Welcome to Yak Ridge!

Check-in:

Your reservation begins at 4pm and you are welcome to check-in any time on or after 4PM Mountain Time. In order to give our cleaning crews plenty of time to thoroughly, clean, sanitize, and prepare your cabin, we are unable to offer early check-ins nor can we accommodate early arrivals on the property.

We may not be on site or be immediately available by phone to provide directions or assist you with your key code. Please be sure to bring directions, your key code, and instructions with you.

Our goal is to provide you with a 5-star stay. Please let us know as soon as possible after you arrive if there is anything that is not as you expected. When you arrive, please inspect the cabin and contact Todd or Cathy to report any issues (damage, towel supply, etc.) as soon as possible after your arrival. If any issues arise during your stay, please inform us promptly so we can rectify them.  We also ask that you inform us of any accidents, damage, or breakage that occurs so we can act promptly to ensure we can be ready for our next guests.

Key Code:

Your code will be emailed to you about a week prior to your arrival. It will be operational beginning at 4pm Mountain Time on the day of your scheduled arrival through 10am on the day of your scheduled departure.

To operate the electronic key code on the door, enter your four-digit code and the deadbolt will unlock.  To lock the door when you leave the property, tightly pull the door closed press the lock image in the lower right-hand corner of the keypad. You will hear the lock system engage. Check the door to ensure the lock has engaged.

Check-Out Procedures:

Please complete your check-out procedures by 10 am on the day of your departure:

Terms and Conditions for Payments and Cancellations:

Refunds for cancellations 30 or more days before your check-in date will be equal to the amount of your deposit less one night’s stay. Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to check-in are not eligible for a refund. Yak Ridge will not be held responsible and will not issue a refund for any reservations that are cancelled, prevented, restricted or interfered with by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation, earthquake, fire, flood, Act of God, hurricane, storms, wars, civil or military disturbances, environmental hazards, or any other cause whatsoever beyond the reasonable control of Yak Ridge. Travel Insurance can be a solution to help mitigate the risk for some of these issues. Yak Ridge recommends you investigate options for purchasing travel insurance to cover the cost of your reservation (and any other expenses associated with your travels) in the event you need to cancel or encounter unforeseen circumstances that prevent you from completing your reservation.

Following are links regarding Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance that you may find helpful as you make your travel plans.
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/travel-insurance/best-cancel-for-any-reason-travel-insurance/
https://www.travelguard.com/travel-insurance/benefits/cancel-for-any-reason

Guests assume financially responsibility for charges to repair any damages made to the cabin and/or property.

Contacting Us:

We pride ourselves in being responsive to our guests.  You can reach us:
Phone (and text) (605) 972-2246
Email GuestServices@yakridge.com

Safety, Emergency, and Evacuation Information:

You will also find a laminated copy of this Emergency information posted on your cabin refrigerator. Please familiarize yourself with the information in advance of your stay so that, in the event of an emergency you are better prepared.

Yak Ridge Cabins

24041 Cosmos Road / Rapid City, SD 57702

Introduction

Although it may not be obvious when entering Yak Ridge, the most important feature of any guest accommodation is safety. It could save your life. Safety comes in all shapes and sizes: smoke detectors; fire extinguishers; escape routes; carefully maintained heating and electrical systems; and knowing what to do and where to go in the case of fire, flood, earthquake, or other disasters. The key to being prepared in the event of a disaster or sudden emergency is preplanning.

Directions:

Yak Ridge Cabins are located at 24041 Cosmos Road.

From the East on Interstate 90 (25 minutes / 21.85 miles)

• Take Exit 61 toward US-16/SD-79S toward Mt Rushmore/Crazy Horse.
• Keep left at the fork in the ramp. 0.1 mile
• Turn slightly left onto Elk Vale Rd. 5.5 miles
• Elk Vale Rd becomes Catron Blvd / US-16B W. 3.4 miles
• Turn left/South onto S Highway 16/US-16 W. 12.4 miles
• Turn left/East onto Cosmos Rd (mostly gravel road) 0.6 miles
• Once you have reached Cosmos Road:
  • Drive 0.6 miles
  • When you reach the Cosmos Mystery Area parking area, stay to the right) and drive an additional 0.1 mile
  • Take your first right (look for the sign for Yak Ridge on your right) 0.1 mile
  • Look for signs on the left which indicate where to turn for your cabin.

