Custer State Park

Custer State Park is just beautiful, with plenty to keep you occupied.

This is a State Park, so you will need to get an entry pass. As of summer 2005, a pass good for 1-7 days was $5/person or $12/vehicle, and an annual pass was $20. We knew we would be spending at least two days in Custer State Park, or one of the other state parks, so we opted for the annual pass.

The park is well worth visiting. Here are some highlights:

• The three scenic routes in the park itself are Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road and the Wildlife Loop. Get a park map and stop at the scenic points along the way. Also drive the Peter Norbeck Scenic Road into the park - with it's pigtail bridges and three places where you get a clever view of Mount Rushmore as you come through one of the route's narrow tunnels.

• Travel in an RV is not possible in some places in Custer State Park. If you plan to stay in a campground within the park itself, check out the best route to get there. Area maps and brochures show the details on low clearance, narrow tunnels that are too small for most RVs.

  For touring around the park roads, you will probably enjoy a more relaxing ride if you are in a smaller tow vehicle or small RV. Plus you will have greater flexibility to pull into the scenic Black Hills overlooks and sights. Needles Highway in particular has some hairpin turns and very windy roads.

  

• Do at least some of your touring in the early morning or at twilight for best wildlife viewing. We saw plenty of bison, deer, turkeys and pronghorn. And there are about 30 burros who live in Custer State Park...you are very likely to see them along your drive, probably causing you to stop as they meander alongside and on the roadway.

  If you want to bike these roads, be mindful that the bison can be dangerous (they can run at speeds of 35 mph). One morning while we were driving, we came across a group of cyclists who had stopped because there was a herd of bison ahead, on either side of the road. The cyclists were hesitant to proceed because there were baby bison among the group. They asked if we would go slowly so they could tag along cycling close behind us, hopefully giving the appearance of one long vehicle. It worked... but at least for us, it confirmed our reluctance to be out on a bicycle on roads where bison are to be found. If you are braver than us, go for it! And motorcyclists delight in these Black Hills roads.

  
• See the lakes. Sylvan Lake is beautiful - walk around it, picnic, swim, fish or rent a boat. Stockade Lake is a larger lake with swimming, fishing, a boat launch and picnic areas.

  Center Lake has a small beach, fishing access and allows non-wake boating. Legion lake is another option, located near the Legion lake Resort and not far from the Badger cabin.

• Outdoor activities in Custer State Park run the gamut. There are numerous hiking trails in varying degrees of difficulty. There are places to fish, horseback ride, swim, boat and picnic.

• The park has about 7 campgrounds plus a Horse Camp, interpretive programs and general stores with apparel, snacks and gifts. There are four resorts (Blue Bell, State Game Lodge, Legion Lake and Sylvan Lake). Blue Bell Lodge offers a chuck wagon and Blue Bell Stables has horseback trail rides.

• Fishing is allowed anywhere in Custer State Park, a valid South Dakota fishing license is required. Be sure to pick up the helpful Fishing Guides in a SD Visitor Center or in the park. The Game Lodge has a fly fishing school and fly fishing trips. Or you can take part in the free park program to try fishing with park provided gear.

• A few interesting rock formations to note are the Needle and the Cathedral Spires on Needles Highway. You can also visit the hand-built cabin of the state's first poet laureate, Charles Badger Clark.

• In the fall, a major event held in Custer State Park is the Buffalo Roundup. This annual event attracts thousands who come to see the park staff and horseback riders round up the park's 1,500 bison. The roundup and auction serve to keep the herd size at appropriate levels.

  The Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival kicks off the weekend, with entertainment, family activities, food and artisans and crafters. There is an associated Chili Cook-off sponsored by the Custer Chamber of Commerce. In 2005, the Roundup weekend is being held from Oct 1- 3, 2005.

Beyond Custer State Park, visit other places in the Black Hills

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