Custer State Park is the nation’ s second largest state park, encompassing 71,000 acres of spectacular terrain and an abundance of wildlife.
Favorite outdoor activities include hiking 7,242- foot Black Elk Peak or myriad other trails, horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing, chuckwagon suppers and Jeep rides to see the bison.
The park boasts scenic drives such as Needles Highway( Hwy. 87), which twists and turns its way past towering rock formations and through narrow tunnels. At the end of one tunnel stands the Needles Eye, a granite spire with a slit only three to four feet wide but reaching 30 to 40 feet in the air.
You’ ll find resorts at Sylvan Lake, Legion Lake, Blue Bell and the State Game Lodge. Or set up camp along a flowing stream, in the midst of a pine forest or near a mountain lake. Resort cabins, historic lodge rooms and motel units are available.
Don’ t be surprised if you encounter a roadblock of grazing bison. A herd of 1,300 bison roams freely. The herd is one of the largest in the world. A word of caution: Bison can be unpredictable and dangerous. Please view them from inside a car.
The park is also home to other wildlife such as pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, deer, elk, wild turkeys and friendly burros.
A world of adventure awaits at Custer State Park— all that is missing is you!
photo courtesy of Travel South Dakota Black Hills Adventure Guide 2025 11