Talk to Your Guide: (605) 252-9100
Talk to Your Guide: (605) 252-9100
Wildlife, Scenic Drives, Granite Spires, and One of America’s Great State Parks
Custer State Park covers 71,000 acres of the Black Hills of South Dakota, and it puts open prairie, granite spires, mountain lakes and winding roads side by side. Most people come for the free-roaming bison herd, and they stay for Wildlife Loop Road, Needles Highway and Sylvan Lake. It’s a day trip from Rapid City, about 40 minutes south. This guide will help you decide what to see, how long to stay and what the entrance costs.
Custer State Park is often considered the heart of outdoor recreation in the Black Hills. It dates to 1912, and it’s South Dakota’s first and largest state park, so it holds a big share of the region’s landscape, where rolling prairie meets granite mountains and forested valleys.
The park is best known for its wildlife. One of the largest publicly managed bison herds in the world roams the grasslands, and you may also see pronghorn, bighorn sheep, elk, coyotes, prairie dogs and wild burros. Nobody can promise a sighting, because these animals go where they please, but the park says that on most days you’ll come face to face with the bison.
The drives are the other big reason to come. Wildlife Loop Road, Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road are three of the most memorable roads in the Black Hills, and they wind through granite, narrow tunnels and wide valleys. If you’re planning the rest of your trip, we keep a list of outdoor adventures in the Black Hills. There are also plenty of misconceptions about the Black Hills, and one of the biggest is that they’re only a summer place.
In the park itself you can paddle on Sylvan Lake, climb granite spires, photograph wildlife or sit by the water and do nothing at all, and the most popular trails to Black Elk Peak start here too.
Wildlife is the biggest reason people come to Custer State Park, and seeing animals on their own ground is often the best part of the day.
The most famous residents are the American bison. The park’s Buffalo Roundup page puts the herd at about 1,300 animals, and they live here all year. You’ll often find them grazing near Wildlife Loop Road or crossing it at their own slow pace, and the park calls these “wildlife jams,” because they set your travel time.
Wildlife Loop Road is the best place to look for many of the park’s animals. Along its 18 miles you may see pronghorn, prairie dogs, wild burros and sometimes elk. The prairie dog towns are good fun, because these little animals keep popping up from their burrows and chirping warnings.
Bighorn sheep are harder to find. They’re most often in the rocky terrain along Needles Highway and in other steep parts of the park, and the park says you’d be lucky to see one on the Loop.
Timing makes a big difference. Early morning and the last hours before sunset are usually the best times to see animals moving and feeding, and midday can be quiet, especially in summer.
Give every animal plenty of room. Stay in your vehicle, or stay at least 100 yards away on foot. Bison may look calm, but they’re powerful wild animals and they can move fast when they feel threatened. Feeding or disturbing wildlife is against park rules.
If you’d like a wildlife biologist along, our private Wildlife Tour of the Black Hills runs from April 15 to October 15 and covers Wind Cave National Park and Custer State Park.
One of the best ways to see Custer State Park is to drive it. Three of the best roads in the Black Hills run through or beside the park, and each one shows you a different landscape, from open prairie to granite tunnels. The park says any of these drives can close for weather, so check South Dakota 511 before you go.
Legend says the outlaw Lame Johnny hid gold along Lame Johnny Road in Custer State Park, and The Story of Lame Johnny tells his tale.
Wildlife Loop Road is one of the most popular drives in the park and one of the best places in the Black Hills to look for wildlife. It runs 18 miles through rolling prairie and pine-covered hills, and the park says to allow about 1 hour 30 minutes, though the animals have the final say on that.
Take it slowly and watch the prairie. Bison often graze near the road or cross in front of you, and the prairie dog towns along the route are a highlight. The road is open all year, and it takes careful driving in winter.
The park says the best viewing comes early in the morning or late in the evening, just before sunset, and that’s when the light is best for photographs too.
Needles Highway is one of the most dramatic drives in the Black Hills. It runs 14 miles, the park says to allow at least 60 minutes, and it winds through pine forest and the tall granite spires that gave it the name.
The road squeezes through two narrow tunnels cut through the granite, and the Needles Eye Tunnel is only 8 feet wide, so check your vehicle before you go.
