Places Welcoming You
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Beaver Lake Campground Custer, South Dakota |
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Chris' Camp & RV Park Spearfish, South Dakota |
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Oasis Campground Chamberlain, South Dakota |
The gateway to the southern Black Hills, Custer is as rugged and adventurous today as it was when Gen. George Custer and his men founded the town during a gold-mining expedition nearly 150 years ago. For years, the community was a stopover for westward pioneers, and now that intrepid spirit can be enjoyed in everything from bison tours to trail rides. Live out your own Wild West fantasy at this one-of-a-kind destination, where history comes alive.
Custer is the jumping-off point for exploring the Black Hills National Forest. The rugged expanse encompasses 1.2 million acres of wilderness, multiple parks, wildlife galore, 450 miles of hiking trails and 11 reservoirs. Start with a drive around the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park, where you’re likely to catch glimpses of some of the 1,300 bison that live there, as well as bighorn sheep and elk. The 14-mile-long Needles Highway traverses forests and granite peaks. The road also brings visitors to the shores of Sylvan Lake, one of the park’s most famed — and photographed — vistas.
Trout season is bountiful in the Black Hills, so anglers should be sure to pack their fly rod — French Creek is an exceptionally beautiful choice. Stockade Lake teems with largemouth bass, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, yellow bullhead and yellow perch. To the north, Pactola Reservoir offers ample lake trout and rainbow trout. Brought your hunting gear? Deer, waterfowl and turkey hunting are favorite activities in-season as well.
Just a half-hour north of town, the 60-foot-tall faces of Mount Rushmore National Memorial loom over visitors who come to explore one of the most majestic and unique sculptures in the world. Visit the nearby Lincoln Borglum Museum to learn how the fantastic work of art was overseen by Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln, from its start in 1927 through its completion in 1941. Hike the interpretive half-mile Presidential Trail to learn more.
The Crazy Horse Memorial, just 10 minutes outside Custer, is the world’s largest ongoing mountain carving. Begun in 1948, the site will one day honor Native American traditions with a soaring stone monument bearing the face and body of Crazy Horse atop a noble horse.
Visit Custer
800-992-9818
South Dakota Department of Tourism
800-732-5682