Custer State Park - Guide To (2013) - 32 Pages

Tatanka Custer State Park
the 2013 guide to
are dangerous. Please Reservations: Buffalo www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267
do not approach. 1
Welcome to Custer State Park

Tatanka
Tatanka is the Lakota word for bison or buffalo.
The Tatanka is published by the S.D. Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Photos provided by S.D. Departments of Tourism and Game, Fish and Parks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and Ron Fry.
Volume 34 2013
Thank you for choosing to visit Custer State Park. With my first year as the park superintendent behind me, it is a time of reflection. This past year, the park experienced record visitation and camping. For me it becomes more personal than the numbers. Many times I have been asked, what is it about the park that makes it special for you? Custer State Park is a 71,000-acre natural playground for all ages. It is a place that offers inner renewal, a place to create memories, and for many, a place to reconnect with their past memories of family vacations and to re-live those childhood memories with their children or grandchildren. The park offers a variety of opportunities to get out and explore nature. One can do this through an array of interpretive programs. Participate in a gold panning demonstration, explore one of the many trails, and learn about the flora and fauna of the park, or the rich history the park has to offer. A driving tour of one of the scenic routes gives you an appreciation of the natural beauty the park has to offer. Experience the buffalo roaming throughout the park, view wildlife such as the pronghorn, deer, bighorn sheep and experience the sights and sounds of the prairie dog towns. And dont forget the begging burrows along the Wildlife Loop Road. So come and forget about the daily pressures of life. I think you will agree that this place is truly magical. Reconnect with nature and take away life-long memories that will bring a smile to your face until you have the chance to refresh those memories with another visit. Matthew Snyder, Superintendent Custer State Park
Dennis Daugaard Governor of South Dakota Jeffrey R. Vonk Secretary, S.D. Department of Game, Fish & Parks Doug Hofer Director, S.D. Division of Parks and Recreation Matthew Snyder Superintendent, Custer State Park Brooke Smith Tatanka Editor
inside this issue

Welcome & Fees............................................................... 2 Things to Know................................................................ 4 The Parks Team. ................................................................ 5 Special Events................................................................... 6 Summer Interpretive Programs......................................... 8 Park History.................................................................... 11 Wildlife Information...................................................... 12 Lakes & Streams............................................................. 15 Campsites & Facilities.................................................... 16 Forest Management. .........................................................18 Trails............................................................................... 20 Winter at the Park........................................................... 22 Scenic Drives.................................................................. 23 Getting Around. ............................................................... 24 Custer State Park Resort................................................. 25 Black Hills Playhouse..................................................... 30 Black Hills Area Map. ...................................... Inside Back Custer State Park Map..................................... Back Cover
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the S.D. Department of Game, Fish and Parks is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to: S.D. Department of Game, Fish and Parks, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501-3182; or to the Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Interior, Office of the Secretary, Washington, DC 20240. 230,000 copies of this publication were printed at a cost of 17 cents each. Front Cover: Photo by Chad Coppess, SD Department of Tourism
Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com
Sylvan Lake
Important Phone Numbers

We want your stay at Custer State Park to be safe and enjoyable. Please keep these numbers in a convenient location. Emergency Mount Coolidge Fire Tower May-September: 605.255.4567 or dial 911 Medical Services Rapid City Regional Hospital: 605.719.1000 Emergency Room: 605.719.8222 Custer Regional Hospital & Urgent Care: 605.673.2229 Custer Regional Medical Clinic: 605.673.4150 Poison Control Center: 800.764.7661 Law Enforcement South Dakota Highway Patrol: 605.394.2286 Custer County Sheriff: 605.673.8176 Custer State Park Park Headquarters: 605.255.4515 Peter Norbeck Visitor Center: 605.255.4464 Wildlife Station Visitor Center: 605.255.4054 Camping reservations: 1.800.710.2267 or www.campsd.com Email: custerstatepark@state.sd.us Web: www.custerstatepark.com Custer State Park Resort Information: 605.255.4772 Reservations: 1.888.875.0001 Email: info@custerresorts.com Web: www.custerresorts.com South Dakota State Parks Camping reservations: 1.800.710.2267 or www.campsd.com Information: 605.773.3391 Website: www.gfp.sd.gov Email: parkinfo@state.sd.us Weather Weather Information: 605.341.7531 on any phone: 511 N.O.A.A.-Central Hills: 162.550 MHz N.O.A.A.-Southern Hills: 162.425 MHz
New to Custer State Park