Along the way you’ll pass Sylvan Lake and the Cathedral Spires, and it feels nothing like the open prairie of Wildlife Loop Road, with rugged rock formations, dense pine forest and high views. Needles Highway closes to vehicles with the first snow of the season and reopens April 1 or later, depending on conditions.
Iron Mountain Road connects Custer State Park with Mount Rushmore, and it’s one of the most unusual scenic drives in the country. It runs 17 miles, the park says to allow at least 60 minutes, and it takes you through three tunnels and over the wooden pigtail bridges that let the road gain and lose height quickly.
The tunnels are what people remember, because all three frame Mount Rushmore in the distance.
Tight curves, granite tunnels and sweeping views of the Black Hills make it a favorite way to travel between the park and the monument. The road can close for periods in winter, depending on conditions.
The Ghost Town of Spokane tells the story of a drive on Iron Mountain Road to an old Black Hills ghost town.
Three landmarks stand out, and all three sit in the high granite country on the park’s northwest side.
Sylvan Lake is often considered one of the most beautiful places in the Black Hills. Granite formations and pine forest surround it, and it sits near the western edge of Custer State Park along Needles Highway.
The Sylvan Lake Shore Trail is a 1-mile loop around the water, and the park rates it easy to moderate, because boardwalks on the main sections give way to uneven rock on the far side. Many visitors relax along the shore or rent paddle boats. The shortest trail to Black Elk Peak, the highest point in South Dakota, starts here. Parking is limited, because this is a very popular trailhead.
It’s also one of the most photographed places in the park.
Black Elk Peak rises to 7,244 feet and is the highest point in South Dakota. It was called Harney Peak until 2016. The peak sits just outside the state park, in the Black Elk Wilderness of the Black Hills National Forest, and the two most popular trails to the top start inside the park.
Trail 9 from Sylvan Lake is the shortest and most traveled route, at 3.3 miles each way, and the park rates it moderate to strenuous. At the top you reach a historic stone fire tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
From the summit you can see for miles across the Black Hills, and on clear days the view runs out to the distant prairie. If you’d rather take in the high country from the road, our page on scenic routes through the Black Hills is a good place to start.
The Cathedral Spires are some of the most dramatic granite formations in the Black Hills. Tall, narrow rock towers rise sharply from the surrounding forest, creating a landscape that feels almost otherworldly.
The Cathedral Spires Trail is a popular hike that leads visitors into the heart of these granite formations. The trail winds through pine forest before opening into a valley surrounded by towering rock walls and stone pinnacles.
This area is especially popular with rock climbers and photographers, but even a short walk into the valley reveals why the Cathedral Spires are considered one of the most unique landscapes in the park.
There’s more to do here than most people expect, and these are the four things we’d put first.
If you only do one thing in the park, drive Wildlife Loop Road. Take your time, and watch for bison near the road, prairie dogs at their burrows and pronghorn out on the prairie. The wild burros are known for walking up to vehicles looking for snacks, and as friendly as they seem, feeding them is against park rules.
Sylvan Lake is one of the best places in the Black Hills to slow down. You can walk the 1-mile loop around the water, rent a paddle boat in summer or sit and look at the granite rising around the lake. Several trails start here too, and it’s a favorite stop for photographers and families.
Custer State Park has more than 30 miles of hiking trails, and the park’s Trail Mix guide rates each one easy, moderate or strenuous. The Cathedral Spires Trail is only 1.2 miles round trip, and the park still rates it strenuous, because it’s a steep scramble over boulders, so don’t judge a trail by its length.
The park asks you to carry at least a quart of water per person and wear shoes made for rough ground. There are no restrooms along the trails, and summer thunderstorms are frequent.
The mix of wildlife, granite, forest and open prairie makes Custer State Park one of the best places in the Black Hills for photographs.
Early morning and late afternoon are often the best times for photography, because the softer light brings out the landscape and the animals are more likely to be moving.
Custer State Park is open year round, and each season offers a different experience. The best time to visit often depends on what you hope to see and do during your time in the park.
Late spring and early summer bring lush green landscapes and active wildlife throughout the park. Bison calves are often born in the spring, and it is common to see young animals traveling with the herd across the prairie.
Wildflowers also begin to appear along many of the park’s hiking trails and scenic drives. Temperatures are generally mild, making this a comfortable time to explore the park on foot or by car.
