“The hills are alive with history.”
Long before four presidential faces looked out over South Dakota, these granite cliffs were part of the sacred landscape of the Lakota, who called the Black Hills the center of the world. Centuries later, an ambitious idea took hold.
Sculptors and drill teams arrived with dynamite, jackhammers, and a dream that sounded impossible: carving a mountain into a monument that could outlast time itself.
Seeing Mount Rushmore in photographs is one thing. Standing beneath it is entirely different. The scale, the detail, the craftsmanship, and the complicated layers of its story all unfold the moment you step onto the Presidential Trail.
With the Mount Rushmore Tour: Self-Guided Walk, your visit becomes more than a viewing. GPS-triggered narration brings you face to face with the creators, workers, and communities connected to this mountain. Explore it all at your own pace as the stories unfold beneath the stone faces.
What You’ll See and Hear Along the Way
Avenue of Flags: Walk beneath the waving flags of every US state and territory as the monument rises ahead of you.
Main Viewing Platform: Stop for the classic panorama and learn how an unlikely idea became a national symbol, plus who funded it and why it almost never happened.
Gutzon Borglum’s Story: Discover the sculptor’s complex past, his bold vision, and the dramatic decisions that shaped the final design.
Carving the Mountain: Hear how workers spent fourteen years transforming a rugged granite peak using drills, chisels, and hundreds of carefully placed explosives.
Sculptor’s Studio: Step inside the room where Borglum refined his plans and see the detailed plaster model that guided the carving.
Presidential Trail: Follow boardwalk paths through ponderosa pine and granite outcrops for close-up views from angles most visitors never notice. Along the way, learn about the Lakota, whose history in these hills stretches far beyond the monument.
A Hollywood Twist: Near the end of the trail, uncover the controversy surrounding Alfred Hitchcock’s filming of North by Northwest and why it sparked national debate.
A Little Heads-Up: This mountain may inspire awe, spark strong opinions, or leave you staring at granite with new respect, but we are not responsible if you start rating all rocks by “Mount Rushmore potential,” try to guess which president is watching you the closest, or begin humming patriotic music without warning.
Want all of our tours? Upgrade to Action+:
- An annual $99.99/year subscription offers access to over 230+ tours.
- Unlimited use throughout the year.
- Includes free access to new tours as they are released.
Map Of Mount Rushmore
Nearby Tours
Driving 2-3 Hours 35+ Stories 34+ Miles 
Driving 2-3 Hours 35+ Stories 60+ Miles Driving 4-5 Hours 60+ Stories 65+ Miles Driving 2-3 Hours 25+ Stories 24+ Miles Starting Point
You can join the route at any point or start from the suggested starting location listed below.
From the Town of Keystone
Mount Rushmore Information Center, 13036 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751, USA
Begin from Mt Rushmore Information, 13036 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751.
How Does It Work?
- Access your tour: Download the Action Tour Guide app and sign in with the same email used for your website purchase. Your tour will appear under My Tours.
- Download your tour: Download it before you go. Once downloaded, no internet or cell signal is needed.
- Start your tour: Open My Tours, select your tour, and tap Start Touring when you reach a starting point.
- Listen your way: Use your phone’s speaker or headphones, or connect to your car’s audio system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not currently supported, compatibility is in development.
- GPS-triggered audio: Stories play automatically as you reach each location along the route.
- Stop and start anytime: Pause, take a break, make a detour, or continue another day. Tours are valid forever (one year for Action+).
Mount Rushmore Audio Tour
Things to do on the Tour Include:
-
Welcome
-
Gutzon Borglum
-
Avenue of Flags
-
Why These Four Faces?
-
Launching the Project
-
How Did They Carve It?
-
Creative Differences
-
The Hall of Records
-
Sculptor's Studio
-
Presidential Trail
-
The Six Grandfathers
-
Ongoing Controversy
-
North by Northwest
-
Preservation
-
A Fifth Face?
Preview The Tour
Tour FAQs
The route includes the Avenue of Flags, Main Viewing Platform, Sculptor’s Studio, Presidential Trail, and other important locations associated with the monument’s history and construction.
Source: National Park Service
The narration covers the creation of Mount Rushmore, sculptor Gutzon Borglum, the workers who carved the monument, the four presidents depicted, the Hall of Records, preservation efforts, and the history of the Black Hills and Lakota people.
Source: National Park Service
Yes. Download the tour before your visit while you have Wi-Fi or a reliable connection. Once downloaded, the tour can use offline GPS and does not require continuous cellular service.
Yes. The short walking route and stories about the monument’s construction can make it a convenient option for families. Parents should consider the amount of walking and any stairs involved if they plan to continue beyond the main viewing areas.
Source: National Park Service
Regular pets are not permitted throughout the main visitor area. Leashed pets are allowed in designated areas, including parking garages, certain surrounding sidewalks and green spaces, the Blackberry Trail, and the pet exercise area. Service animals have broader access in areas open to the public.
Source: National Park Service
Yes. Wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the Information Center. Elevators provide access to several major visitor areas, and the first portion of the Presidential Trail is surfaced for wheelchair access.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Action Tour Guide app: Download the app to access your purchased tour.GPS-triggered audio: Stories and directions play automatically as you reach each location.Tour anytime: Single tours and bundles never expire and can be used anytime. Action+ is an annual subscription that automatically renews each year unless canceled.Narrated stories: Hear local history, culture, and stories from experienced narrators.Stop and start anytime: Pause, take a break, make a detour, or continue another day.Offline access: Download your tour before you go. Once downloaded, no internet or cell signal is needed.Stories, stops, and directions: Follow the route to key attractions with automatic directions and stories at each location.Transportation: Transportation, parking fees, and tolls are not included.Admission: Entry tickets and reservations are not included. Food and drinks: Meals and drinks are not included.Rental car: A rental car is not included and may be required for driving tours. 
