11 Best Sights in The Southern Black Hills, South Dakota

Legendary former governor and U.S. senator Peter Norbeck personally oversaw the layout of this road, which was designed during the 1930s to complement the park's scenic beauty. The 17-mile route winds around several wooden, pigtail bridges and passes through three rock tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore. Plan an hour or more on this road, because the going is intentionally slow, and you'll want to stop for pictures. The road forms part of the longer Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway.

Like Iron Mountain Road, the construction of Needles Highway was overseen by the late South Dakota politician Peter Norbeck, who took great care to complement the area's natural beauty. The winding, 14-mile road has numerous scenic overlooks, passes through two rock tunnels, and showcases the giant, fingerlike granite formations known as the Needles. The most popular stop on the route is the Needle's Eye, where one of the massive Needles formations sports a hole worn away by erosion. Because the Needle's Eye area is often packed with people and vehicles in tight quarters, use extra caution when passing through or stopping for a look.

People love to scramble around on the big rock formations that line this small, placid, picturesque mountain lake, which is high up in one of the most scenic parts of the park. The lake is very popular among paddlers, and there are kayak and canoe rentals available. Swimmers love the beach, and the campground is always full. A walking path along the shore is great for a relaxing stroll, while several other trails begin near the lake—including the most popular route to Black Elk Peak, the state's highest point. Snacks, drinks, apparel, and other items are available in the general store. All of these things make Sylvan Lake extremely popular, so you might consider getting up early to find parking and beat the crowds.

Cowboy poet Charles Badger Clark was the first poet laureate of South Dakota and spent 30 years of his life in a rustic cabin within Custer State Park. He died in 1957, but his cabin is preserved and open to visitors. There's a 1-mile hiking trail behind the cabin that's still lined with some of Clark's stonework.

As one of the lesser-known and more out-of-the-way lakes in Custer State Park, Center Lake is worth a visit for anyone hoping for a respite from the crowds. The 71-acre lake has a non-wake designation, which means motorized boats have to take it slow, while swimmers and paddlers rule the water. There's a nice beach and a campground at the lake, too, all surrounded by hills, rock formations, and the pine forest in the north-central part of the park.

After the discovery of gold in 1874, prospectors rushed into the Black Hills. They were all there illegally, because the area still belonged to the Sioux Native Americans as part of a treaty. Knowing that, a group of prospectors called the Gordon Party built a log fortress as protection against attacks. Within several months, the Army removed the party from the Black Hills; today, a replica of the log fortress stands on the site.

Giant rock formations frame this small lake, which has a swimming beach and is popular with paddlers. Canoe and kayak rentals are available at the back of the Dockside Grill restaurant on the lakeshore. There's a small campground and a cluster of rental cabins just up the hill.

The 6,023-foot summit known as Sheep Mountain was renamed Mount Coolidge in 1927 when President Calvin Coolidge vacationed in Custer State Park. During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built a stone fire-lookout tower atop the mountain, and that tower is still in use today. Visitors willing to brave a steep, narrow, curvy, 1.2-mile gravel road can drive to the summit to see the tower and take in the panoramic views.

Covering 129 acres with a depth of 17 feet, Stockade Lake is the biggest lake in the park and is especially popular for fishing. The lake has a boat ramp and numerous shore-fishing areas, as well as two campgrounds

If you like going a little off the beaten path, and if you dig quirky, small-town museums, consider checking out this facility, operated by local volunteers and showcasing finds "from the Stone Age to the Atomic Age." Those items include fossils, Native American artifacts, pioneer tools, and relics from Edgemont's uranium-mining boom of the 1950s through the 1970s. If you're lucky, you might encounter a talkative local volunteer who lived through some of the history that's on display.

Plan a couple of hours to make this 18-mile drive through some of the park's best meadows, where wildlife come to graze. You're likely to see some of the park's 1,300 bison, and you might have to stop for a while as they amble across the road (bison are dangerous, so keep a safe distance). You'll also see prairie dogs and burros (which are small, feral donkeys), and you might spot deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and birds of prey.