Check out some of the park features new in 2013. Two picnic shelters at Shorty Ellerton picnic area Playground equipment near Center Lake beach Interpretative signs at Sylvan Lake and Cathedral Spires area Additional kayaks and canoes to support canoeing programs Fishing Pier at Sylvan Lake The annual Buffalo Roundup will be held on Friday, September 27
Park Fees
Entrance Fees Annual Park Entrance License..................................................................... $30 Second Annual Park Entrance License........................................................ $15 Transferable Park Entrance License............................................................ $65 Temporary Vehicle License (1-7 consecutive days)....................... $15/vehicle ...................................................................................................$10/motorcycle Motorcoach License........................................... $3/person per continuous visit An entrance license is required of all park visitors. Only people traveling non-stop on U.S. Highway 16A are exempt from this requirement. Camping Fees Camping Cabins............................................................................ $47 per night French Creek Horse Camp................................... $27E per camping unit/night Blue Bell, Game Lodge, Grace Coolidge, Legion Lake, Stockade Lake, and Sylvan Lake Campgrounds........................ $20N/$24E per camping unit/night Center Lake Campground.................................... $18N per camping unit/night Game Lodge & Stockade group areas..... $6 per person/night, minimum $120 French Creek Natural Area................................................. $6 per person/night Non-profit Youth Areas.................................................. $0.50 per person/night E=Electrical campsites N=Non-electrical campsite
Reservations: www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267
Things to Know
General park guidelines
Regulations are designed to protect both park resources and park visitors. Conservation officers and park rangers enforce the parks laws and regulations. Feeding and disturbing wildlife is against park regulations. DO NOT approach the buffalo. Open fires are prohibited unless in an approved fire grate located in campgrounds or picnic areas. Visitors are not allowed to jump or dive from bridges, rocks or cliffs into any of the parks lakes, ponds or streams. The maximum speed allowed in the park is 35 miles per hour. Open containers of alcohol in a motor vehicle are prohibited. Removal of any natural or cultural features such as antlers, rocks or artifacts is prohibited. Loaded firearms are not allowed in the park. Unloaded and cased firearms may be transported in a vehicle. Pets need to be on a leash no longer than 10 feet. Pets are not allowed in any park buildings or on designated swimming beaches. Please clean up after your pet. Do not leave pets unattended. Checkout time for cabins is 11 a.m. Checkout time for campsites is noon.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Every August, thousands of motorcyclists visit the Black Hills during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Races. While many visitors enjoy the rally, others would rather avoid the motorcycles and visit at another time of the year. To help our guests plan their stay, below are the next several years rally dates, so you can either join em or avoid em. 2013..............August 5 - 11 2014............. August 4 - 10 2015............... August 3 - 9
Practice safety at the park

We hope you enjoy your stay at Custer State Park. However, with any outdoor activities a certain amount of risk is involved. If an emergency should arise, please refer to the appropriate emergency numbers listed on page three. Bison The parks biggest attraction is its herd of North American bison. But remember, these animals are dangerous, so please give them plenty of space. Snakes Custer State Park is home to the venomous prairie rattlesnake. This snake may strike if threatened, and treatment must be sought at the nearest medical facility. Ticks These tiny insects are found in thick vegetation. Ticks can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other illnesses. Use care when removing ticks. Weather Thunderstorms are common in the Black Hills region. Lightning, hail, strong winds and heavy rains may be associated with these severe storms. Mosquitoes These insects can carry the West Nile virus and should be avoided. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and use a repellent containing DEET or Picaridin. Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn. Water Campers and hikers should NEVER drink water from lakes, streams or springs. Poison Ivy Not everyone is allergic to poison ivy, but for those who are, the rash it causes can be very uncomfortable. Learn to recognize this plant and wear long sleeves and pants when hiking in wooded areas or along streams. Climbing Rock climbing should be done only under the supervision of trained instructors. Possessions For maximum security, the park encourages visitors to keep their valuables with them at all times. Photographs When taking photos, please pull off the roadways and be aware of what is going on around you.
Lost and found

