Road Trips PETER NORBECK SCENIC BYWAY Miles: 70 Mount Rushmore Byway tunnels frame Mount Rushmore National Memorial . Get a closer look on memorial grounds. Between late May and late September, don’t miss the Sculpture Illumination and Evening Lighting Program , where park rangers lead an inspiring presentation as lights dramatically illuminate the memorial. Elk Wilderness . Discover the trails and wildlife within its boundaries. 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. 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. Norbeck Wildlife Preserve Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, a haven Mickelson Trail for game animals and birds, overlaps GEORGE S. Black Elk Peak with Custer State Park and the Black Sheridan Lake Hill City 16 16A Mount Rushmore National Memorial 244 Horsethief Lake 16 385 89 87 Keystone 40 Crazy Horse Memorial Sylvan Lake N ee d l e s 87 NORBECK OVERLOOK on Ir M ou n in ta H igh w 16A Ro a d ay Black Hills Playhouse Custer Stockade Lake 16A Legion Lake Custer State Park AREA OF DETAIL 20 // #HiFromSD
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2026 South Dakota Vacation Guide: Page 20