From the West on Interstate 90 (25 minutes / 18.7 miles)

• Take the I-190 exit, EXIT 57, toward US-16 W/Mt Rushmore. 0.3 miles
• Merge onto US-16 E/SD-79 S. 1.2 miles
• Take Omaha St/US-16 E/SD-44 toward US-16 W/Mount Rushmore 0.2 miles
• Turn right onto Mount Rushmore Rd/US-16 W. Continue to follow US-16 W. 17.3 miles
• Turn left/East onto Cosmos Rd (mostly gravel road) 0.6 miles
• Once you have reached Cosmos Road:
  • Drive 0.6 miles
  • When you reach the Cosmos Mystery Area parking area, stay to the right and drive an additional 0.1 mile
  • Take your first right (look for the sign for Yak Ridge on your right) 0.1 mile
  • Look for signs on the left which indicate where to turn for your cabin.

From the South / Custer (30 minutes/24.5 miles)

• US-16 E/US-385 N toward Crook St. Continue to follow US-16 E. 23.9 miles
• Turn right onto Cosmos Rd (mostly gravel road)
• Once you have reached Cosmos Road:
  • Drive 0.6 miles
  • When you reach the Cosmos Mystery Area parking area, stay to the right and drive an additional 0.1 mile
  • Take your first right (look for the sign for Yak Ridge on your right) 0.1 mile
  • Look for signs on the left which indicate where to turn for your cabin.

From Rapid City Regional Airport (30 minutes / 26.3 miles)

• Follow the exit signs from the airport terminal. 0.3 miles
• Turn right onto E Highway 44/SD-44. 5.5 miles
• Merge onto US-16B W via the ramp on the left. 6.3 miles
• Turn left onto S Highway 16/US-16 W. 12.4 miles
• Turn left onto Cosmos Rd (mostly gravel road)
• Once you have reached Cosmos Road:
  • Drive 0.6 miles
  • When you reach the Cosmos Mystery Area parking area, stay to the right and drive an additional 0.1 mile
  • Take your first right (look for the sign for Yak Ridge on your right) 0.1 mile
  • Look for signs on the left which indicate where to turn for your cabin.

Bathroom Amenities:

Turkish towels, bathmats, spa bathrobes, a hair dryer, liquid hand soap, air freshener spray, and bathroom amenity kits (conditioning shampoo, lotion, bath soap, tissues, vanity kit/sewing kit, and lip balm) and of course, toilet paper are provided.

If you plan to swim in local lakes or pools, bring your own beach towels.

Books, Games, Playing Cards, and DVDs:

A small library of books including children’s and local books are available. An assortment of classic board games for guests of all ages and playing cards are located in each cabin.
Cabin 1 – in the television / entertainment center
Cabin 2 – in the bookcase below the television
Cabin 3 – in the fireplace cubbies and the end table to the left of the fireplace
Cabin 4 – in the bookcase near the dining table

Campfires and Firewood:

Each cabin is equipped with its own private campfire ring. Important Campfire information
During ‘Red Flag’ and other dangerous conditions (typically extreme drought and/or high winds) authorities may place bans on campfires. You can monitor current conditions for Yak Ridge on-line at https://www.weather.gov/unr/fire by clicking on 324 on the map.

If there are no ‘Red Flag’ warnings, nor other designation for no campfires, and you opt to have a campfire during your stay, it is important to use extreme caution and fully extinguish your fire. A yard hydrant and water bucket are available for your use. Federal, State, and County authorities may issue fines beginning at $500 for fires left unattended (flames and/or smoke) or when bans on campfires have been issued. You are responsible for all damage caused by your campfire, even if wind caused the fire to spread. You could be deemed responsible for the cost of firefighters extinguishing the fire if you were negligent in preventing the fire. You may also face civil and criminal penalties. Fines may also be issued if your campfire escapes the campfire ring. Please be sure to burn only logs that are smaller than your campfire ring. Do not burn trash. Do not use accelerants such as lighter fluid. Remember the words of Smoky Bear “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.”

Campfire forks and pie makers are located in the drawer under the oven

Firewood: Self-service firewood is available for $5 per bundle at the firewood stand near the cabin loop drive. You can leave cash or a check in the cash box at the stand. The firewood bundles include newspaper for starting your campfire. Matches are provided in your cabin.

All campfires must be fully extinguished by 10PM per Pennington County ordinance.

Cell Phone Coverage:

There are two cell towers (Verizon and ATT) on properties adjacent to Yak Ridge, so you can expect to have cell coverage and internet access with your smartphone, mobile device, and/or hotspot through those providers and their partners.

Cooking and Kitchen:

The kitchen appliances in each cabin include standard electric range, refrigerator, microwave, toaster and is well equipped with cookware and tableware.

