Custer State Park Scenic and Hiking Experience

Experience the best of Custer State Park in one day, from driving the mesmerizing Needles Highway to hiking to the summit of Black Elk Peak and exploring iconic Cathedral Spires.

Last updated: Apr 2024

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$20 per vehicle for a 7-day pass.
More than 500 Miles from you
National Star: Exceptional experiences within the country that are must-dos for adventurers
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Description

Start your adventure at the Custer State Park Visitor Center, where you can pick up maps and tips. First, traverse the Wildlife Loop Road early in the morning to spot bison, pronghorn, and other wildlife. Transition to the Needles Highway, renowned for its breathtaking granite spires and the narrow Needles Eye Tunnel. Enjoy stops at various pull-offs for photos and short explorations of the rock formations. For hiking enthusiasts, tackle the trails at Sylvan Lake or the more challenging Black Elk Peak, offering expansive views of the Black Hills. Conclude your journey with a serene drive through Iron Mountain Road, designed to provide majestic views of Mount Rushmore through its tunnels.

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7 days free, then only $2.49 a month
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Itinerary

8:00 AM: Visit the Visitor Center.
8:30 AM: Drive Wildlife Loop Road.
10:00 AM: Explore Needles Highway and Needles Eye Tunnel.
12:00 PM: Picnic lunch at Sylvan Lake.
1:00 PM: Hike around Sylvan Lake or ascend Black Elk Peak.
4:00 PM: Drive through Iron Mountain Road.
6:00 PM: Return to your accommodation or continue exploring nearby attractions.

Location

Custer State Park, South Dakota

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Packing List

Comfortable hiking shoes
Weather-appropriate clothing
Water and snacks
Binoculars for wildlife viewing
Camera

4.8 ● Google reviews

The place is so enjoyable. The wildlife loop contains animals that you might see at different times of the day. We traveled the loop 3 times at different times and saw different animals each time. Lots of pull offs to enjoy everything. Highly recommend taking picnics and enjoying sylvan lake. Sylvan lake trail does not go all the way around currently but is a must do. Needles highway is amazing. The lodge is nice because they highlight were the Buffalo are located. However If you do the loop you will see them everytime. The burros are so funny. They will come righr up to the car. Saw a coyote looking for a quick prairie dog meal during the middle of the day.

Custer is a Grasslands feature that houses a ton of wildlife plus other attractions I couldn’t see because I was too busy getting mobbed by “feral” donkeys while feeding them apples. It was awesome, very friendly creatures that you can pet and vibe with We saw a ton of other animals including bison, prong horns, bighorn sheep, turkeys, prairie dogs and many other birds Check my photos to see my favorite burro who I have named Carlos after the nice young man who helped us at O’Reilly Auto Parts.

This place is great! You can climb up on the rock formations. The views are breathtaking even from the car if you don't want to climb. You can also fish in the pond shown in the image. I saw someone pull a few nice ones out of there. The "wildlife loop" is also great. A herd of bison crossed the road 20 feet from our car. We also saw a coyote, several antelope and countless prairie dogs

Amazing scenery, great camping sites. We really enjoyed our time there. Lots of wild life to see, Buffalo, Bighorn, antelope, wild donkey, deer, and a lot of tiny critters.

Fantastic food in the restaurants. Excellent bison burgers, salads and onion rings. So many lodging options and well maintained roads. The main gift shop had a wonderful variety of items and so many cute tees and sweatshirts. Something for everyone. The buyer for the stores is doing an amazing job. Kayaks and paddles were in good shape and the life vests didn’t smell- much appreciated! I noticed the sand beach for lake swimmers is combed out each morning. Looked beautiful at the start of each morning. Loved seeing the bison, especially the babies! Donkeys were very cute too but I was surprised to see people feeding them.

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