It will help you plan your own perfect trip to Custer State Park. Read on! As part of the South Dakota Hwy 87 toll road, Needles Highway is a mile long National Scenic Byway that includes hairpin turns, narrow tunnels, and world-class views.
Projecting from out of the hillsides, Needles Highway is adorned with these massive, pointed rock formations found in the shape of pillars, towers, and spires.
As one of three scenic routes within Custer State Park, Needles Highway has several pull-offs that provide spectacular views and amazing photo ops of this incredibly unique landscape. If you happen to find that a particular pull-off is too busy to stop and park, travel a bit further along the road and you are sure to come across one that is less busy. Driving speed of 25mph or slower is recommended.
Interesting to know: Needles Highway was carefully planned by former South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck, who marked the entire course on foot and by horseback. Originally thought to be impossible to build, Needles Highway was completed in after years of vigorous craftsmanship and lots of dynamite!
Practical information: Needles Highway is only open April through October, as driving conditions become hazardous in the winter months. An entrance license is required of all park visitors and can be purchased at any of the five entrance stations. Once inside the park, all attractions, roadways, and trails are free.
Though the entire drive is amazing, perhaps the coolest things to experience on Needles Highway is the Needles Eye Tunnel. This questionably narrow man-made tunnel was carved out of a huge chunk of granite. Practical information: Do not attempt Needles Eye Tunnel with a large RV size restrictions that I found online are: 8 feet, 4 inches wide; 12 feet high. TIPS: Get out and explore! Spend plenty of time at the pull-offs adjacent to Needles Eye Tunnel in order to climb and crawl among the gigantic needle formations.
Getting close to granite spire provides some amazing photo opportunities and a true appreciation for their grandeur. Though the area around Needles Eye Tunnel can become quite congested, make sure not to miss this opportunity and instead, be patient with the crowds. Driving through this tunnel is something you have to do in Custer State Park!
Unlike its rocky counterpart, Wildlife Loop Road travels through open grasslands and pine-covered hills offering more serene and picturesque views.
If you are lucky enough to come across one or more of these iconic park residents, their gigantic size and laid-back demeanor will amaze you. They are deceptively fast and dangerous. If you are lucky, you might also see bighorn sheep , elk , whitetail deer , prairie dogs , coyotes , eagles , and hawks along the Wildlife Loop Road. The high possibility of these various animal sightings will surely keep you and your kids entertained and on the lookout! Custer State Park is also a dedicated wildlife reserve meaning that this habitat is set aside for wildlife and hunting is not allowed.
This event is open for the public and many wildlife enthusiasts come to Custer just to attend this yearly festival at the end of September. Practical information: For your safety, and the safety of the animals, a similar speed of 25 mph is recommended for traveling Wildlife Loop Road.
Depending on how many animals you stop to admire, expect to spend at least hours driving the Wildlife Loop Road. Depending on how many animals stop you wildlife jam!
Typically found at the southeastern tip of Wildlife Loop Road, these small donkeys frequently clutter the roadways while stopping to say hello to every slowing motorist. If you fail to roll your window down for them they will cover the glass with slobber or make funny faces in return. Though park rules prohibit feeding wildlife in the park, generations of people have chosen to do so anyway in the form of apples, carrots, crackers, and bread.
Interesting to know: Although not a native species, wild burros have roamed the expanses of Custer State Park for the past years. First used as pack animals to transport visitors to the top of Black Elk Peak, the working burros were then released into the park once these trips were discontinued.
As descendants of this herd, the burros have continued to reproduce and retain their presence ever since. This magnificent man-made lake is peacefully nestled between giant rock formations that look as if they are holding the water from spilling out.
There are a number of ways to pass your time here, so if you have more time in Custer State Park, this is the place you may want to spend more time at. Sylvan Lake has both a swimming beach and a beautiful 1-mile walking trail that encircles it.
You can rent paddle boats, kayaks, or paddle boards and spend several hours or even an entire day here. Due to its popularity, Sylvan Lake has almost every amenity imaginable from access to hiking trails, campsites, a general store, and overnight accommodations and fine dining in the historic Sylvan Lake Lodge.
Interesting to know: Although much attention is directed toward Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park is actually home to 4 incredible lakes. This 1-mile trail is the easiest and most popular hiking trail in the park.
The Sylvan Lake Shore Trail makes a complete loop around Sylvan Lake and offers beautiful scenery and breathtaking views from every vantage point. While most of this trail is relatively flat, a small portion contains steps and crosses over exposed rocks. These off-road tours depart daily from the State Game Lodge, taking you through the park in an open-air jeep where only they are allowed to go. As you search for bison, your knowledgeable guide will share all sorts of historical and educational info about the park.