A few refrigerator cooling facts:

• Placing a large quantity of room temperature or warm items in an empty refrigerator, will require approximately 12 hours or more to cool them.
• If you plan to place a large quantity of beverages in the refrigerator, it is best to purchase them already cold.
• Keeping the doors closed as much as possible during the first few hours is helpful.
• Cool your perishable items first and leave items that do not need to be immediately cooled out or use a cooler with ice.
• Keep the cool setting on MEDIUM at all times for optimal cooling. Increasing the cooling to the maximum setting may initiate the defrost cycle, further increasing the time it takes to cool.

A propane grill is available on your covered porch.  You are responsible to clean the grill after each use.
Additional self-serve propane tanks are available in the mini house near the firewood stand.  Please leave empty propane containers outside the mini house.

Cooking and Serving Items:

Kitchen Linens:

Paper and Cleaning Products:

Pantry Supplies:

(enough to get you started, more can be purchased at area stores)

Events and Parties:

No parties or events are permitted at Yak Ridge.

Food and Dining Out:

Visit the Yak Ridge website for a list of some of our favorite dining options in the Black Hills. 

https://yakridge.com/things-to-do/food-dining/

Groceries:

We recommend Krull’s Market in Hill City, approximately 10 minutes from Yak Ridge. Krull’s is a local grocery with good prices, often lower than the major chains, and very clean. They have a nice meat counter, local produce, some organics, beer, wine, liquor, and friendly service. They also offer delivery in the off season. Their services also include: Carryout to your Car, Photo Copies, Fax Machine, ATM, and U.S. Postage There are several major chain options in Rapid City.

The Pack Mule in Hill City, is a small upscale grocer with a focus on quality produce, fresh seafood, meats, artisan cheeses, freshly baked breads, and other gourmet food items and provisions at lower prices than a Whole Foods and with an assortment of local and regional products. The Pack Mule also has a wide select of beer, wine, and spirits.  They also have a bar and patio where you can beer, wine, and charcuterie plates.  They are open 7 days a week year round.

The Keystone Country Store (convenience) is open year-round and also offers gasoline.

The Black Hill Farmer’s Market has weekly markets in Rapid City,  Saturdays Market Park, 245 E. Omaha St, during the summer and fall and Wednesdays during July and August.

Housekeeping Services:

We do NOT offer daily housekeeping services, if you wish to exchange linens during your stay, simply contact Julie to make arrangements.

Laundry:

Laundry facilities are available in Hill City and Keystone.  We recommend the Heart of the West Conoco Convenience Store and Laundromat which is in Hill City, adjacent to the Mickelson Trail.

Linens:

The cabins are furnished with bed, bath, and kitchen linens.

Bath Linens:

• Bath towels
• Wash cloths
• Hand towels
• Spa bathrobes
• Slippers

Bedroom Linens:

• Cotton sheets
• Cotton blankets
• Cotton quilts
• Cotton throws
• Cotton pillowcases and pillows (hypoallergenic firm and soft)
• All beds are covered with encasements and mattress pads

Sleeper Sofa Linens:

• Sheets
• Blankets
• Pillows for the sleeper sofa are available in each cabin
  Cabin 1 – in the living/dining area in the end table cabinet area
  Cabin 2 – in the upper closet cabinet left of the kitchen sink
  Cabin 3 – in the living/dining area in the end table cabinet area
  Cabin 4 – in the closet left of the entrance on the upper shelves

Kitchen Linens:

• Potholders
• Dishcloths
• Dish towels

We do NOT offer daily housekeeping services, if you wish to exchange linens during your stay, simply contact Julie to make arrangements.

Parking:

Parking is located adjacent to each cabin and marked with signage. Please park in your designated location. Each cabin has two parking spaces for standard vehicles or one vehicle and a small trailer.  If your vehicles and/or trailer requires additional parking space, contact Todd or Cathy in advance of your arrival regarding parking options and locations.

Propane:

Additional self-serve propane tanks are available in the mini house near the firewood stand.  Please leave empty propane containers outside the mini house.

Pets/Animal Policy:

Although we love animals, pets/guest animals are NOT permitted at Yak Ridge at any time for the safety of  your animals, other guests, local wildlife, our cleaning crew, and for minimizing allergens for future guests.  The only exception is for bona fide service dogs which must meet ADA requirements. Guests with disabilities recognized through ADA who wish to bring a service animal to Yak Ridge must complete a Guest Service Animal Registration Application at the time of booking. Reservations for guests that violate our Pet/Animal policy, or for guests who misrepresent a pet or emotional support animal as a service animal, will be cancelled, without refund (including any unused nights), and guests will be charged a minimum of a $500 penalty/cleaning fee.