Each year, approximately 1.7 million people visit Custer State Park. As you can imagine, occasionally people misplace an item or find one lost by other visitors. All lost and found items and records are kept at the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center, centrally located in the park near the State Game Lodge. If you find or lose an item, you dont have to venture all the way to the visitor center. Stop at one of our five entrance stations and fill out a lost and found form. Our staff will deliver the item and the completed form to the visitor center for you.
the Parks Team

Work in the park for the summer
Each summer, Custer State Park hires a number of employees and volunteers that help maintain and operate the park during the busy summer season. Summer staff is hired in a number of areas, including staffing the parks five entrance stations, assisting in the operation of the nine campground complexes, taking care of buildings and grounds, presenting park naturalist programs, controlling noxious weeds, assisting law enforcement staff and staffing the fire lookout and dispatch center at Mount Coolidge. The park even offers some summer seasonal housing and full-service campsites for our seasonal work force. Volunteers typically assist with staffing needs at the visitor centers, perform general park maintenance or act as campground hosts. In return, volunteers are eligible to receive a campsite with complete hookups during the time they volunteer. If you are interested in summer employment or volunteering in Custer State Park, contact the park headquarters at 605.255.4515 or email the park at custerstatepark@state.sd.us. In addition, many seasonal employees are needed to help run the parks four resort complexes. Contact the Custer State Park Resort at 605.255.4772, email info@custerresorts.com or go to www.custerresorts.com for information on working for them.
Help support Custer State Park

