Custer State Park
Encompassing 71,000 acres in the Black Hills, Custer State Park is home to abundant wildlife and adventure. It has beautiful trails, lots of camping options, and home of the famous Wildlife Loop Road. This road is known for their yearly buffalo roundup and the herds of buffalo that roam the prairie and the hills. There is so much variety in landscape in the park which consists of scenic drives, unique rock formations, beautiful hiking trails, gorgeous lakes, etc. There is something for everyone no matter what you like to do.
There is a fee to get into the park and you can buy a weekly pass or an annual pass. Check the parks website for more information - https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/custer-state-park/
Custer State Park Visitor’s Center
Nice place to stop first to check out what the park has to offer.
Needles Highway
Famous highway that runs through Custer State Park with the Needles Highway Tunnel being a huge attraction.
Sylvan Lake
Most popular lake in Custer State Park.
Sylvan Lake Trail To Black Elk Peak
Black Elk Peak is the tallest point east of the Rocky Mountains and a must do hike if physically able when in the Black Hills.
Trail #9 - Willow Creek To Black Elk Peak
An amazing hike that starts out of the park and goes to Black Elk Peak.
Sunday Gulch Trail
A fun 3 mile hike that starts just below the Sylvan Lake Dam in Custer State Park.
Lovers' Leap Trail
This beautiful 4 mile loop offers great views of State Game Lodge and surrounding area.
Sylvan Lake Shore Trail
Sylvan Lake Shore Trail is a one mile trail that goes around Sylvan Lake.
Grave - Dr. Alvin Herbert
One of 3 graves located in Custer State Park.
Wildlife Loop Road
Beautiful road in Custer State Park where wildlife can be seen.
Little Devil's Tower
Beautiful trail that gives you a 360 degree view of the Black Hills and Black Elk Peak.
Cathedral Spires Trail
Short pretty trail in Custer State Park that walks you through the Cathedral Spires.
Badger Clark Trail
Easy 1 mile trail that explains the life of the poet Badger Clark.
Legion Lake Trail
One mile trail that goes around Legion Lake and is fun for the whole family.
Grace Coolidge Trail
A refreshing easy trail that crosses the stream several times.
Little Devil’s Tower Trail To Sylvan Lake Trail
Short hike from the parking lot of Little Devil’s Tower to the picnic area at Sylvan Lake.
Grizzly Bear Creek Trail #7
An alternate route to Black Elk Peak through the Black Elk Wilderness Area.
Norbeck Trail #3
A very remote trail that is pretty hard and rocky and leads to Black Elk Peak.
Poet’s Table Trail
A local favorite in Custer State Park.
The Lost Trails
An easy trail near Center Lake in Custer State Park.
Bear Gulch Trail
An unknown pretty trail east of Center Lake.
Prairie Trail
A trail just off Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park.
Cairn Trail
Newest Trail in Custer State Park near the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center.
Creekside Trail
Three miles one way nice and easy hard surfaced trail in Custer State Park.
Barnes Canyon Trail
A newer trail in Custer State Park.
Stockade Lake Trail
Nice trail on the east end of Stockade Lake in Custer State Park.
Camping and Accommodations in Custer State Park
Lots of options in Custer State Park to spend the night.
Center Lake
A popular lake in the summer.
Legion Lake
A pretty lake in Custer State Park.
Stockade Lake
Lake in Custer State Park just east of Custer, South Dakota.
Mt. Coolidge
Fire tower above Legion Lake in Custer State Park.
Major James Whitehead
Gravesite located in Custer State Park.
Baby Mann Gravesite
One of 3 gravesites in Custer State Park.
Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center
Nice place to stop for the kids when at Custer State Park.
Grace Coolidge Campground
A small campground in Custer State Park.
Game Lodge Campground
A large campground near the Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park.
Biking Creekside Trail
Fun and easy bike trail near the visitor’s center.
Hiking Needle’s Highway In Winter
This beautiful road is closed in winter making it a perfect place to hike.
Summer and Winter Challenge at Custer State Park
Fun challenges at Custer State Park.
Bison Trail
Located by the Bison Center off Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park.
Custer State Park Bison Center
Located off Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park.
Sylvan Lake Campground
Located near Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park.
Lost Cabin #2 Trail
Hard hike leading into Custer State Park.
Blue Bell Campground
Beautiful campground in Custer State Park off Highway 87.
Wildlife Loop Hiking Trail
New trail off Wildlife Loop Road that does not have a name.
Legion Lake Campground
Small campground in Custer State Park near Legion Lake.
Stockade Lake South Campground
Peaceful campground east of the town of Custer in Custer State Park.
Stockade Lake North Custer Trail
Nice 1.5 loop trail near Stockade Lake in Custer State Park.
The Centennial Trail
The Centennial Trail was established in 1989 to mark the celebration of South Dakota's Centennial. The trail starts at Wind Cave National Park and ends at Bear Butte with 21trailheads set up for access. Along the way it passes by seven bodies of water and Mt. Rushmore. It also takes you through Custer State Park, home to a wide variety of wildlife including a large herd of buffalo. The trail has over 3500 feet in elevation gain though out the trail, so don’t take it lightly. The official State flier says that it is 111 miles long, but when the distances on the map are added up it ends up at 120 miles, our track shows 128. I would say the actual length lands somewhere between 120 and 126. These sections below are in Custer State Park.
Mile 6.2 To 16.5 Highland Creek To French Creek
This 10.3 mile section starts at the south edge of Custer State Park and stays in the park the whole way.
Mile 16.5 To 20.7 French Creek To Badger Hole
This 4.2 mile section starts at the French Creek Natural Area and has 2 creek crossings.
Mile 20.7 To 28 Badger Hole To Iron Creek
This 7.3 mile section is a nice hike with views of the Cathedral Spires and Black Elk Peak
Biking Barnes Canyon Trail
Nice fun biking trail 4.7 miles one way in Custer State Park.
Fish Hook Picnic Area
Nice small picnic area and pond located near the Custer State Park office.
Wildlife Station Visitor Center
Located on Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park.
French Creek Area Fire Trail
Old fire trail in Custer State Park where we saw a herd of elk.
Sylvan Lake Lodge And Cabins
Located in Custer State Park.
Biking Wildlife Loop Road
Biking with the buffalo in Custer State Park.
State Game Lodge
Historic lodge in Custer State Park.
Custer State Park Annual Buffalo Roundup
Done every September in Custer State Park.
Black Elk Peak.
Saw these two elk on the side of the road just east of Custer, South Dakota. A rare find.
Taken west of the State Game Lodge along the road.
S. Playhouse Road by the Black Hills Playhouse.
The Black Hills Playhouse has plays during the summer months.
If you only have 1 day to spend in Custer State Park, what would you do? This itinerary highlights the main attractions you cannot miss. Whether you prefer to stay in the car or take a short hike this itinerary gives you several options to enjoy the park to its fullest and still see all the sights that make Custer State Park famous.