Location Showcase

Written By Maysa Oakly Hackens
 
 

Coffee Shops

A local coffee shop or your favorite place to grab a snack makes for a fun, casual photoshoot!

 

Rushmore Lions Nature Path

Located in Rapid City on Chapel Ln.

A beautiful spot for families and wedding parties!

 

Canyon Lake Park

Located in Rapid City

 

Badlands National Park

Need we say more?

 

Falling Rock

Located 16 minutes from Rapid City.

Falling Rock is a short walk up to the top of the cliffs overlooking Rapid Creek. Just eight miles outside of Rapid City. This location is beautiful any time of the year! Falling Rock has been a photo destination for seniors, families, and couples! I recently photographed a small wedding there.

couple standing on a cliff at falling rock
beautiful couple posing at falling rock for their engagement session
couple standing at falling rock surrounded by the black hills

This location also has a second area that also overlooks Rapid Creek. (See images below).

 

Our Ranch

35 minutes from Rapid City

Our ranch is located north of New Underwood on Elk Creek. Elk Creek is lined with Cottonwood, Ash, Peach Leaf Willow, Elm Trees, Choke-Cherry and wild Plumb bushes. There’s also prairie views with native grasses as Red Angus Cattle and Texas Longhorns graze in the distance. This is just a small sampling of photos taken at our ranch. This ranch provides endless photo opportunities!

western couple by hay bales near new underwood, sd
texas longhorns on the prairie
senior posing by an old truck near new underwood sd
red Angus cattle crossing the creek in the winter near new underwood South Dakota
fall senior photo at new underwood sd
 

Horse thief Lake

40 minutes from Rapid City

Horse Thief Lake is located just less than five miles from Mt. Rushmore. It’s a popular tourist location in the summer. There are many photo opportunities all around the lake!

engagement photoshoot at horse thief lake
engaged couple sitting in the grass at horse thief lake in South Dakota
classy couple standing at horse thief lake south Dakota
couple kissing at horsethief lake at their engagement photoshoot
landscape of horse thief lake in the black hills of south Dakota
 

Mt. Rushmore KOA

40 minutes from Rapid City and just a few miles from Horsethief Lake

If you’re a guest at the Mt. Rushmore KOA there are ample locations throughout the campground! Located just 5 miles from Mt. Rushmore! This is the second largest KOA in the US! If I’m not photographing a wedding, you can find me at the Stables At Palmer Gulch photographing the tourists ridin’ the trails!

couple drinking hot coco at the hill city koa by the fire
couple wrapped in a Pendleton blanket for their engagement photos at the mt. Rushmore koa
hot chocolate by the fire at the hill city mt. Rushmore koa
marshmallows roasting over a campfire at the mt. Rushmore hill city Koa

There is a beautiful forest area across the highway from the kOA as well that is beautiful in the evenings.

 

Sheridan Lake

35 Minutes from Rapid City (20 minutes from the Mount Rushmore KOA)

A very “simple” location that looks it’s best around sunset!

 

Center Lake

45 Minutes from Rapid City

One of our favorite campgrounds near Custer. This location offers great fishing and kayaking as well as hiking!

couple wearing pink and light blue walking in the woods at dalton lake
dramatic couple wearing neutral colors at their engagement session
adventurous engagement session kayaking on dalton lake in the black hills
couple standing by the water at dalton lake for their engagement session
 

Sylvan Lake

50 minutes from Rapid City

Another popular summer tourist destination is Sylvan Lake, near Custer, SD. One of the many hiking trails winds all around the lake. There’s a beautiful scene around every turn! A rock tunnel, waterfall, and a small stream are located on the back-side of the rock formations.

classy couple wearing light blue and white at sylvan lake in the black hills of South Dakota
landscape of sylvan lake
classy couple walking at sylvan lake for engagement photos
engaged couple posing at sylvan lake
 

Spearfish Canyon

50 Minutes from Rapid City

Fall makes this location one of our favorite stops! This canyon drive has so many possibilities! Roughlock Falls is tucked off of Spearfish Canyon, another great tourist destination. The fall foliage is spectacular!

creek running through spearfish canyon with fall colors
moody landscape of spearfish canyon with fall colors and fog
 

Roughlock Falls

50 Minutes from Rapid City

Located deeper into Spearfish Canyon

siblings wearing neutral colors at roughneck falls near spearfish canyon in South Dakota
 

Dalton Lake

50 Minutes from Rapid City

This location offers a “whimsical” feel, with it’s towering Black Hills Spruce trees and small lake. Dalton Lake offers camping and fishing!

red head and brunette couple looking at the camera for their winter engagement shoot during winter
women wearing a pink skirt kissing her fiancé on the cheek at dalton lake, SD
couple taking engagement photos in the snow at dalton lake in the black hills of sd
 

Norbeck Overlook

40 minutes from Rapid City

Views of Mt. Rushmore in the distance! Lots of rock formations, hiking trails and native grasses throughout the area. Surrounded by tall Ponderosa Pine trees. Another location that is beautiful any time of the year!

couple kissing at norbeck outlook overlooking the black hills on a sunny day
couple standing on the rocks during sunset at norbeck outlook
military couple engagement photos at norbeck overlook in the black hills of sd
 

“The Rock”

Located 16 minutes from Rapid City.

To our knowledge there is no formal name for this location. It’s very special to us, so we only take one couple here each year! It is a short but steep hike, so bring good shoes!

 
 
Maysa Oakly Hackens https://maysaoaklyphotography.com