Mount Rushmore a humid continental climate ("Dwb" in the Köppen climate classification). It is inside a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone of 5a, meaning certain plant life in the area can withstand a low temperature of no less than . The two wettest months of the year are May and June. Orographic lift causes brief but strong afternoon thunderstorms during the summer. Tourism is South Dakota's second-largest industry, and Mount Rushmore is the state's top tourist attraction. In 2012, 2,185,447 people visited the park. In the 1950s and 1960s, Sioux Benjamin Black Elk (son of medicine man Black Elk) was the "Fifth Face
Mount Pilchuck State Park Mount Pilchuck State Park Mount Pilchuck State Park is a public recreation area located east of Granite Falls, Washington, on the western edges of the Cascade Mountains. The state park features of alpine scenery, recreational activities, and Mount Pilchuck itself. The main point of interest is the trail to the peak and the old fire lookout located on the summit, above sea level. The name "Pilchuck" originated from the Native American name of "red water" for a creek in the area. The U.S. Forest Service built a fire lookout on the summit in 1918 which was staffed until the 1960s.