Ford Mountain

Ford Mountain: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this viewpoint: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.

Best time to visit Ford Mountain

Season: October to February for cool, clear air; July to September for mist and greenery.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

Visiting Ford Mountain: tips

• Go at sunrise or sunset for the best light; carry a warm layer.

How to reach Ford Mountain — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 43.92499, -103.55547. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Ford Mountain

• Black Hills Institute · museum · Pennington · ~2 km · Must-see
• Black Elk Peak · viewpoint · Pennington · ~9 km · Must-see
• Horse Thief Lake Dam · lake · Pennington · ~9 km · Must-see
• Sylvan Lake · lake · Custer · ~11 km · Must-see
• Black Elk Wilderness · sanctuary · Pennington · ~11 km · Must-see
• Mount Rushmore · sanctuary · Pennington · ~12 km · Must-see
• Needles Eye Tunnel · viewpoint · Custer · ~12 km · Must-see
• Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center · museum · Pennington · ~12 km · Must-see
• Sheridan Lake Dam · lake · Pennington · ~13 km · Must-see
• Crazy Horse Memorial · fort · Custer · ~14 km · Must-see
• Iron Mountain · viewpoint · Pennington · ~15 km · Must-see
• Lakota Dam · lake · Custer · ~19 km · Must-see
• Odakota Mountain · viewpoint · Pennington · ~20 km · Must-see
• Bear Mountain · viewpoint · Pennington · ~20 km · Must-see
• Pactola Reservoir Recreation Area · lake · Pennington · ~21 km · Must-see
• 1881 Courthouse · museum · Custer · ~23 km · Must-see
• Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns · cave · Pennington · ~26 km · Must-see
• Custer State Park · sanctuary · Custer · ~27 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Ford Mountain

Other hill stations & viewpoints near Ford Mountain

• Black Elk Peak · viewpoint · Pennington · ~9 km · Must-see
• Needles Eye Tunnel · viewpoint · Custer · ~12 km · Must-see
• Iron Mountain · viewpoint · Pennington · ~15 km · Must-see
• Odakota Mountain · viewpoint · Pennington · ~20 km · Must-see
• Bear Mountain · viewpoint · Pennington · ~20 km · Must-see
• Sourdough Draw · viewpoint · Custer · ~32 km · Must-see
• Cicero Peak · viewpoint · Custer · ~34 km · Must-see
• Fuson Canyon · viewpoint · Custer · ~55 km · Must-see
• Terry Peak · viewpoint · Lawrence · ~63 km · Must-see
• Polo Peak · viewpoint · Lawrence · ~71 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in South Dakota

Frequently asked