Custer State Park

Custer State Park covers around 71,000 acres of the southern Hills, and it is the part of the region most people end up talking about afterwards. It is a state park rather than a national one, which surprises visitors given the scale.

The Wildlife Loop

The Wildlife Loop Road runs roughly eighteen miles through open grassland on the southern side of the park. The park's bison herd — well over a thousand animals — moves through this country, and a herd crossing the road in front of you is a genuine event. Give them room and stay in your vehicle.

You will also meet the burros. They are descended from a former trail-ride string, they are entirely unbothered by cars, and they will put their heads through an open window looking for food. Feeding them is discouraged, however hard they lobby.

Early morning and evening are far better for wildlife than the middle of the day.

Sylvan Lake and the Needles

At the northern end of the park, Sylvan Lake sits ringed by granite. It is the trailhead for Black Elk Peak, the highest point in the state, and a pleasant flat walk if you would rather just circle the water.

The Needles Highway climbs through the granite spires north of the lake, threading tunnels barely wider than a vehicle. Needle's Eye tunnel is the famous one. Check your vehicle's dimensions before you commit — large RVs do not fit.

The Buffalo Roundup

Every year in late September, riders and crews bring the bison herd in for the annual roundup. It draws a serious crowd and it is a genuine working operation rather than a show. If you are here at the end of September, plan around it.