Mount Rushmore is easily one of the top three most iconic American landmarks—perhaps only rivaled by the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s distinctly and unmistakably American.
Every year, millions of people visit Mount Rushmore, but most of them see it the same way: walking along the Avenue of Flags and standing on a platform overlooking the amphitheater, staring straight at the carved faces in the rock. If they’re feeling a bit more adventurous, they might check out one of the lesser-known viewpoints—like the profile view—but that’s about as far as most go.
Related: Best Eats in Rapid City, South Dakota That We Enjoyed
But rarely do visitors venture onto the trails. One of them—the Blackberry and Centennial Trail—leads you into the forested depths of the Black Hills and eventually brings you to a viewpoint where you can see Mount Rushmore from an angle that 99% of people never experience.
Here is the hidden view:
Now, it’s not the most jaw-dropping view in the world, so don’t go expecting to be blown away. What makes it cool isn’t the grandeur—it’s a few things.
First, you get to see Mount Rushmore while hiking through the woods—probably without another soul around. When we did it in late fall, we were completely alone for most of the hike. That solitude alone is pretty special, especially when you’re used to being surrounded by crowds at the main viewing area. It feels like your own private glimpse of something massive.
The other interesting thing is how easy it is to miss this view.
If you’re not actively looking for it, you’ll walk right past it—it’s only visible through a very narrow window between the trees. So just spotting Mount Rushmore from this trail feels like a small accomplishment in itself. You’ll definitely want to bring a zoom lens or rely on a good cell phone camera, because like I said, you have to zoom in quite a bit to capture the view.
But overall, what I really love about this experience is how it transforms something so familiar. Mount Rushmore is arguably the most iconic American monument, and by venturing into the woods and finding a bit of solitude, you get to see it from a completely different angle—one that almost no one else ever sees. The monument peeks through the trees in a tight, easy-to-miss window, making just spotting it feel like a small victory.
Seeing the monument from this hidden angle, tucked into the forest, gives you a more personal, almost secret connection to a landmark that most people only experience from a crowded platform. And that—more than the view itself—is what makes it special.
So how do you actually find this view?
You’ll want to hop on the Blackberry and Centennial Trail, which starts near the parking lot on the southwest side of the monument.
From there, it’s about a 1.4-mile hike that takes you through some gentle ups and downs—not too steep, but enough to get your heart rate up. Keep in mind, you’ll be hiking at around 5,000 feet of elevation, so if you’re coming from sea level or lower altitudes, it might feel a bit more strenuous, especially on a warm day.
Still, you’re only looking at about 3 miles round-trip and ~400 feet in elevation, which makes for a pretty pleasant stroll through the woods. There aren’t many big views along the way—it’s more of a forest bathing experience, quiet and peaceful. But right around the 1.4-mile mark, if you’re paying attention, you’ll spot the viewpoint. It’s easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled.
If you want a little help finding it, I’ve got you covered—I marked the exact spot where I took the photo using GPS, which you can follow. I actually continued hiking past that point, which you can totally do, but like I mentioned earlier, it’s not the most dramatic trail overall. Still, it’s a great little workout and a peaceful way to see something special that most people miss.
Overall, this isn’t the kind of thing that’s going to impress everyone. But if you’re the type who enjoys discovering off-the-beaten-path experiences, it’s actually a pretty amazing and fun thing to do. There’s something satisfying about being able to say you saw Mount Rushmore from a hidden angle that almost no one else even knows exists. It’s a quiet little adventure—and sometimes, those are the best kind.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
