Posts From The Road: Custer State Park

Sylvan Lake: Sylvan Lake is located in the northern part of the park. This lake features several rock formations in and around the lake and is very popular with water sport enthusiasts as well as picnicking, hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities. A lodge and campground are located nearby for overnight stays. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Needles Eye Tunnel: One of the tunnels on the Needles Highway is the Needles Eye Tunnel. This tunnel is just over eight feet wide making it a tight space for many vehicles. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
 
Needles Eye: The Needles Eye spire stands tall outside of the Needles Eye Tunnel. Its unique opening looks like the eye of a sewing needle. The opening was formed by water and wind over years of freezing and thawing moisture and winds. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
 
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
 
Custer State Park is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota near Rapid City, SD.
 
This large park is know for its scenery and wildlife.
 
There are several drives with the two most popular being the Needles Highway and the Wildlife Loop Road.
 
Custer State Park is open year-round except for the Needles Highway which is closed from November-March. The campgrounds may have limited services as well during the winter.
 
There are several lodges and campgrounds in the park but reservations are needed.
 
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country and he shares his photographs, which appear in the ‘Posts from the Road’ series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.

Needles Highway: The Needles Highway, seen in the left of the photo, allows visitors to drive in and through massive granite ‘needles’ or spires. This scenic drive also features three tunnels through the granite formations. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Bison Jam: Traffic is usually not an issue in state parks. However, when driving the Wildlife Loop Road at Custer State Park, visitors may experience a bison jam as the huge animals plod in and across the roads. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

Legion Lake: Another lake within the park is Legion Lake. A campground is located nearby for overnight stays. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com

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