South Dakota, Driving The Needles Highway

A $15 entrance fee, good for 7 days and I am headed on 87 South for a drive through Custer State Park. My first stop is at Sullivan Lake a beautiful, peaceful spot surrounded by a stunning rock formation. The area provides a good opportunity for a picnic, hiking or just a chance to relax in the South Dakota outdoors.

From along 87 South, I make a stop for a hike to Little Devil's Tower but I am discouraged by the looming weather. Over the past few days, the area has been effected by some severe afternoon thunderstorms and the light rain falling may just be a warning sign.

Continuing my drive from under cloudy to blue to cloudy skies, my relaxing thoughts are frequently interrupted by radio announcements from the National Weather Service. “The National Weather Service in Rapid City has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for …. with damaging hail and tornadoes possible.... Beep, beep... beep.”

Highway 87 is also known as the Needles Highway and has one of the more scenic routes in the area. The Needles Highway is also famous for having some of the oldest rock formation in North America. In particular and of worthwhile interest is the Eye Of The Needle which dates back to maybe a billion or so years ago.

A single lane drive through the rock formation and I walk back to explore around the area popular for rock climbers.

Despite the on again, off again rain I do manage a short hike at a small park further down Highway 87. To hear the flow of a small stream and the chirping of a bird as it flies away less than fifty feet from me completes my day and experience in Black Hills of South Dakota.

Leaving the park, I spot a few deer in a field that quickly disappear as I approach. Down the road a bison is feeding along the highway and a few of us stop to watch. He is not the least concerned about our presence. He is definitely the 800 pound gorilla in the room.

The sky has now become pitch black and buckets of rain are falling along with cats and dogs as I head back to Rapid City. With more warnings from the National Weather Service about damaging hail and possible tornadoes, I just hope I don't end up in Kansas.

Video:
http://youtu.be/RfmDgrCW_VA

Whew!!! Glad to hear that you didn't intercept any of the bad weather. Thanks for the info. My husband and I are headed out that way in mid September so I am looking forward to driving Needles Hwy. I haven't had much time to research the area so appreciate your story.