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State park in South Dakota, United States
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Aadams1234 at wts wikivoyage, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota encompasses 71,000 acres of spectacular terrain and an abundance of wildlife.
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SD 87
This 14 mi mountain road twists and turns its way past towering needle-like granite formations and through narrow tunnels, one as small as 8 ft wide and 10 ft high. Allow about an hour to drive.
At the end of a tunnel stands this granite spire, with a slit only 3-4 ft feet wide but reaching 30 to 40 ft in the air.
An 18 mi road through open grasslands and hills, the preferred habitat for the park's large mammals. It's subject to frequent "traffic jams", when the park's herd of bison bumble across the road in no particular hurry.
1.5 mi one-way. Hike to the base of the striking granite pillars along the Needles Highway. Connects to Little Devils Tower Trail.
1.5 mi one-way. Leads to a scramble of a rock with a steep cliff on one side, vaguely resembling the formation in Wyoming. Makes a loop with Trail #9.
3.3 mi one-way. The most direct trail to Black Elk Peak, the highest point in South Dakota at 7,242 ft. There's an impressive lookout tower and observation deck at the top. Makes a loop with Trail #4.
U.S. Highway 16A (US-16A) enters the park east of the town of Custer and west of Hermosa.
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