Lead, SD

united states

Lead perches high in South Dakota's Black Hills, reached via winding mountain highways that climb to over 5,300 feet elevation. Most visitors arrive on US-85 from I-90 through Spearfish, or take the scenic route from Rapid City via US-385 through Deadwood. The town sits just three miles from historic Deadwood on US-14A. The massive Homestake Open Cut, a 1,200-foot-deep former gold mine, creates a dramatic crater visible from miles away.