2019-12-20 06:29:09
RUN FREE IN Visit the crown jewel of South Dakota’s park system Custer State Park is one of the few truly wild places that remain in this country. Towering pines, gentle creeks and massive granite outcroppings sprawl throughout the park’s 71,000 acres. The quintessential icon of the American West and our national mammal, the bison, remains the unchallenged master of this wild world. The park is also home to Black Hills Playhouse, one of the oldest, continuously running summer theaters in the country. AMERICA’S NATIONAL MAMMAL Custer State Park is the proud home of approximately 1,300 bison, the second-largest public herd in the United States. Feel their thunder at the annual Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival, Sept. 25 to 27, 2020, a scene straight out of the Wild West that you’ll only witness here. ACTIVITIES If you’re looking for a wild time off the beaten path that’s full of bison, antelope, and even more Custer State Park critters, take a jeep tour with experienced guides who can help you spot the various wildlife hidden throughout the park. To take it slower, consider a hayride and an authentic chuckwagon experience. This 45-minute scenic wildlife tour takes the peaceful backroads to a mountain meadow canyon for a chuckwagon feast. Or, explore the park on the back of a horse with scenic, guided horseback tours. HIKE, FISH, CAMP Custer State Park’s early pioneers, ranchers and loggers left behind more than 50 miles of trails and backcountry roads to explore by foot, bike and horseback. The 11 scenic hiking trails wind through the park’s forested mountains and expansive prairie. Begin your trek to Black Elk Peak at one of two trailheads within the park. The park’s four mountain lakes provide pristine waters for fishing, boating, swimming or just relaxing. After an action-packed day, rest your head at one of the nine campgrounds that accommodate RVs and tents. Four historic lodges offer restaurants, guided wildlife activities, modernized cabins and hotel rooms.
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