Custer State Park

Located in the southeastern section of the Black Hills sits Custer State Park, South Dakota’s first and largest State Park covering 71,000 acres.  Peter Norbeck is credited with creating the park along with designing and constructing the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road, two of three scenic drives in this park.  His vision and his record, as Governor and US Senator of South Dakota, makes him one of our nation’s greatest leaders in conservation.    

Named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer, the park is known as the best place in North America to view wildlife.  The main attraction is Tatanka, the Lakota word for Big Beast.  We know them as buffalo or bison!  The park manages a herd of approximately 1,400 buffalo which roam freely throughout the park.  Do not be surprised to find one in your campground if staying on the eastern side of the park.  This is not the only wildlife you will see in the park.  During our stay, we encountered elk, coyotes, pronghorn, deer, prairie dogs, and the other park favorite, the begging burros.  But that’s not all, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and mountain lions are also located in and around this park.     

Before you begin exploring this state park, stop at the visitor center located at the eastern entrance and watch the 20-minute movie titled “Spirit of the Tatanka” for an overview of the park.

ENTRANCE FEE

A Temporary Entrance License of $20/vehicle is required and is good for up to 7 consecutive days.  An annual park license is $36.  If you are staying at one of the park campgrounds or lodges, you will be required to have an entrance license in addition to the campground/resort fee.  Licenses can be purchased online, at the entrance gate, or self-serve kiosks!  The park is open year-round.  However, not all services are available during the winter months.

WHERE TO STAY

The park has eight campgrounds that can accommodate RVs of all sizes plus tents, and four offer camping cabins.  The campgrounds are spread throughout the park so keep this in mind should you want to focus your stay in one specific area.

We stayed at Stockade Lake South Campground as this location is conveniently located to the town of Custer, which provides easy access to restaurants, a grocery store,  and gas stations.  We did drive through Grace Coolidge campground and admired several of their creekside campsites.

There are many campground options located outside of Custer State Park and to the north near Mount Rushmore.

If camping is not your thing, there are four lodges in the park.  Presidents Coolidge and Eisenhower once stayed at State Game Lodge, putting this property on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Scenic Drives

Needles Highway (SD Hwy 87 North) – This highway is 14-miles long and the location of the granite cathedral spires.  It will take you 60 minutes to complete this drive as the posted speed limit is 35 miles/hr.  The landmark Needle’s Eye Tunnel is along this route, a popular destination for everyone visiting this park.  The tunnel measures 8’ wide x 9’9″ high, the narrowest of three tunnels along this route! Do not bring your RV on this route.

Iron Mountain Road – This road is 17 miles long and connects Custer State Park to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.  The road is designed to enjoy the scenery so give yourself at least 60 minutes to complete it.  Three tunnels are along this winding route, the narrowest of these is 10’9” wide x 11’ high.  The highlight of this drive is the Doane Robinson tunnel which provides a view of Mount Rushmore in the distance as you pass through it.  In addition, the famous pigtail bridges, designed to drop in altitude quickly, are along this route.  

Wildlife Loop Road – Only 18 miles long but due to the wildlife along this route, give yourself 1.5 hours to complete this loop.  During this drive, you will encounter the park’s main attraction, over 1,400 free-roaming buffalo!  You will also encounter prairie dogs and the park’s feral burros who are looking for a free meal as you drive by. 

HIKES

We tried to hit as many of the hikes as possible, which are provided below.  We did not complete two of the more popular hikes, Sunday Gulch and Black Elk Peak.  Sunday Gulch was closed due to snow and ice on the trail, and our legs just did not have enough in them to do Black Elk Peak, a strenuous 6.5-mile out and back trail. 

Badger Clark Trail – Named after South Dakota’s first poet laureate, this is an easy 0.8-mile loop trail with a climb as you make your way through a dense pine forest.  The trail is located behind Badger Clark’s former house which he built.  You can tour Badger’s house which was purchased by the State of South Dakota and remains as he left it upon his death in 1957.

Cairn Trail – A 0.3-mile loop trail located behind the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center, this is a moderate trail due to the healthy 164 feet climb to the top before heading down.  At the top you have views of the Black Hills on one side and Grace Coolidge Lodge and Highway 16A on the other.  It is worth the climb!

Legion Lake Trail – An easy 0.7-mile loop trail around Legion Lake provides views of the lake and Legion Lake Lodge.  This is a great hike for families with children.  When finished, stop at the Lodge for lunch on the outdoor deck or grab a snack in the store.  

Sylvan Lake Shore Trail – An easy 1-mile hike around Sylvan Lake.  Granite rocks line one side of the shore making this a picturesque hike.  Take advantage of the additional hikes from this location:  Sunday Gulch Trail, Black Elk Peak, and Little Devils Tower.

Lovers Leap Trail – A moderate 4-mile loop trail with a rather steep climb of 626 feet, this trail will get your heart pumping!  Get the climb over quickly by going clockwise.  Views of past forest fires are evident during the ascent.  White birch trees line Galena Creek, which you will cross over on several plank bridges.  Keep an eye out for poison ivy. 

Stockade Lake Trail – A moderate 1.5-mile loop trail as you climb 419 feet to the top before making your way down.  Views of Stockade Lake, the granite Needles to the north, and wildflowers in the spring made this one of my favorite hikes in the park. 

Little Devils Tower – A strenuous 3.0-mile hike with a steep rock scramble to the top but the views are stunning!  If you have the stamina this should be on your list!  We started this hike at Sylvan Lake.  Trail #4 will take you to Little Devils Tower.  If you wish, you can continue on this trail to the Cathedral Spires trail, which we did and hiked approximately 0.6-miles of this trail before turning back.

From the cathedral spires to the ponderosa pine forests, the rolling hills and pristine lakes, Custer State Park is an outdoor paradise with something for everyone.  The park management has done an excellent job keeping the park current while focusing on the visitors experience!

If you chose to visit Custer State Park consider visiting several nearby attractions (drive times):

Wind Cave National Park – approximately 30 minutes
Mt Rushmore – approximately 60 minutes
Crazy Horse Memorial – approximately 45 minutes
Badlands National Park – approximately 1.5 hours
Devils Tower National Monument
Deadwood – approximately 1.5 hours