Custer State Park

Jacob

Custer State Park is one of the best state parks in the entire country if not the best. It is known for its large herds of Bison as well as the needles highway. This is a not to be missed destination if you are in the Black Hills region. The park is located south of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and north of Wind Cave National Park. There are multiple entrances to the park from all directions. There are plenty of signs from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wind Cave or Jewel Cave on how to get to Custer State Park. We have visited Custer State Park twice, the first time as part of Black Hills Trip and another on the way back from Glacier National Park.

Before going to find the bison be sure to stop at one of the many visitor centers in the park. They have a map of where the herd of bison is located so you can save some time. The bison will be on the other main attraction of the park, the Wildlife Loop Road. This road will likely put you right in the middle of a large herd of Bison surrounding your car. This is a truly incredible experience, how often do you get surrounded by one hundred massive animals the size of your car. As long as you do not scare them or act aggressive the bison will ignore you. There are also many prairie dog towns along the Wildlife Loop Road for anyone who is interested in them.