2019-01-18 01:03:38
Visit the crown jewel of South Dakota’s park system — celebrating 100 years in 2019. 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 the Black Hills Playhouse, one of the oldest, continuously running summer theaters in the country. For detailed information on the 2019 season, visit BlackHillsPlayhouse.com. AMERICA’S NATIONAL MAMMAL Custer State Park is the proud home of approximately 1,300 buffalo, the second-largest public herd in the U.S. Feel their thunder at the annual Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival, Sept. 26 to 28, 2019, a scene straight out of the Old West that you’ll only witness here. WILDLIFE LOOP ROAD Your best chance for seeing buffalo is on Wildlife Loop Road, a 19- mile roadway that winds through the southeastern part of the park. It takes about one and a half hours to complete, unless you run into a buffalo jam. You’ll likely come across other critters, like prairie dogs, whitetailed and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, elk, bighorn sheep and the park’s infamous begging burros. There’ll be plenty of opportunities for one-of-a-kind photos. Remember to use extreme caution when photographing any wildlife, keep a safe distance from animals and do not approach them. 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 private historic lodges offer restaurants, guided wildlife activities and modernized cabins or hotel rooms. For Custer State Park business listings, turn to page 141.
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