Summer is the busiest season in Custer State Park, as visitors from across the country arrive to explore the Black Hills. Wildlife Loop Road, Needles Highway, and Sylvan Lake are all popular stops during this time.
While the park can be busy during the middle of the day, early mornings and evenings still offer quiet moments and excellent opportunities to see wildlife. These cooler hours are also the best times for photography and hiking.
Fall is one of the most exciting times to visit because of the annual Buffalo Roundup. On a Friday in late September, riders drive the herd about 5 miles into the corrals, and the park says as many as 20,000 people come to watch. The park posts each year’s date and viewing details on its Roundup page.
Autumn also brings cooler temperatures and changing colors to the forests of the Black Hills, and the golden light and crisp air make it a beautiful season for scenic drives and hiking.
Winter turns Custer State Park quiet. Snow often covers the granite and the forest, and you’ll find a level of solitude you won’t get in summer. Wildlife Loop Road stays open all year, Needles Highway closes for the season with the first snow, and Iron Mountain Road can close for periods. The Custer State Park Visitor Center stays open all year too.
These quick facts will help you plan.
Location:
Black Hills of South Dakota, about 40 minutes south of Rapid City.
Size:
71,000 acres of protected prairie, forest, lakes and granite formations.
Established:
1912
Entrance:
$25 per vehicle for 1 to 7 days, or $20 per motorcycle.
Wildlife:
The park is home to one of the largest publicly managed bison herds in the world, along with pronghorn antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, coyotes and wild burros.
Famous Scenic Drives:
Wildlife Loop Road, Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road all pass through or connect directly to Custer State Park.
Highest Point:
Black Elk Peak, just outside the park, rises to 7,244 feet and is the highest natural point in South Dakota.
Annual Event:
The Buffalo Roundup takes place each September and is one of the most famous wildlife events in the United States.
Recreation Opportunities:
You can enjoy wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing, kayaking, scenic drives, camping, rock climbing and photography throughout the park.
Rapid City to Custer State Park– 39 min
Keystone to Custer State Park – 35 min
Hill City to Custer State Park – 42 min
Deadwood to Custer State Park – 1 hr 23 min
All directions are from the city listed to the Visitors Center
These are the questions visitors ask most about wildlife, scenic drives and how long to stay.
Custer State Park is best known for its large free roaming bison herd, scenic drives like Wildlife Loop Road and Needles Highway, and the dramatic granite landscapes found throughout the Black Hills. The park combines open prairie, forested mountains, lakes, and wildlife viewing opportunities in one destination.
Plan on a full day if you can. Half a day gives you time for Wildlife Loop Road and one more stop, and a full day lets you drive the scenic roads, look for wildlife and spend time at Sylvan Lake. If you like hiking or photography, you could easily stay longer.
Yes. The park is open all year, and so is Wildlife Loop Road. Needles Highway closes to vehicles with the first snow and reopens April 1 or later, and Iron Mountain Road can close for periods in winter, so check South Dakota 511 before you go.
Wildlife is most active in the early morning and late afternoon. These cooler parts of the day often provide the best chances of seeing bison, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and other animals moving through the park.
Yes. Bison live in the park year round and can often be seen along Wildlife Loop Road. The herd moves throughout the park depending on grazing conditions, but sightings are common in most seasons.
Wildlife Loop Road, Needles Highway, and Iron Mountain Road are the most famous scenic drives connected to the park. Each road offers different views of the landscape, from open prairie filled with wildlife to narrow mountain roads winding through granite formations.
Yes. Custer State Park offers more than 30 miles of hiking trails ranging from short scenic walks to longer routes through the Black Hills. Popular hikes include the trail to Black Elk Peak and the Cathedral Spires Trail.
The Buffalo Roundup is an annual event held each fall where park staff and volunteers gather the bison herd as part of the park’s wildlife management program. The event attracts visitors from across the country who come to watch riders guide the herd across the prairie.
Yes. The park lists its entrance license at $25 per vehicle for 1 to 7 days, or $20 per motorcycle, and you can buy one online or at the park entrances and visitor centers. A vehicle staying on US Highway 16A straight through the park doesn’t need one. The pass is included on our private Mount Rushmore and Black Hills tour, which spends the afternoon on the Wildlife Loop Road.