Apr 21, 2009

Custer State Park: Enjoying Custer SD In South Dakota’s Black Hills

Have you ever wanted to roam where the buffalo roam? Then make sure and stop in Custer State Park in South Dakota’s Black Hills just a few miles east of historic Custer South Dakota.

The Annual Buffalo Round Up and Art Festival is held annually at the end of September, when the autumn foliage is spectacular. Spice up your mouth with the chili cook-off, or watch in awe as hundreds of buffalo are corralled for branding and vaccinations by cowboys and cowgirls. Western activities are available for young and old alike. Local artisans let you view their skills and purchase finished works.

The Park is the haven for cyclists from around the world who thrill to both the fat tire and the dirt trail rides. Hikers can appreciate the state hiking system, designed to provide all levels of physical ability trails around the numerous waterways, meadows, and ponds. Motorcyclists, bikers, and horseback riders can explore many paths left behind by ranchers and loggers. Some well known trails include the Centennial Trail that meanders through a large portion of the area, the Grace Coolidge Walk-In Fishing Area on US Hwy 16A, and the George S. Mickelson Trail, where it is claimed the ghosts of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane still roam. The Mickelson Trail, which opened in 1998, is designed for hikers and bikers of all levels with gentle slopes, easy access, and countless converted railroad bridges. The panoramic views of nature in spring and autumn are unforgettable. However, except in the springtime, no water is available along the trail, so please bring your own in environmentally friendly containers.

For a more sophisticated evening out, plan reservations to take in a performance at the Black Hills Playhouse, built in 1946. It is one of the oldest, continuously running summer playhouses, and boasts some of the best off-Broadway acting in the country. Funded by the University of South Dakota, the theatre now has five dormitories to house the performers and stage crew. The Children’s Theatre of South Dakota is an outreach program with a goal of introduce children to the arts.

In addition, do not pass by the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore, both located at the edge of Custer State Park. The memorial to Crazy Horse began to emerge from the mountain in 1948 and is still a work in progress. It is a privately funded operation. Mount Rushmore is a National Monument depicting the heads of four presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abe Lincoln.

Come visit Custer State Park on your way to Custer South Dakota in the South Dakota’s Black Hills. Your kids will enjoy it!

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2 Comments

  • Nice write up…usually I never reply to these thing but this time I will,Thanks for the great info :)

  • I thought I wasnt going to like this blog but more I read the more I liked it.

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