Custer State Park

Custer State Park offers 71,000 acres of hiking, horseback riding, boating, biking, and wildlife viewing.

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Custer State Park Details

Located on the southeastern edge of Black Hills National Forest, just northwest of Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park offers 71,000 acres of hiking, horseback riding, boating, biking, and wildlife viewing. The park is home to a herd of 1,300 buffalo -- the largest in the country. The herd roams freely across the prairie, often causing traffic jams as they meander across the road to fresh pastures. You can join a ranger-led horse tour or a jeep tour, or explore the park on your own. An access permit is required to enter the park. Permits are good for seven days and cost $15 per vehicle, or $10 per motorcycle. The Custer State Park Resort offers five lodges: the Blue Bell Lodge, State Game Lodge, Sylvan Lake Lodge, Creekside Lodge, and Legion Lake Lodge. There are also four restaurants, from fine dining at the State Game Dining Lodge to the relaxed, Western-style Blue Bell Dining Lodge local fare at the Sylvan Lake Lodge, and diner-style eats at the Legion Lake Dining Lodge.

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