The Presidential Trail
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The Presidential Trail is a very pleasant half-mile loop that brings visitors to the closest viewing points of the Mount Rushmore monument. The trail is wheelchair accessible from the Washington side of the Grand View Terrace to the base of the mountain. It is not accessible from that point on, as there are a total of 421 wooden stairs that climb partially up the mountain and then continue on down the mountain to the Sculptor’s Studio.
It is not uncommon to see mountain goats along this trail—particularly near the beginning of the trail at the Grand View Terrace and at higher locations of the staircase mountainside. These beautiful white animals with contrasting black noses and hooves are not native to the region.
In 1924, Canada gave six Rocky Mountain goats to Custer State Park. The goats escaped from their pens and have adapted well to the environment of the hills. There are now estimated to be more than 200 goats in the hills, mainly around Harney Peak, Sylvan Lake, Crazy Horse Mountain, and Mount Rushmore.
© Laural A. Bidwell from Moon Mount Rushmore & the Black Hills, 1st Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.