Miles: 70 | 34 (as presented here) Upper Loop Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway Cathedral Spires, Needles Highway 1 Mount Rushmore 2 Norbeck Wildlife Preserve Hill City 16 16A AREA OF DETAIL 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. 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. Mount Rushmore National Memorial 2 Horsethief Lake 385 Keystone 40 Black Elk Peak Sylvan Lake 89 87 3 Legion Lake NORBECK WILDLIFE Cathedral PRESERVE Spires Needles Highway 16A 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 . Crazy Horse Memorial Iron Mountain Road Custer 16A Legion Lake Custer State Park 4 Cathedral Spires & Black Elk Peak 5 Needles Highway & Needles Eye 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. 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 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. TravelSouthDakota.com // 19
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2025 South Dakota Vacation Guide: Page 19
