Exploring Custer State Park

Guide to Custer State Park

Custer State Park is located in the Black Hills in South Dakota. The entrance fee is $20 per car and the pass is good for up to 7 days. This park is central to many other attractions in the area and provides several options for lodging. It is a great place to see wildlife like elk, bison, bighorn sheep, and marmots. The park is well-known for several famous tunnels in the park, such as Needles Eye Tunnel.

There are multiple activities available throughout all four seasons to keep you occupied such as swimming, fishing, and cross-country skiing. Custer State Park is a great place to spend your vacation. Depending on what activities you are interested in, I would plan on 2-3 days to explore this park alone. This park is pet friendly so you can bring your dog on the trails and in the campgrounds as long as they remain on leash. Pets are not allowed in the swimming areas or in the visitor centers.

Visitor Centers in Custer State Park

There are two visitor centers in Custer State Park, the Wildlife Station Visitor Station and Custer State Park Visitor Center. The Wildlife Station Visitor Center is on Wildlife Loop Road. This building was originally a herdsman’s house. The Custer State Park Visitor Center is also located on Wildlife Loop road. This is the main visitor center of the park and has a short film and several exhibits that share information about the surrounding area and wildlife. You can pick up maps at either location.

Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center is not a visitor center, but it is a building that hosts numerous educational programs and is very child friendly. It has numerous interactive activities available that further education about Custer State Park. The building is located near the Custer State Park Visitor Center.

Camping in Custer State Park

There are 9 campgrounds spread throughout Custer State Park, each offering something different. Consider where in the park you would like to be based in as well as if you want access to running water, showers, or electricity, and what activities you would like to enjoy when you choose a campground. The price per night for tent camping ranges from $15-$40/night. Some sites allow RVs or have cabins available.

Is camping not your thing? Never fear! If you would rather stay in a hotel, use the link below to find the perfect hotel for your stay.

Scenic Drives in Custer State Park

There are 3 scenic drives inside the park: Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and Wildlife Loop Road.

Needles Highway is most famous for the Needles Eye Tunnel. It is 14 miles long and takes over an hour to complete. This road is closed to vehicles during winter. Iron Mountain Road is 17 miles and is popular due to the views it provides of Mount Rushmore. This route will also typically take over an hour to complete and the road will occasionally be closed in the winter. Wildlife Loop Road is 18 miles and can take around 1.5 hours to complete. This particular scenic drive is great for spotting wildlife. Be aware that it is common for wildlife to block traffic on this route which will add to your drive time.

Hiking in Custer State Park

There are multiple trails available in Custer State Park and two natural hiking areas. The most popular trails are located near Sylvan Lake, including the ultimate hike that leads to Black Elk Peak, which is the highest natural point in South Dakota. The two natural hiking areas are French Creek and the Grace Coolidge Walk-in Fishing Area.

If there have been heavy rains, it is possible that some of the trails like Lovers Leap may be flooded out in places. Many hikers have spotted all kinds of wildlife in Custer State Park including mountain lions and my favorite: marmots. Marmots are in the rodent family and in my opinion, look like a cross between a squirrel and a groundhog. They are adorable.

Black Elk Area Trails

The trails in the Black Elk area (near Sylvan Lake) are incredible and not for the casual hiker. These trails are rated moderate to strenuous with the longest trail equaling about 7 miles. It is easy to get lost on the trails, so I highly suggest bringing a copy of or taking a picture of the trail map.

Some of these trails do require you to register (the ‘registration book’ is located on the trails) to help the park rangers keep track of hikers in the event that you do get lost. Pay close attention to turnoffs when you are hiking because they are easy to miss.

Trail #9 and #4 are the two trails that lead up to Black Elk Peak and Harney Peak Lookout. The elevation here is 7,242 ft and the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains and West of the Pyrenees Mountains of Europe according to the sign. The lookout provided an excellent 360-degree view in a semi protected shelter of sorts. 

If you are looking for more hiking opportunities take a look at Hiking Badlands National Park.

Other Available Activities in Custer State Park:

Hiking is not the only thing there is to do in this state park. There are numerous water activities available like swimming, kayaking, or fishing. In the winter, one can cross country ski or snowshoe. If you are looking for activities outside of the park there is an abundance of options in the surrounding areas.

Activities Near Custer State Park:

For information on different cave tours or the Minute Man Missile Silo check out South Dakota National Parks and Historic Site.  If you are looking for activities that don’t involve hiking take a look at  Free Things to do in the Black Hills or Black Hills South Dakota Attractions.

Why You Should Visit:

Custer State Park is a great place to base your South Dakota vacation. There are so many different activities available in the park that you do not even have to leave if you do not want to. This park is central to many other attractions in the Black Hills which makes the location of the cabins and campgrounds ideal. If you like hiking, I would highly encourage you to explore the trails around Sylvan Lake. If you are up to a challenging hike; Black Elk Peak trail is the best hike in Custer State Park. As the most dog friendly park in the area, if you are bringing you pet on vacation with you, you will want to spend your time in Custer State park.

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