Red Canyon Ranch in South Dakota

We stayed at Red Canyon Ranch for our honeymoon, and honestly, it exceeded all our expectations. If you’re thinking about visiting, here’s our review, with everything you should know – the good stuff, the practical stuff, and all those little surprises that will make your stay special.

The Cabin and Everything In It

You go inside, and the cabin just has everything you need. It is stunning. Here’s what you’ll find:

• Beautiful kitchen with all the essentials
• Three beds, including this fun loft area – we kind of felt like kids going up the ladder
• Hot tub outside overlooking the canyon and ‘underlooking’ the stars
• TV with Netflix
• Bose speaker with Bluetooth you can listen to music on
• Laundry machine and dishwasher
• Grill outside
• Lori (she’s the one you’ll communicate with) even sets up the fireplace with kindling and logs ready for your first fire
• The windows are big, so you can see everything outside

Two Really Special Things About This Place

1. Here’s something magical – you can actually get Thai food delivered to your door. There’s a caterer that lives about a mile from the cabin, and all you have to do is just text her. She’s very responsive. Order your food about 24 hours in advance, and she’ll come knocking at your door with fresh Thai food. It was some of the best we’ve had – I had the Pad Thai, my wife had the curry, and we had spring rolls. It was really unique, different from other Thai restaurants where we live.
2. When you look up, you can see the stars very clearly. What’s surprising is that you can actually see the Milky Way in the sky – that was a highlight. There’s definitely no light pollution out there.

Getting There

So the first thing to know about Red Canyon Ranch is the drive. You head down this dirt and gravel road, past wide open landscapes and farms. We saw cows, cats, turkeys, and a lot of deer, which was nice. Yes, it is quite long, and some of the reviews online talk about it almost like a problem. But honestly, after you do it a few times, you get used to it.

You actually start to enjoy the views on the way in and out, so we didn’t find it to be too much of a problem. In fact, the image above was taken on our way back to the cabin one night. What’s not to love?

Important Things to Know

• It is quite remote out there, so you might feel better if you bring some sort of protection. I know I had a camping axe and a knife, and that felt a little better. And if you’re into firearms and are comfortable using them and able to travel with them, you might want to consider that as well.
• One of the bedrooms does get a little smoky when you have a fire, so keep that in mind.
• You’ll be working with Lori to set up your rental – she’s great and makes sure everything is ready for you. Super responsive, too.

Our Experience

Our first night, we drove up, and it was a little spooky being out there at night. It is quite remote – there’s not really any sound. But you get used to it quickly and start to love how peaceful it is.

One morning, we woke up and had some deer friends outside who were eating some of the plant life. We stayed up in the loft and looked out the window. A little rabbit friend even joined them. It was something straight out of a Disney movie, to sit there in the morning peacefully watching deer right in front of us have breakfast.

The hot tub was amazing – we used it during the day, which was great, overlooking the canyon. But we also did it at night, which was fun because it was cold outside, so the warm water felt amazing. We could look up at the stars, and there was steam coming off the water. It’s bliss.

About the Price

It was about $350 per night when we booked, which was early November 2024. To think of the times I used to travel for work and stay in Holiday Inns for $330 a night… this place was very reasonably priced in my opinion. You get so much for what you pay for.

Of course, at different times throughout the year, prices will vary. But the experience is so mindblowing and soul-cleansing, you won’t think about the price you paid when you’re there, believe me.

Speaking of what you get, there was so much firewood – there’s no way you could burn through it all. We were there for four nights and didn’t even make a dent in the firewood supply. There’s a huge amount of it, so plenty of warm fires can be had.

Nearby Attractions

Red Canyon Ranch is a reasonable distance away from some truly amazing places like Mount Rushmore, Jewel Cave, and Custer State Park.

Mount Rushmore was awesome. It’s the perfect 45-60 minute stop where you can stand in awe of the monument, learn about the history of it and how it was built in a really cool small museum, and honestly I’d be surprised if you weren’t filled with pride as an American. We had fun posing for pictures in front of it, and Shio even pretended she was one of the faces (looks convincing if you ask me).

Jewel Cave National Monument is a must-visit. Wow. Do the 80-minute tour, don’t do the short one. You will quite literally short-change yourself and miss out on one of the most incredible experiences in the area. Our tour guide was awesome, we went hundreds and hundreds of feet below the earth, and they even turn the lights out so you can experience total darkness.

Finally, Custer State Park. Don’t be thrown off by the ‘state park’ part – this place is actually pretty huge. We recommend doing the Wildlife Loop, especially if you’re a Yellowstone fan. We got our bison fix and then some, and one cold rainy evening we were even treated to an enormous group of elk (I think) all by ourselves.

Why We Loved It

This place was perfect for our honeymoon because:

• It truly is on the edge of a cliff and overlooks an incredibly vast canyon.
• You’ve got all the modern comforts but still feel like you’re truly away from it all.
• Thai food delivery was such an amazing surprise.
• You can see the Milky Way while sitting in a hot tub!
• The price is very reasonable for everything you get.
• It’s very peaceful and you’ll find those ‘zen’ moments you’re looking for.

Where else can you soak in a hot tub under the Milky Way, watch deer from your loft bedroom, and get amazing Thai food delivered to your door – all while feeling like you’re in your own private corner of South Dakota?

If you’re on the fence about booking this place, just do it. The pictures don’t do it justice, and all those little moments – like watching the steam rise from the hot tub at night or waking up to that stunning canyon view – they’re what make this place unforgettable.

We’re already talking about when we can go back.