celebrate an anniversary. I'm also terrified of heights, but Damien and crew were excellent and we had a great experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Darlene_w
Sep 28, 2023
BEST ADVENTURE EVER! - Fantastic adventure! Highly recommend! Great crew, amazing views. JUST DO IT!! YOU'LL BE SO GLAD YOU DID!
Review provided by Viator
Bill_v
Sep 28, 2023
It was the experience of a lifetime! - We would not hesitate to fly with them again! Our pilot Mike, was outstanding he answered all of our questions and did a excellent job maneuvering the Balloon. What an experience! Thank you to the entire crew.
Review provided by Viator
M7819higwens
Sep 26, 2023
Awesome!! Amazing!! - This was an amazing experience!! We took a lot of pictures. Our guide was Damien and he was wonderful!! We HIGHLY recommend this.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lbbennett
Sep 23, 2023
Fantastic Bucket-List Item - Riding in a hot air balloon has been a bucket-list item for me for many years. When I found this trip on TripAdvisor while planning our trip to The Black Hills, I knew we had to do it. It did not disappoint! Damien was a fantastic host/pilot and very safety conscious. There were three of us in our group, and seven others in the High Plains Drifter gondola for a total of ten passengers and the pilot, Damien. The scenery was amazing. We did get to see some deer and could see Crazy Horse in the distance. The best part was landing in a stranger's backyard...the chase crew went up to the door to ask if it was ok with them. The homeowner came outside and said another balloon had landed in their yard about 20 years ago and she got pictures of it. A second balloon that was flying with us also landed in the same yard. While the chase crews deflated the balloons and loaded them up, Damien served us champagne, mimosas, cheese & crackers and homemade muffins. When we got back to the Black Hills Balloons headquarters, we received certificates for a completed flight and a postcard. I'm sure the funniest part for everyone else was watching me try to climb out of the gondola...I had to have a little help. My old knees don't bend like they used to! It was definitely worth getting up early for this adventure!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amy_h
Sep 26, 2023
Serene - Beautiful scenery, very calming and serene. Very organized and well run. Wished this trip would have gone over the monuments.
Review provided by Viator