Mount Rushmore Tour: Self-Guided Walk

Welcome to the Mount Rushmore Tour

See one of America’s most iconic landmarks up close and delve deep into its complicated history! You’ve seen Mount Rushmore in photos, but seeing it in person is something else entirely. This towering monument to America’s past is truly incredible to behold. But you won’t just be looking—with this self-guided Mount Rushmore audio tour, and you’ll also learn about this enormous sculpture. Find out who built it, how they built it, and much more as you walk the Presidential Trail.

About the Tour

Your Mount Rushmore tour begins at the Mount Rushmore Information Center, right next to the monument’s parking lot. From here, you’ll walk toward the mountain itself. Along the way, you’ll stop at a memorial to Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor behind this incredible feat, and learn about his unusual history.

Then you’ll walk down the Avenue of Flags, draped with the flags of US states and territories. After that, you’ll arrive at the main viewing platform, where you’ll have a perfectly clear view of Mount Rushmore. Here, you’ll discover how this unlikely project got off the ground in the first place.

Next, you’ll head to a second, less-crowded viewing platform, where you’ll hear how workers actually carved this rugged mountain into the presidential faces you see today.

As you continue toward the Sculptor’s Studio, you’ll get the full story behind the sculptor’s battles with the Park Service, as well as his plans for a hidden room on top of the mountain! You’ll then arrive at the studio, where you can see a plaster model of the monument’s original design and learn more about Borglum himself.

After that, you’ll walk along the Presidential Trail, a short boardwalk through the lush forest which offers even more views of Mount Rushmore from different angles. As you walk, you’ll hear about another side of the Mount Rushmore story, this time from the perspective of the Lakota who lived here long before any settlers arrived.

Finally, you’ll loop back around toward the main viewing platform and hear about the controversy which swirled around Alfred Hitchcock’s filming of North by Northwest at this monument. Your tour ends at the conclusion of the Presidential Trail, steps away from the main viewing platform.

Note: A Fourth of July celebration with no fireworks? For many, that is a welcome alternative given the stream of loud explosive sounds that accompany the tradition. For those averse to the intensity of pyrotechnic displays, consider visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota for a Fourth of July experience like no other. Want to shake hands with the presidents? Reenactors will be on hand portraying the four presidents on the sculpture (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt). On July 3, the reenactors will stage a press conference in the Carvers’ Marketplace. And yes, you can even ask a question!

Over July 3 and 4, the faux former presidents will be on hand to mix and mingle with visitors and sign autographs. On both nights at 9pm, enjoy the traditional sculpture lighting ceremony from the park’s amphitheater, accompanied by more music and performances.

Planning tip: Accessing the park is free, but you do have to pay to park.

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