2021-01-15 05:02:56
Seven Essential Things To Do At Visiting Custer State Park is a must. The 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, captivating all who enter. 1 GET CAUGHT IN A BUFFALO JAM Custer State Park is home to approximately 1,300 bison — the second largest public free-roaming herd in the U.S. For a truly exceptional experience, take a Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour. As sweet and fluffy as bison may appear, please do not approach them. They are dangerous. 2 WIND YOUR WAY AROUND The park is a driver’s delight. Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road and Wildlife Loop Road are part of the extensive network of backcountry lanes on the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. For 70 miles, the route threads its way around pigtail bridges through one-lane rock-walled tunnels and ascends to the Needles’ uppermost heights. 3 MAKE NEW (WILD) FRIENDS Critters like prairie dogs, whitetail and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, elk, and bighorn sheep roam free in the park. The infamous begging burros may even greet you. Come spring, look for the newest additions to the park – baby wildlife. 4 EMBRACE THE SPIRIT OF THE WEST For an authentic chuckwagon feast and an old-fashioned hayride, go on the Blue Bell Chuckwagon Cookout. Saddle up on a guided horseback trail ride at Blue Bell Lodge. It’s a peaceful, scenic way to experience the park’s rugged terrain and well-maintained trails. 5 TAKE A HIKE Pick the perfect adventure from the 14 scenic hiking trails that wind through the park’s forested mountains and expansive prairie. Top trails include Cathedral Spires Trail, Sunday Gulch Trail, Little Devils Tower Trail, Lover’s Leap Trail and Sylvan Lake Shore Trail. Trek to Black Elk Peak from trail No. 9 at Sylvan Lake. After your hike, cool off on the banks of one of the park’s four mountain lakes. 6 WAKE UP TO WILDLIFE Stay at one of the park’s distinct historic lodges or campgrounds and wake up among the many critters that call the park home. Pick from Blue Bell Lodge, State Game Lodge, Sylvan Lake Lodge, Legion Lake Lodge, Creekside Lodge or a number of campsites across the park. Each one offers its unique style and amenities to suit your adventure. 7 EXPERIENCE THE BUFFALO ROUNDUP & ARTS FESTIVAL Watch buffalo rumble across the plains, driven by cowboys and cowgirls on horseback. Make plans to attend Sept. 23 to 25, 2021. For Custer State Park business listings, turn to page 138.
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