Contact Todd or Cathy for additional information and to obtain Yak Ridge Guest Service Animal Registration Application if you have a bona fide service animal which meets ADA requirements that you wish to bring on your travels.

Quiet Hours:

County regulations designate quiet hours are designated from 10pm to 8am.  All campfires must be fully extinguished by 10PM per Pennington County ordinance.

Reviews:

We appreciate on-line reviews! Following your stay, we would be grateful if you would take a few minutes to share what you enjoyed about your stay at Yak Ridge on Facebook, Google, TripAdvisor VRBO/Expedia, or on any review sites you prefer.

Road conditions:

Whether you are traveling during the height of the summer season or during the winter it is important to be prepared for roads conditions. SD Department of Transportation and 511 South Dakota provide a great on-line resource for road conditions throughout the year. https://www.sd511.org/

You can review both road construction/repairs as well as road conditions impacted by weather. Cameras views are updated several times per hour. The Keystone WYE camera located near the intersection of 16 and 16A is within a mile of Yak Ridge.

Although it is rare that AWD or 4WD is required to reach your cabin, having an AWD or 4WD vehicle during travel when snow is common can allow better access to areas throughout the Black Hills. In addition, it can provide peace of mind in the event of inclement weather.

Smoking:

As a reminder, Yak Ridge is a smoke-free property. No smoking (including vaping) of any kind is permitted at any time in the cabins or anywhere on the property. Reservations for guests that violate our No Smoking policy will be cancelled, without refund (including any unused nights), and guests will be charged a minimum of a $500 penalty/cleaning fee.

Swimming:

Local lakes, pools, and even natural hot springs provide a variety of options to swim in the Black Hills. If you plan to swim in local lakes or pools, please bring your own beach towels.

Things to Do:

There are literally hundreds of attractions, parks, monuments, scenic byways, hiking trails, special events, outdoor adventures, and other activities to enjoy during your stay. Visit the Yak Ridge website for a sample of things to do https://yakridge.com/things-to-do/.

Trash and Recyclables:

Tightly tie your trash and recyclables in bags and place them in the corresponding trash / recycling barrels located near the firewood stand. The large green container is for your recyclables. The others are for your trash.

TV:

Each cabin is equipped with a flat screen television with an integrated DVD player, DirecTV Satellite service, and a small selection of DVDs.

The DirecTV remote control is the only one you should need to use to watch television.

Important Notes:

• Our satellite television offerings do NOT include Pay-per-view, on demand, and DVR/pause/recording.
• In cases of severe weather conditions, your signal may be interrupted.

TV Troubleshooting

The most common reason for being unable to access television service is that the television is set to the wrong “source” or “input”. If the television indicates that there is no signal, your first step is to check that the correct source is selected. Use the remote for the television, NOT the DirecTV remote. Look for the “source” or “input” button and push this button to access the menu of different inputs (HDMI1, HDMI2, DVD, etc. to determine which one has the video signal coming from satellite. You will need to pause on each input for a few seconds to allow the video signal to appear. 

The correct option should be one of the HDMI options (unless you wish to play a DVD) and the most common is HDMI1.

You can also use the buttons along the side of the TV instead of the remote.

If the above troubleshooting options do not solve the issue, you might also try the following:

• Ensure that both the television and the DirecTV receiver are plugged in and powered on. Occasionally we have parents unplug these devices as a way to literally ‘unplug’ and tell their children the devices ‘don’t work’ 😊
• Turn the TV and the DirecTV receive off and back on.
• Unplug the DirecTV receiver’s power cord, wait 15 seconds, and plug it back in again.
• Check all the connections are fully connected, including the cable from the wall into the DirecTV box, and from the DirecTV box into the TV.
• In the event of severe weather conditions, the DirecTV signal may be interrupted.
• If your remote has a toggle switch near the top, be sure it is positioned all the way to the left.

Additional information regarding troubleshooting is provided alongside your remotes.

Information is also available on the DIRECTV website https://www.att.com/support/article/directv/KM1049381/

If none of the steps above resolve your issues and there are no severe weather conditions, get outside and enjoy all the Black Hills has to offer 😊 or contact us and we will do our best to help or arrange for a service technician, if needed.

Weather:

For weather information, we recommend watching the forecasts for Keystone which best predict the weather for Yak Ridge.

Brief afternoon rain showers are common in the Black Hills during the summer, so please be sure all windows are closed when you are away from your cabin. Our elevation is approximately 5000 feet and you can expect cool evenings. For your comfort, our cabins offer both heating and air conditioning.

