Black Hills Nature Tour Wildlife Watching and Scenic Views

A classic scenic drive created to showcase the granite-sculpted hills and tall Ponderosa pine forests. Famous for its curved route, pigtail bridges, and narrow tunnels that were designed to frame views of Mount Rushmore, this road feels like a moving picture of the Black Hills as you climb and descend. Stop at Peter Norbeck Overlook for sweeping panoramas and quick field talks about road history, geology, and forest ecology.

Here you’ll find peaceful waters, a small trail loop, and a setting inviting contemplation rather than adrenaline. It’s a favored spot among anglers and visitors seeking a moment of calm among pines, water ripples, and birdsong.

This scenic loop inside Custer State Park invites a more relaxed, immersive pace—perfect for spotting wildlife, enjoying shifting light in meadows and forests, and connecting with the Black Hills’ spirit of openness. The undulating terrain, gentle curves, and frequent pullouts offer opportunities to witness bison, pronghorn, mule deer, and more roaming free.

Dramatically framed by granite walls and topped by forested ridges, Sylvan Lake is as photo-friendly as it is peaceful. Rising from the shores you feel the rock formations closing in, giving a dramatic contrast to the lake’s gentle surface. Created in 1891 when a dam was built across Sunday Gulch Creek, the lake now hosts hiking, paddling, and swimming in a truly iconic Black Hills setting.

Stockade Lake is the largest lake in Custer State Park and offers glimpses into regional history along its shores.

Legion Lake evokes a refined stillness. Combining unusual geology with modern history, this makes for a perfect stop along the way.

At 6,023 feet, this is a fantastic place to drive, get out, and look at the wilderness we've been exploring, but from above.

A journey on Needles Highway is more than a drive—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience through jagged granite spires, slender tunnels, lush forest, and open meadows. Inspired by Peter Norbeck, the vantage points couldn't be any better, and the observational pull-offs are stunning.

Also known as the inspiration for Mount Rushmore, these granite spires and peaks were spared from blasting, and we're happy they were. It's the core of the mountain, and displays rock billions of years old.