Custer Peak Fire Tower Road

Forest Service Road 345 climbs 1,200 feet in three brutal miles to reach Custer Peak’s fire tower, one of the last working lookouts in the Black Hills. The route starts innocently enough near Custer State Park’s north boundary, but quickly turns nasty with exposed granite ledges, loose rock sections, and switchbacks tight enough to make you question your turning radius. The final half-mile requires careful line choice through basketball-sized boulders before you break into the clearing where the 80-foot steel tower has been watching over the Hills since 1939.

This is difficult territory that demands a capable 4WD with skid plates, low gearing, and an experienced driver who knows when to get out and spot. The granite can be slick when wet, so avoid this route during or after storms. Summer and early fall offer the best conditions and clearest views from the tower, where you can see into Wyoming on clear days. No permits needed, but respect the working tower and firefighters during fire season. It’s a technical challenge that earns you one of the finest views in the Black Hills.