Custer State Park: 10 Must-Sees
Custer State Park: 10 Must-Sees
Custer State Park is a cornerstone to any Black Hills vacation as it is one of the last, truly wild places in the country. Custer State Park (CSP) is a sprawling 71,000 acres of beauty with towering pines, gentle creeks, and massive granite outcroppings.
Whether you are a first-time visitor or returning to your favorite place again, we have compiled a list of quintessential experiences to indulge in while you're here.
Get ready to explore one of the world's top wildlife destinations!
1. Get Caught in a "Buffalo" Jam
Custer State Park is the proud home of approximately 1,300 bison—the second largest public free-roaming herd in the US— you'll likely encounter one of these majestic beasts in the park.
Your best chance to see bison is on Wildlife Loop Road, a 19-mile roadway that winds through prime sighting spots in the southeastern part of the park.
For a truly exceptional experience, take a Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour—named one of the 10 best safaris in the US by MSN.com —these off-road tours depart daily from the State Game Lodge, taking you through the park in an open-air jeep in non-public-access areas! As you search for bison, your knowledgeable guide will share all sorts of historical and educational info about the park.
As sweet and fluffy as bison may appear, please do not approach them. They are dangerous. Remain in your vehicle or stay at least 100 yards away.
2. Wake up to Wildlife
After your action-packed day, sleep under the stars in Custer State Park. There are nine campgrounds tucked away in ponderosa pine woods. Campsites accommodate RVs and tents. Or, you can relax in one-room, log-style camping cabins throughout the park.
For a primitive camping experience, backpackers should try French Creek Natural Area. Hike the 12-mile nature trail and pitch your tent in the perfect, dispersed camping spot of your choosing! Be sure to self-register at the stations on each end of the natural area and remember that open fires are prohibited.
Stay at one of the park’s distinct historic lodges 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, or Creekside Lodge. Each one offers its own style and amenities to suit your adventure.
Be sure to pack your fishing pole so that you can cast your line and catch a trout in one of the park’s four alpine lakes. Center Lake, Legion Lake, Stockade Lake, and Sylvan Lake offer nearly 182 acres of crystal blue water and are home to several fish species.
Do you remember the park’s quintessential evening campground programs from when you were younger? They are still offered on most evenings at the Game Lodge, Center Lake, Stockade North, and Blue Bell campgrounds from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Schedules are posted weekly on campground bulletin boards.
3. Wind Your Way Through 71,000 Acres
There is so much to see and do in Custer State Park. You may start to wonder how exactly you’ll get to do it all. If there is one thing you absolutely must do, though, it’s slow down. Take your time. Roll down the car windows, lean into the breeze, and inhale the fragrance of the wild as you set out on one of the park’s scenic highways and byways.
The park is a driver’s delight. Three scenic drives such as 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 uppermost heights of the Needles.
Along the highways, you’ll find the park’s visitor centers. Stop into the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center for an informal chat with a naturalist and to ask your most pressing questions. Little ones can also participate in the Junior Naturalist or Pups program here. Look for a current schedule of programs in the campgrounds or at any of the visitor centers.
4. Experience the Needles Eye
The granite formations that pierce the horizon in Custer State Park, known as the Needles, are truly see-it-to-believe-it phenomena. Drive Needles Highway to see for yourself just how majestic these outcroppings are in person.
The adventurous should carve out time to hike Cathedral Spires Trail. The moderate 1.5-mile out-and-back trail offers spectacular views of these unique rock formations. You’ll likely pass rock climbers hauling gear in or out of the trail, as the spires are home to some of the most sought-after climbing routes in the Black Hills.
5. Make New (Wild) Friends
As you make your way through Custer State Park, you’ll notice wildlife along trails, in the campgrounds, and beside the road. Critters like prairie dogs, white-tailed and mule deer, pronghorns, mountain goats, elk, and bighorn sheep roam free in the park’s 71,000 acres. Come spring, you may even cross paths with the newest additions to the park: baby wildlife.
Your best chance to see these animals is on Wildlife Loop Road. It takes about one and a half hours to complete unless you run into an exciting buffalo jam.
Along the route, you may be greeted by the infamous begging burros. These critters are uncommonly friendly. They’ll stop to say hello to every slowing motorist and sneak their heads into any auto offering a quick snack, no matter the season.
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.
6. Live Like a Cowboy for the Day
Embrace the spirit of the West and live like a cowboy for a day.
The Hayride Chuckwagon Cookout is a Blue Bell tradition. Take an old-fashioned hayride on back roads to a mountain meadow canyon for an authentic chuckwagon feast. Along the way, sing along to classic country and folk music—and maybe even see some wildlife. You’ll fit right in with your souvenir cowboy hat and bandanna.
Saddle up for an authentic Western adventure and embark on a guided horseback trail ride at Blue Bell Lodge. It’s one of the most peaceful, scenic ways to experience the park's rugged terrain and well-maintained trails.
7. Discover Trails
Let your legs move you through Custer State Park. The early pioneers, ranchers, and loggers left behind more than 50 miles of trails and backcountry roads to explore. Hikers of all abilities can pick the perfect adventure from the 14 scenic hiking trails that wind through the park’s forested mountains and expansive prairie.
The top trails include Cathedral Spires Trail, Sunday Gulch Trail, Little Devils Tower Trail, Lover’s Leap Trail, and Sylvan Lake Shore Trail. You can begin your trek to Black Elk Peak at one of two trailheads within the park.
Looking to add a twist? Take the Custer State Park Trail Challenge. Collect all eight stamps and get a prize. To learn more or pick up the official Trail Challenge form, visit any of the park’s visitor centers.
There’s no better way to cool off after hiking than taking a dip or relaxing on the banks at one of the park’s four mountain lakes.
8. Eat Like a Local on the President’s Front Porch
While in the Black Hills, enjoy a meal at the State Game Lodge that will expand your culinary palette.
The State Game Lodge is a native stone and wood lodge built in 1920 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It served as the “Summer White House” for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927 and was visited by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953.
The restaurant features dishes highlighting local game, like seared rainbow trout, elk Osso Bucco, crab-stuffed walleye roulades, rabbit and rattlesnake sausage, pheasant spring rolls, and buffalo burgers. We’re hungry just thinking about it!
Once you taste these regional dishes, continue your culinary adventure at Blue Bell Lodge, Sylvan Lake Lodge, and Legion Lake Lodge.
9. Experience the Buffalo Round Up & Arts Festival
Undoubtedly, the Custer State Park Buffalo Round Up & Arts Festival is one of the most thrilling events to attend. Watching the buffalo rumble across the plains, driven by cowboys and cowgirls on horseback, is truly magnificent. It takes you back to days gone by and gives you a glimpse of Old West history.
The annual roundup keeps the park’s bison population in balance with the available land and resources. Most return right back to their home, the grasslands of the park.
The Arts Festival is held for three days in conjunction with the roundup. Visit with more than 100 artisans and crafters from across the Midwest as they exhibit and sell their wares.
10. Snap Iconic Photos
Custer State Park is both a local and visitor favorite! It's no wonder why there are iconic photo spots to add to your day at the park. Alongside the Needle's Eye, the rocks at Sylvan Lake, and the top of Black Elk Peak, there are several gorgeous angles for you to check out! Snap photos along the trail, and check out Picture Yourself In Custer State Park for more ideas!