As sweet and fluffy as bison may appear, please do not approach them. They are dangerous. Remain in your vehicle or stay at least yards away. After your action-packed day, sleep under the stars in Custer State Park. There are nine campgrounds tucked away in ponderosa pine forests, alongside fresh flowing streams or near a mountain lake.
Campsites accommodate RVs and tents. Or, you can relax in one-room, log-style camping cabins throughout the park.
For a primitive outdoor experience, backpackers should try French Creek Natural Area. Hike the mile nature trail that runs next to the creek and pitch your tent wherever sings to your soul. Be sure to self-register at the stations located on each end of the natural area and keep in mind that open fires are prohibited.
In fact, FoxNews. Each one offers its own unique style and amenities to suit your adventure. Center Lake, Legion Lake, Stockade Lake and Sylvan Lake offer nearly acres of crystal blue water and are home to several species of fish. Schedules are posted weekly on campground bulletin boards. There is so much to see and do in Custer State Park. Take your time. Pets are not allowed near swimming areas or in any park buildings.
Get updates on park conditions and trail closures on the official park website. In the evening, bison and deer were grazing in the fields right outside of the lodge. This lodge also has a great central location inside of Custer State Park. There are also numerous campgrounds scattered throughout the park. Several campsites have cabins.
Campsites can be reserved one year in advance. The town of Custer is located just outside of the park, on the west side. The Bavarian Inn is a beautiful property that gets rave reviews and the Rocket Motel is a nice pick if you are looking for a budget property that gets good reviews. It is located near the end of Iron Mountain Road. This town has a very touristy feel to it but it does have a nice, central location for exploring the Black Hills.
Hill City is another small town to consider. There are an unbelievable number of things to do in and around the Black Hills of South Dakota. We spent one week here and had a great time exploring this area. Here is a list of things to do. If you have any questions about things to do in Custer State Park or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below.
If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our United States Travel Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips. Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Planning quick trip through mid October….. What are the regulations in that area? I would think it is fine to drive through Custer State Park on a motorcycle.
You can check regulations on the official website. Cheers, Julie. What a great article! The pictures are absolutely stunning. Thanks for posting! More great travel information from your family! Thank you. Beginning on my detailed trip itinerary September to hit some of the same places you did on your trip. I was going to include Theodore Roosevelt NP.
It appears you did not visit there yet? Also, I was not going to include Custer State Park… i. Just a state Park???? But, you spent a lot of time there. Sound like a good tradeoff? Flying back from SLC. Thank you again! Custer is awesome…and right up there with the national parks, just on a smaller scale.
What a great road trip you have planned! We were hoping to visit Congaree in March but it was flooded…so maybe end of April after our visit to Sedona? Tim and I are really hoping to get to Congaree soon.
Really informative article, Julie! Custer State Park does have some of the most thrilling hiking trails in the country. I think you can explore almost all areas of the park in one day, though it requires a lot of driving.
If you are looking for something special to do in the area, I highly recommend an early morning hot air balloon ride that leaves from Custer town. Thank you so much for this terrific guide to Custer State Park. Write in again if you have any questions as you plan your trip. The new Tribute Wall is dedicated at the Visitor Center. You may make an honor or memorial gift to this program by completing the Tribute Wall Gift Form and returning it by mail, along with a check made out to Custer State Park, or by calling the park and providing credit card information.
Sewage is used water and wastes discharged by a visitors and collected from the drains of sinks, showers, toilets and laundry facilities and flows into sewer lines, or collection systems, from the drains in homes and businesses.
From the sewer lines, it is then transported to a sewage treatment facility. Sewers back up when sewage collection lines get clogged by items flushed down toilets and drains such as F ats, R ags O il and G rease FROG that get caught in the line and plug it up. In addition to the costly repairs, sewer back ups are messy, foul-smelling, and pose a serious public health threat.
Vehicles traveling non-stop through the park on US Hwy 16A do not need an entrance license. Open: Year-round. Between Oct. Please contact the park directly for current status.
Vault toilets usually remain open. Park Size: 71, acres. Directions: GPS can be unreliable in the area. Please refer to a map or call the park office for directions. Make reservation online or call 1.
Within our 71,acre wildlife preserve, four private historic lodges offer restaurants, guided wildlife activities, and modernized cabins or hotel rooms as part of Custer State Park Resort.
Custer State Park is excited to offer a variety of educational programs for all ages through the summer months. Discover the park your own way. Each November the park holds a buffalo auction as a tool in herd management. Custer State Park offers 9 campgrounds all with a variety of scenic sites.
0コメント