Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road

You’ll share the road with 1,300 free-roaming buffalo on this iconic loop through Custer State Park’s heart. The 18-mile paved and gravel route winds through grasslands and granite formations, passing the famous Needles Eye tunnel—a natural granite archway barely wide enough for most vehicles. Buffalo jams are real here, not tourist hype, and these thousand-pound beasts have zero respect for your schedule or paint job.

This is an easy scenic drive suitable for any vehicle, but the real challenge is patience when a herd decides your lane is their preferred grazing spot. Best visited May through October when wildlife is most active and roads are clear. No permits required, but park entry fees apply. Bring a camera and plenty of time—the buffalo and burros set the pace, not you. Multiple picnic areas and trailheads offer camping and hiking access throughout the Black Hills.