Donations are always welcome at Custer State Park and may even be allocated to your favorite program. For information on contributing, stop by the park office or contact either of these two organizations. S.D. Parks and Wildlife Foundation 523 E Capitol Ave. Pierre, SD 57501 www.parkswildlifefoundation.org 605.773.3387 Black Hills Parks & Forests Association 26611 US Highway 385 Hot Springs, SD 57747 www.blackhillsparks.org 605.745.7020
Area state parks showcase the variety of the Black Hills
Angostura Recreation Area Located 10 miles SE of Hot Springs, off US 18/385, Phone: 605.745.6996 Angostura Reservoir is a water-lovers haven in the southern Black Hills. With plenty of room for boating, fishing and swimming, this recreation area attracts visitors to its clear waters and natural sand beaches. Five campgrounds offer camping and cabins along the reservoirs shores. The park also features hiking and biking trails, volleyball, horseshoes and a nine-hole disc golf course. A South Dakota State Parks entrance license is required.
George S. Mickelson Trail Runs 109 miles from Edgemont to Deadwood, Phone: 605.584.3896 The George S. Mickelson Trail runs through the heart of the Black Hills. The trails gentle slopes and easy access enables people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the scenery of the area. The multi-use trail is enjoyed by hikers, bikers, horseback riders, snowshoers and cross-country skiers. A trail pass is required and can be purchased at one of the many trailheads along the trail.
Bear Butte State Park Located 6 miles NE of Sturgis off SD 79, Phone: 605.347.5240 Mato Paha or Bear Mountain is the Lakota name given to this site. The mountain is sacred to many American Indian tribes. A rugged two-mile hike to the summit rewards visitors with a view of four states. The park also features campsites, an education center, fishing, a horse camp and connects to the Centennial Trail for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. A South Dakota State Parks entrance license is required.
Special Events
Open House and Free Fishing Weekend When: May 17-19 Info: 605.255.4464 Enjoy a free weekend at Custer State Park, beginning at 8 a.m. Friday and ending 11 p.m. Sunday. Entrance fees are not charged at any South Dakota state park or recreation area during this weekend. Camping fees are still required. To celebrate the beginning of the summer season, visitors can enjoy nature hikes, hayrack rides, cowboy cookouts, pancake feeds and other special events. This is also the weekend for the parks infamous buffalo chip throwing contest. Fishing licenses are not required on South Dakota waters during this special weekend. The park hosts a free fishing derby, awarding prizes for anglers in each age group. Seasonal Volksmarch Event Peter Norbeck Visitor Center When: May 18-Sept. 30 Info: 605.255.4464 The term volksmarch literally means a walk of the people in German.
Buffalo Roundup
Friday, September 27, 2013
The roundup takes place near the corrals on Wildlife Loop Road. Two viewing areas are set aside for spectators the north and south viewing areas. Most first-timers to the event recommend the south viewing area. Arrive between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. The buffalo are usually corralled around noon, with sorting to take place at the corrals starting at 1 p.m. Reservations not required. 2014 Roundup is Sept. 26 Food concessions available on site. Volksmarching evolved from public races in southern Germany into the noncompetitive sport of today. Custer State Park, like many recreation areas, continues this European tradition and offers a volksmarch trail for interested visitors. Participants walk a 6.2-mile trail through various park habitats. Yellow flexible posts with a volksmarch label mark the entire trail. The parks trail has an American Volkssport Association rating of a 3C on a 1-5, A-E scale. It has some hill climbing and is not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. The 2013 trail begins at the east trailhead of the French Creek Natural Area, just off the Wildlife Loop Road. At 2,209 acres, French Creek Nature Area was established to protect the abundant natural resources within the area while providing visitors the opportunity to experience the untouched beauty of the French Creek Gorge. The trail crosses French Creek and moderately ascends a hill for 2.5 miles to a plateau overlooking the southern Black Hills and Badlands. At this point, the trail descends into the French Creek canyon area, winding
48th annual
