Explore the dramatic Needles Highway in Custer!
Custer State Park is South Dakota’s natural gem. It’s just simply amazing. The southern portion contains prairies and the foothills of the Black Hills. The norther section, however, is high in the mountains. The Needles Highway climbs into the mountains, topping out at over 6,000 ft. The highway connects the main road through Custer, Highway 36, to the gorgeous Sylvan Lake in the mountains. It’s splendid.
I kind of explored the Needles Highway a bit haphazardly. My goal was the Cathedral Spires Trail. I wanted to get there early because the parking area is super tiny. However, that meant I had to backtrack a bit to Sylvan Lake and then head back down the Needles Highway in the other direction. It all worked out in the end.
Jana Irving The famous Needles Eye Tunnel. It’s only 9 ft. wide. Later in the day, I watched a couple of pickup trucks with their extended mirrors still out when driving through. I’m surprised they didn’t break anything.
Jana Irving The other side of the tunnel. One direction of travel at at time.
Jana Irving The tunnel from the next overlook. You can kind of see why this area is called the Needles. It reminds me a lot of Pinnacles National Park.
Jana Irving Great views of the Black Hills from up here.
Jana Irving A towering needle.
Jana Irving The rock formations that inspired Mount Rushmore were in this area. Luckily this area wasn’t great for carving so the Needles were spared.
Jana Irving The Cathedral Spires.
Jana Irving Now for some views from the Cathedral Spires Trail. It’s pretty steep. Since I’m asthmatic and at high elevation, I only slightly felt like I was dying while climbing this thing. And people wonder why I didn’t hike in the Grand Canyon much. Hiking is not so fun when your lungs are on fire.
Jana Irving Needles sticking out through the trees.
Jana Irving Really cool!
Jana Irving Thick foliage along this trail.
Jana Irving Getting closer to the top.
Jana Irving The trail goes in between two ridges of needle-like rock formations and cliffs.
Jana Irving It’s like a little canyon.
Jana Irving The Cathedral Spires really do soar.
Jana Irving It’s amazing at what erosion can do.
Jana Irving There isn’t much of a view from the end of the trail, but that’s not why one hikes up here for. It’s the spires.
Jana Irving Just so neat!
Jana Irving Now for Sylvan Lake. A fantastic trail goes all a way around it.
Jana Irving Sylvan Lake is artificial, but that doesn’t make it any less gorgeous.
Jana Irving The Sylvan Lake Trail is gorgeous.
Jana Irving That ridge makes an almost natural dam. I haven’t see something like that before.
Jana Irving More needles.
Jana Irving Much greener up here than down in the prairie. Look at that aspen on the right!
Jana Irving The trail climbs up and now to play on the rocks.
Jana Irving Cute little chipmunk.
Jana Irving The really cool hollow on the other side of that giant rock ridge holding back the lake.
Jana Irving Very pretty back here.
Jana Irving Back to the lake.
Jana Irving Just gorgeous.
Jana Irving Now for some random overlooks along the Needles Highway.
Jana Irving Tree covered spire.
Jana Irving Gorgeous.
Jana Irving The Cathedral Spires from a distance.
Jana Irving The Needles Highway is very narrow. Always stay as far to the right as possible around curves.
The Needles Highway area of Custer State Park was soooo cool. It was completely different from the rest of Custer State Park. Luckily, the road has a ton of overlooks for you to stop and gaze at the wonderful views of the Black Hills.
Check out my next update where I will be exploring Wind Cave National Park!
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Start at the beginning of this northwest Midwest road trip!
