CUSTER STATE PARK

 Custer State Park is known as the best state park in the nation...no doubt!  We visited there on the last full day of our trip to South Dakota and began the day with a hike around Sylvan Lake.  Then we proceeded to cross the highest peaks of the Black Hills on the Needles Highway and ended up driving through the wildlife area and scoping out a large herd of Buffalo. 

The Needles Highway is very similar to the Badlands, as everywhere you look there is a photograph waiting to be taken.  The views start as often stunning and soon become spectacular!

South Dakota Highway #87 is known as the Needles Highway trekking through Custer State Park, crossing the peaks of the Black Hills. Sylvan Lake marked the beginning of a 14 mile scenic journey to  Legion Lake.  The highway was completed in 1922 and gets its name from the distinctive granite spires that rise from the slopes of the mountains. 

Expect frequent stops as with a small bit of rock scrambling some of the most stunning views can be seen of the surrounding South Dakota Black Hills.

I really believe this is a stunning view but then I move around some rocks and I then think this is a better view...

Then I move again...and I just can't decide anymore which view I like the best, so I just post them all and let you choose!

At the peak of the road is a most unusual tunnel. It is named "Needles Eye" for good reason.  The tunnel has been carved through a solid granite rock needle wall.  It is big enough for one car...at a time...the size of a car in 1922 that is!

Surrounding the "Needles Eye" tunnel are many uniquely formed granite spires. These are the "needles" from whence the name of the highway comes. While waiting for the alternating one way traffic traversing the tunnel to subside, we went rock scrambling and found many opportunities to photograph these granite wonders.

The views from the needles perch on top of the mountain also is unique and spectacular.

The needles form a castle rock wall around the top of these Black Hill peaks which can be seen for miles. The Lakota Sioux believed these hills to be sacred and that the recreational use of these hills by State and Federal governments violate treaties promising these mountains to the native Americans.  Traveling through these Black Hills, I was ever mindful that mountains like these have souls. 

From the other side of the tunnel down a trail leading from the overlook, I was able to view the Needles Eye Tunnel from a distance and give the location some perspective.

As we left the peak of the Black Hills that are marked by the granite needles the road switch backed a few times and standing before us were the spectacular Cathedral Spires.

There is a large overlook which marks the trail head of the Cathedral Spires trail.  The Fat Bald White Guy was eager to take that hike but my companions were eager to find lunch...rain check!

In my blog on Mt. Rushmore I tell the story of how South Dakota state historian had the ridiculous idea of desecrating these geological masterpieces by turning them into sculptures of old west heroes.  Thank goodness Gutzon Borglum rejected this idea and found Mt. Rushmore as the site for his sculpture.

Further down the mountain at another overlook, the distant view of Cathedral Spires resemble a scene from Lord of the Rings.  With the graying skies surrounding the peaks, this photograph takes on the appearance of an oil painting.

My favorite picture.  The Fat Bald White Guy is admiring the view while trying to frame the perfect picture.  Thanks to Whitdawg for memorializing this special moment.  I am reminded of a favorite quote: 

If these mountains had eyes, they would awake to find two strangers within their fences, standing in admiration as a breathing red pours its tinge on earth's shores.  These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise, but stand reverent, silent, that man's weak praise should be given God's attention" - Donald Miller

Further down the road, we found a great place to eat on the shores of Legion Lake, then stopped at the Custer State Park Visitor Center.  We watched a great movie about the park narrated by Kevin Costner.  We also passed by the lodge which was once the summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge, marking that place for a future return visit.  

Then we took off for the wildlife loop with pockets full of apples for the wild donkeys.  Trouble is, all we saw were buffalo. A spectacular sight for sure!

Custer State Park is the best state park in the nation. It contains variety of scenery, great roadway vistas, numerous hiking trails and one of the largest buffalo herds in the world.  This is as much of a bucket list to visit as Mt. Rushmore.