Scenic Drive on SD-87 - Custer State Park

Founded in 1912 and now containing over 71,000 acres of the Black Hills, Custer State Park is both the first and the largest state park in South Dakota. It is located immediately north of Wind Cave National Park. Wildlife fences keep the herds of wild animals from crossing into the adjacent park and forest lands.

We entered Custer State Park on SD-87 from Wind Cave National Park and paid our entrance fee five miles north at the fee station located at the southern end of Wildlife Loop Road. From there, we drove another 5.6 miles north on SD-87 before turning east on US-16A and driving 7.5 miles. We then turned south onto Wildlife Loop Road and drove 18.1 miles back to where we paid our entrance fee. We then headed south on SD-87 back to Wind Cave National Park. This post just covers the 10.6 miles of SD-87 in the park. We visited the park in August 2017.

Prairie Dogs closely watching Pronghorns

Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)

Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)

Mt Coolidge (6023')

Evidence of a forest fire

The Heddy Draw Overlook parking area was more than full, so we continued north on SD-87 another 0.4 miles to a gravel pullout on the down-slope side of Mt Coolidge. A short trail leads to a rock outcrop with views to the north. This location is 1.1 miles south of the junction with US-16A, but it is on a blind curve to southbound traffic.

Trailhead

End of trail at rock outcrop

A bit of a scramble is required to ascend the outcrop

View to the east

View to the north

A closer view north

View to the northwest

The Black Hills

Instead of collecting an entry fee, Custer State Park sells an entrance license that is required for all park visitors. Only people traveling non-stop on U.S. Highway 16A are exempt from this requirement. Entrance licenses are valid at all South Dakota state parks. A Temporary Vehicle License valid for seven consecutive days including the day it was issued is $20 per vehicle or $10 per motorcycle. An Annual Park Entrance License is $30.

The park website is http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/.