Since arriving in South Dakota early May (2018), Levi and I have been in total awe of our surroundings. We are workamping at Prairie Berry Winery in Hill City as wine tasting associates and spending our days off seeing all we can in the magnificent Black Hills. There is plenty to do and we feel not enough time to do so. One of the must-see places in this part of the country is Custer State Park! The park is a collage of towering rocks, winding roads, lush forests, wide open prairies, and blue skies (unless it is a down pour that day). Custer State Park is a haven to wildlife including bison, elk, deer, prairie dogs, and birds galore.
The first feature we experienced upon entering the park from the northwest entrance was a portion of SD 87, Needles Highway, a 14-mile loop-the-loop of winding roads, jutting rocks, breathtaking panoramic views of the Black Hills, narrow tunnels, and creatures roaming about, sometimes crossing the road. It’s an amusement park for bikers, playground for rock climbers, and exploration time for hikers trekking down one of the many trails running alongside the highway.
We drove our tiny Yaris down Needles Highway one afternoon in May and got some footage of our journey. This is definitely not a road for RVs as there are many tunnels as low as eight feet. With an average speed of 25 miles per hour, it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete. There’s no rush when there is amazing scenery like this to take in. Don’t forget to bring your cameras.
The following is a fast forward version of our drive down Needles Highway, just a little preview for those interested or others revisiting the turns and tunnels.
*****
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As always…safe travels and happy trails!
