Mid-winter · Weather & things to do
Black Hills in January
Black Hills sees its driest month, with just 0.5 in (13 mm) of rain or snow, highs of 32°F (0°C) and lows of 14°F (-10°C).
With a comfort score of 50/100 (10th of 12), it's one of the toughest months, held back mainly by cool days.
- Avg high
- 32°F (0°C)
- Avg low
- 14°F (-10°C)
- Rain or snow
- 0.5 in (13 mm)
- Humidity
- 74%
- Cloud cover
- 61%
- Daylight
- ~9 h 05 min
- Comfort score
- 50/100 · Fair
What January feels like
Highs only reach about 32°F (0°C), so plan short stints outside between indoor stops.
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 14°F (-10°C), so expect frost and ice.
Precipitation is light, about 0.5 in (13 mm) of rain or snow, and since the average temperature is below freezing, what does fall may well be snow.
Only about 9 h 05 min of daylight means early sunsets.
Plan around January
January is one of the lower-scoring months here; the best are June – September.
- Comfort holds steady from December (49 → 50/100).
- Our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route recommends May – Sep, so January falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for January
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 14°F
- Shoes with gripfrost and ice are possible
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Black Hills in January
Cold days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Naughti Wines
Hill City tasting room on Hwy 385 pouring its own wines plus Sick-N-Twisted beers, with a patio and firepit.
Why now A warm sit-down stop when highs sit around 32°F.
State Game Lodge
1920s lodge, the former Summer White House, serving buffalo and pheasant dishes.
Why now Somewhere to warm up between colder walks.
Purple Pie Place
Purple-painted pie shop in Custer known for rhubarb and berry pies.
Why now A cozy break on a 32°F day.
Crazy Horse Memorial
Ongoing mountain carving honoring the Lakota leader, with the Indian Museum of North America.
Why now An indoor-leaning stop when highs sit around 32°F.
Sylvan Lake
Granite-ringed lake with an easy 1-mile shoreline loop and boulder scrambles.
Nearby in January
- Badlands National Park in January~64 mi · highs 37°F, 0.3 in rain or snow · 3°C (5°F) warmer by day, about as wet
- Medora in January~217 mi · highs 29°F, 0.4 in rain or snow · 1°C (2°F) cooler by day, about as wet
- Rocky Mountain NP in January~259 mi · highs 24°F, 1.3 in rain or snow · 4°C (7°F) cooler by day, wetter
- Denver in January~287 mi · highs 45°F, 0.7 in rain or snow · 8°C (14°F) warmer by day, about as wet
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid. Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Black Hills in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Black Hills?
It's one of the tougher months here, scoring 50/100, held back mainly by cool days. The best months are June – September. Expect highs of 32°F (0°C) and 0.5 in (13 mm) of rain or snow. Our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route recommends May – Sep, so January is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Black Hills in January?
Average highs are 32°F (0°C) and average lows 14°F (-10°C), making it the 2nd-coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Black Hills in January?
Not much: about 0.5 in (13 mm) of rain or snow falls across January on average, the driest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 19.2 in (487 mm).
What should I pack for Black Hills in January?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 14°F), shoes with grip (frost and ice are possible) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
More on Black Hills
Planning Black Hills in January?
Share this January plan with your group, poll everyone on dates and keep the packing list in one place.