Western Horizons Hot Air Balloon rides

About this tour

When Lily from our team booked a sunrise balloon flight with Western Horizons, she got a proper sense of the Southern Black Hills spread out below—rolling ridges, forested valleys, the lot. Based near Hot Springs in South Dakota, these flights launch at first light and drift for around an hour, though you'll spend 2–3 hours total with the crew handling prep, the flight itself, and landing. The experience feels intimate rather than touristy; you're packed into a basket with a handful of others, genuinely floating, not swooping or spinning.

Highlights

• Sunrise launch catches the hills in soft, golden light
• Basket drifts silently over dense forest and open ridgelines
• Crew handles all heavy lifting during inflation and setup
• Post-flight refreshments included without extra charge
• Small group size keeps the vibe personal and unhurried
• Views stretch across South Dakota's quieter, less-visited terrain
• Landing itself becomes part of the show—gentle and grounded

What to expect

You'll arrive before dawn, which feels odd at first—the crew walks you through the balloon and basket, answers questions, and gets everything ready while it's still half-dark. Inflation happens fast. Then you're climbing in, and within minutes you're rising. The silence is the thing that hits you. No engine noise, just the occasional roar of the burner and wind passing. The Black Hills roll beneath you in a way maps can't really show: genuine terrain, not a postcard.

The hour passes without fanfare—there's no swooping or tricks, just slow, steady drifting. Lily said the ground crew follows in a vehicle to track your path, which adds a bit of theatre to the whole affair. After landing, you're back on solid ground having a cuppa and something light. It's low-key but genuinely special.

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