Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway

This oval-shaped loop road is ranked as one of the top scenic drives in the country.

Plan Around Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway

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Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway Details

This oval-shaped loop road is ranked as one of the top scenic drives in the country. The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway is made up of SD Highway 87 (called Needles Highway), US Highway 16A (Iron Mountain Road), South Dakota Highway 244 (Horsethief Lake Road), and SD Highway 89 (Sylvan Lake Road). It winds through some of the most picturesque and historical spots in the eastern region of the Black Hills National Forest, include the famous granite Needles formations, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse National Memorial, Harney Peak (the highest point in South Dakota), as well as waterfalls, lakes, forests, and canyons. The road is famous for its steep and windy path, sharp switchbacks, spiral-shaped pigtail bridges, and frighteningly narrow bridges (some no more than 10 feet wide and 12 feet tall). With several wildlife preserves along the way, you are almost guaranteed to see buffalo, mountain goats, pronghorn antelope, deer, elk, and other large prairie animals.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

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Nearby Parks Around Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway

Compare nearby parks around Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

74.8 mi away

Badlands

National Park · SD

211.4 mi away

Theodore Roosevelt

National Park · ND

264.7 mi away

Rocky Mountain

National Park · CO

356.0 mi away

Yellowstone

National Park · WY

363.7 mi away

Grand Teton

National Park · WY

427.8 mi away

Black Canyon

National Park · CO

Nearby Points of Interest Around Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway while the map context is still fresh.

0.0 mi away

Norbeck Overlook

Pull over here for a pretty view of Mount Rushmore.

1.5 mi away

Iron Mountain Road

This 17-mile stretch of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway runs between Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Custer State Park.

1.6 mi away

Parking

Parking is readily available in the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Parking Facility.

1.6 mi away

Audio Tour

The Mount Rushmore Audio Tour combines music, narration, interviews, historic recordings and sound effects to tell the story of the monument.

1.6 mi away

Information Center and Bookstore

Stop by the Information Center at the entrance of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial to plan your visit.