through the pine and into deciduous forest, crossing the creek 2-3 times. Wildlife is abundant, including deer, bighorn sheep, turkey, elk and buffalo. Remember that buffalo are dangerous and this is a common place to see them. Please give all wildlife a wide berth. Participants can register at the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center during regular facility hours to receive credit for hiking the route. National Trails Day When: June 1 Info: 605.255.4464 National Trails Day is set aside each year to promote use of trails throughout the country, along with appreciation for our natural areas and access to them. To celebrate National Trails Day, Custer State Park will host three Walk in the Park events: Prairie Trail Walk Meet at the Wildlife Station Visitor Center at 9 a.m. Little Devils Tower Walk Meet at the Sylvan Lake General Store at 1 p.m. Badger Clark Trail Walk Meet at the Badger Hole at 4 p.m. The 48th Annual Buffalo Roundup When: Sept. 27 Info: 605.255.4515 The prairie is calm and quiet on a dewy September morning. Meadowlarks sing out happily and the crickets answer the prairie birds with their own call. As the sun begins to peek over the hill in the east, a hush falls over the birds and insects. A low rumble sounds on the mixed-grass prairie. It always seems that a child spots them first - a mittened hand points to a few black dots on the top of the ridge. Soon, all eyes are fixed upon that ridge, as more dots appear. Suddenly, the excited murmurs of the crowd are quieted by cowboy yelps and the thunder of 5,200 hooves pounding the prairie soil. For over 47 years, this has been the scene at Custer State Park. At
the annual Buffalo Roundup, state employees and volunteers coax the parks herd of 1,300 buffalo over the ridge, down the hill and into the corrals for sorting. The roundup is one of the aspects that keeps the herd size at a level that the park can support over the winter. During the roundup, the herd is moved into a system of corrals along the Wildlife Loop Road. Once corralled, handlers test, vaccinate, brand and sort the bison. Most of the bison are released back into the park, while others remain in the corrals until the annual auction, held on the third Saturday in November. The Buffalo Roundup has grown from a utilitarian task to a popular South Dakota event. The event, which is open to the public, attracts more than 14,000 people each year. The event also gains attention around the globe. Foreign correspondents cover the story for their readers back home, and a satellite beams the roundup live to other continents. Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival When: Sept. 28-29 Info: 605.255.4515 For 20 years, the arts festival has complimented Custer State Parks annual Buffalo Roundup. The event features hundreds of artisans and crafters from around the region, as well as educational programs, family activities, entertainment and food. Start your morning with a pancake and sausage breakfast and then browse through the many exhibit booths. Entertainment is scheduled throughout the day and features local talent including cloggers, square dancers, American Indian hoop dancers, singers and cowboy poets. Several special events are scheduled throughout each day, including buffalo chip tossing and a childrens drawing wall. Between activities, be sure to try a world-famous buffalo burger or sample other goodies hot off the grill.
Dutch Oven Cookoff When: Sept. 28 Info: 605.390.6843 Come see and sample some of the best Dutch Oven cooking in the region at the Buffalo Roundup Dutch Oven Cookoff. Dutchers will compete for points and prizes in this sanctioned international Dutch Oven Society Cookoff, sponsored by Cabelas. Buffalo Wallow Chili Cookoff When: Sept. 29 Info: 800.992.9818 Chefs from around the area brew up their favorite recipe and spectators are invited to sample as many entries as their mouths can handle. The competition is as hot as the chili with cash prizes and trophies awarded in several categories. The 24th Annual Chili Cookoff, sponsored by the Custer Area Chamber of Commerce, is held in conjunction with the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival. The contest is limited to 30 chili chefs. 16th Annual Halloween Night Hike When: Oct. 25-26 Info/Reservations: 605.255.4464 Take a 1.5-mile guided hike along a paved trail and meet costumed characters that portray natural history about various plants, animals or people living in the Black Hills. Each hike will start at the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center and travel to the Game Lodge Campground where characters are staged at various campsites to act out humorous skits. The guided hike lasts approximately one hour. The event is suitable for families with young children and is educational without the spookiness of Halloween. With the trail lit by jack-o-lanterns and tiki torches, hikers will enjoy the sights, sounds and night life of Custer State Park. Hikes depart from the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center every 15 minutes starting at 5:30 p.m. The last hike departs at 8:30 p.m. each night. Reservations are required and can be made starting October 1, 2013.
Explore the Natural World

