Fly in a hot air balloon and soar over the beautiful Black Hills. Make memories that will last forever.
Your Adventure Awaits! Black Hills Balloons flies in the southern Black Hills, making the Custer Valley and world-renowned Custer State Park the heart of our flying area; just miles from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wind Cave National Park, and the South Dakota Badlands! Your flight over mountains, valleys, lakes, and prairies, is one of the best ways to view the Black Hills; home to elk, antelope, whitetail deer, buffalo, and mule deer. If you’re lucky, you might even see a mountain lion from our secure gondola! The beautiful Black Hills is the only place in the world where you can witness such a historic, wild landscape and abundant wildlife from a hot air balloon.
Black Hills Balloons was established in 1984 and has been flying the Black Hills for over 40 years. Awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence multiple years in a row, we take pride in creating the best experience for our passengers and sharing the beauty of the hills with everyone we meet. Join us for a flight and we see why we are one of the top attractions in the Black Hills!
Reservations are required. We meet our passengers each morning at a central meeting location in Custer, SD. Passengers will park their vehicles and travel to the launch field in one of our insured Black Hills Balloons vans. Once you arrive at the field, our crew gets to work unloading and preparing the aircraft while passengers are briefed and take photos. The balloon takes 20 minutes to prepare for flight and once ready, passengers are requested to board. The flight is approximately one hour, determined by weather and available landing locations. Upon landing, our ground crew will pack the balloon while passengers and pilots celebrate the flight with complimentary champagne, light snacks, and a story about the origin of hot air ballooning.
We fly daily at sunrise when the winds are calm and consistent. Flights are weather-dependent and at the discretion of the pilot.
Dress for a hike in the woods. Closed-toed shoes and layers are recommended. NO OPENED-TOED SHOES. During the flight, the temperature should be no different than what you feel on the ground. A quick weather check can prepare you for the highs and lows of the day. Dress for the low (before sunrise) and you’ll be in good shape.
A camera, of course! Also, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are recommended.
Flight altitude varies daily, from treetops to a few thousand feet; allowing for the best views and steerage to the best available landing site.
Not likely. Hot air balloons go with the wind so there is very little sensation of movement. If you close your eyes, the balloon can gain hundreds of feet in elevation without notice.
Due to insurance restrictions, we cannot fly pregnant women or children under 4. We also do not recommend flying if you have a broken bone or a recent injury. Please call and discuss any potential health restrictions prior to booking.
