South Dakota Vacation Guide - 2025 South Dakota Vacation Guide
WILD WONDERS
2025-12-15 09:33:47
Custer State Park Wildlife Loop
Miles: 31, accessible from Custer via SD Highway 87 or US Highway 16A
1 CUSTER STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER
Start at the main visitor center for a park overview and a deeper understanding of its resident species, the American bison. A 20-minute film plays every half hour in the visitor center theater.
2 BUFFALO SAFARI JEEP TOUR
Picture being off-road in the open air as you view pronghorn, elk and buffalo. Reserve your spot on the tour through the State Game Lodge at Custer State Park Resort.
3 BUFFALO ROUNDUP
Visit the park for the Buffalo Roundup (Sept. 26, 2025), when wranglers drive one of the country’s largest bison herds in a scene straight out of the Old West. The roundup is complemented by the park’s Arts Festival the same weekend.
WATCHABLE WILDLIFE
You’ve read about the bison of Custer State Park, but two South Dakota national parks also shelter free-roaming herds: Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park. At all three parks, watch for cinnamon-colored calves in spring, and other native species: diminutive prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, the pronghorn antelope and elusive elk, all perfectly adapted to South Dakota’s Black Hills. There are also the beloved burros of Custer State Park. These donkeys were introduced in the 1920s to give pack tours within the park, but now roam freely (and often beg for snacks).
Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
Miles: 70 | 34 (as presented here)
Upper Loop
1 MOUNT RUSHMORE
Byway tunnels frame Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Get a closer look on memorial grounds.
Late May through late September, witness the Evening Lighting Ceremony. Park rangers present a spectacular program and use lights to illuminate the memorial.
2 NORBECK WILDLIFE PRESERVE
Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, a haven for game animals and birds, overlaps with Custer State Park and the Black Elk Wilderness. Discover trails and wildlife within its boundaries.
3 LEGION LAKE
Cool off at Legion Lake, where you can swim, fish, rent a watercraft or take a short hike. Then, grab a bite at the Legion Lake Lodge.
4 CATHEDRAL SPIRES & BLACK ELK PEAK
Hike into the Cathedral Spires, a towering show of granite pinnacles. The relatively short trek is prime for catching rock climbers on the ascent, too.
Connect from the Cathedral Spires Trail to summit Black Elk Peak. The peak is the tallest point east of the Rockies and named for a legendary Lakota medicine man.
5 NEEDLES HIGHWAY & NEEDLES EYE
Navigate tight crossings through the rocky formations of Needles Highway, the byway’s most thrilling 14 miles.
Upon reaching the Needles Eye Tunnel and formation, walk the paved trail all the way to the base for a photo-worthy view.
What’s better than wildlife? Baby wildlife! Find out where to spot them at TravelSouthDakota.com/Baby-Animals
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WILD WONDERS
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