During months when snow is possible, a snow shovel will be available near the main entrance to your cabin.

What to bring:

Your cabin is well equipped and there are just a few things we recommend you bring for your stay.

• Clothing and footwear – Check weather forecast to determine what is most appropriate for your stay.
  • During the summer season we recommend a sweater or jacket, rain jacket or umbrella for afternoon rain showers.
  • During the winter heavy coats, gloves, hats, boots, etc. are recommended.
• Food – see ‘Cooking and Kitchen’ section for details on what is provided in your cabin
• Cell phones and chargers
• Beach Towels if you plan to swim in area pools, lakes, or hot springs.

Where things are in your cabin:

Following is a list of items and where they are located in the cabins.

Bath Amenities: Liquid hand soap, air freshener spray, and bathroom amenity kits with conditioning shampoo, lotion, bath soap, tissues, vanity kit/sewing kit, and lip balm are located in each bathroom.

Broom and Dustpan: In the kitchen

Campfire Forks and Pie Makers: in the oven drawer.

Fire extinguisher: in the kitchen. Contact us immediately if you used the extinguisher for any reason so that we can replace it with a full extinguisher.

Fireplaces: Cabins 3 and 4 have electric fireplaces with multiple temperature and flame settings. Remote control manual for operation instructions.

First Aid Kit: First aid kits are provided in each cabin

Cabins 1, 3 and 4 – Primary bedroom closet

Cabin 2 – upper cabinet left of the kitchen sink.

If supplies are low, please let us know.

Games and Playing Cards:

An assortment of classic board games for guests of all ages and playing cards are located in each cabin.
Cabin 1 – in the television / entertainment center
Cabin 2 – in the bookcase below the television
Cabin 3 – in the fireplace cubbies and the end table to the left of the fireplace
Cabin 4 – in the bookcase near the dining table

Guestbook: Dining table. Guest books from previous years are with the other books in the cabin.

Hairdryers:
Cabins 1 and 3 – Hanging in the bathroom

Cabin 2 – under the sink in the bathroom

Cabin 4 – hanging the closet to the left of the entrance door.

Heating and Cooling: each sleeping area, living/dining area, and bathroom have individually controlled thermostats. 

There are also ceiling fans in all sleeping areas.

Window A/C units are also located in the living/dining area of the kitchen during warmer months.

Please help us conserve energy and turn your thermostats down when you leave or turn off the A/C unit.

Paper towels: In the paper towel holder near the sink. One roll of paper towels are provided with each reservations.

Plunger:

Cabins 1 and 3 – in the queen bedroom closet near the water heater

Cabins 2 – in the lower cabinet left of the kitchen sink next to the water heater

Cabin 4 – in the closet, near the second bedroom, next to the water heater

Sleeper Sofa Linens:

• Sheets
• Blankets
• Pillows for the sleeper sofa are available in each cabin
  Cabin 1 – in the living/dining area in the end table cabinet area
  Cabin 2 – in the upper closet cabinet left of the kitchen sink
  Cabin 3 – in the living/dining area in the end table cabinet area
  Cabin 4 – in the closet left of the entrance on the upper shelves

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: located in all sleeping areas. They are hardwired and equipped with 10-year batteries and are tested regularly. In the event that you hear an alarm please exit the cabin immediately (unless triggered by burnt popcorn, etc.). If you see fire or smoke call 911. Then contact Todd or Cathy.

Toilet paper: In each bathroom

Towels: in each bathroom.

Trash / recycling bags: Beneath kitchen sink

Wi-Fi:

Each cabin has its own Verizon Wi-Fi network.

Your cabin Wi-Fi network: yakridge(your cabin#)

Your cabin Wi-Fi password: Hugh0808

There are also restaurants and coffee shops in Hill City and other area communities that offer Wi-Fi. We have provided unlimited high-speed WiFi. However, high speed in the Black Hills may be different than where you live. The WiFi is cellular and speeds may be impacted by weather conditions. The service is provided for your enjoyment but you are responsible for safe and appropriate use and complying with all laws.

Troubleshooting WiFi:

Router not on: Make sure the router is plugged in and the green light is on. If the green light is not on, unplug and plug it in again and wait a couple of minutes for the green light to turn on.

Network not visible: If the network is not visible, utilize either the 2.4G or 5G default network and key/password printed on the bottom of the router by entering the network name and then key/password into the WiFi settings on your device.

Stay at Yak Ridge again!

We would love to have you stay again!

Book direct on our website or by phone for the best rates. Yak Ridge is open year-round!