Custer State Park offers its visitors multiple opportunities to explore, learn and experience the unique beauty of the Black Hills. Through two visitor centers and an extensive summer interpretive program, visitorsyoung and old alikelearn about the regions natural and cultural history first-hand. Wildlife Loop Caravan Custer State Park is loaded with nature. Grab your binoculars and experience the beauty and wildlife on a guided tour of the parks Wildlife Loop Road, located in the southern portion of the park. During the caravan, participants may observe bison, pronghorns, elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, prairie dogs and coyotes. The road is also famous for its wide variety of colorful wildflowers and prairie grasses. You can be guided along this scenic route with a naturalist daily at 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Canoeing Basics Row, row, row your boat! Come join us in a refreshing canoe trip across one of the scenic lakes in the park. Participants will learn the basic techniques of canoeing including carrying and entering the canoe, paddling, and water safety. Catch glimpses of osprey as they swoop down to catch fish out of Stockade and Center Lake; or see frogs and turtles as they scamper into the water when your canoe slowly passes by the shoreline. Participants should plan on getting wet! Lifejackets are provided and required during the canoe outing. Participants are allowed to bring their own life jacket and are encouraged to wear water shoes. Children must be seven years of age or weigh at least 90 pounds to participate. Tuesday Center Lake from 1 p.m.3 p.m. Meet at Center Lake boat ramp. Thursday Stockade Lake from 1 p.m.3 p.m. Meet at the Gordon Stockade. Sunday Center Lake from 1 p.m.3 p.m. Meet at Center Lake boat ramp. Patio Activities Play an active habitat game with your children, study the unique traits of area mammals while making plaster casts of their tracks or create a basket using only pine needles and sinew (bison tendons). The park offers family-friendly patio activities such as these each day from June to Labor Day. Activities begin on the front patio of the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Gold Panning Demonstrations Catch the fever of the 1870s gold rush that made the Black Hills region famous. Get your feet wet and meet a park interpreter for an exciting hands-on gold panning demonstration. Participants learn about the Black Hills gold rush of the 1870s, the historical role it played on the American frontier and then try their luck at finding some yellow ore in one of the parks creeks. This program is offered each day at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Guided Nature Walks Guided nature walks are offered most days at various times from June to midAugust. Naturalists lead visitors through open grasslands, dense forests and towering granite spires, allowing hikers to learn about several areas of the park. These walks provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about the parks birds, wildflowers, resource management, geology and history. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear and dress appropriately for the weather. Check the daily program schedules for locations of each hike.
Hook Em & Cook Em Fishing Grab your fishing pole or borrow some of the parks equipment to try your luck in some of South Dakotas most beautiful lakes and streams. Park naturalists reveal the secrets of fishing for trout in the Black Hills, and offer some tasty recipes for the catch. This program is offered June to Labor Day. Tuesday Center Lake at 9:30 a.m. Meet at the Center Lake boat ramp. Thursday Stockade Lake at 9:30 a.m. Meet at the Gordon Stockade. Sunday Legion Lake at 9:30 a.m. Meet at Legion Lake fishing dock. Space and equipment loans are limited and are available on a first-come, firstserved basis. All participants must have a valid South Dakota fishing license. Fishing licenses can be purchased at any lodge in the park. Buffalo History Comes Alive Would you like to learn more about the history of the buffalo at Custer State Park? What about hunting buffalo with an 1878 market hunter? Do you want to see and touch buffalo body parts and learn the Native Americans uses for them? As you travel along the Wildlife Loop Road, look for an interpreter along the way between June and Labor Day. Interpreters are available from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For specific locations during your visit, contact the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center. Evening Programs Evening interpretive programs are presented in four of the parks campgroundsBlue Bell, Center Lake, Game Lodge and Stockade Lake Northand periodically at other campgrounds in the park. Naturalists present educational programs on a variety of subjects, including plants and wildlife, habitats, conservation, outdoor recreation, geology, astronomy
and park history. Programs begin at 9 p.m., and are held daily Memorial Day to Labor Day. Schedules will change slightly beginning in mid-August. Please see the program schedule or contact either visitor center for current information Visitor Centers The Civilian Conservation Corps built the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center as the park museum during the winter months of 1934-35. The young men of Camp Lodge, ages 17-25, created a structure that blends into the surroundings. They used their talent in construction and native materials of logs and rocks to create a building to educate the public on the parks natural and cultural history. Interpretive exhibits and displays allow visitors to gaze into the eyes of a 1,900-pound bison or witness tree rings dating back 330 years. Displays reveal much about the history of the area, from Black Hills geology to the efforts of an 1876 gold panner. The Peter Norbeck Visitor Center is the main location for the parks educational programs. Each visitor should visit the center to learn more about the park. The Wildlife Station Visitor Center is located along Wildlife Loop Road
and is the place to stop for questions that come up during your drive down the scenic road. If you saw a beautiful prairie flower or a new critter, staff will help you identify it. Staff can also tell you the area where the parks herd of buffalo is located. Geocaching Adventure Custer State Park offers an exciting opportunity for visitors interested in geocaching. Eight locations, scattered around the park, serve as geocache sites. They could be anywhere, from a historical landmark to an exhibit within a visitor center. Participants are bound to enjoy the game-like adventure as they travel through the parks diverse natural and cultural sites. Most importantly, the game will lead you to several seldomseen areas of the park. To get started, just obtain a geocache list at the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center. The list contains the coordinates and some scavenger hunt questions. And, you dont necessarily have to complete it all in one trip. Just send it back to the park upon completion. This activity begins April 1 and concludes Oct. 31. Three winners will be selected by a random drawing of all successful participants, and each will receive a Custer State Park souvenir prize.
Calling all Pups!

The Pups Program offers younger kids the chance to learn more about nature. Similar to the Junior Naturalist program, the Pups activity book is designed for kids ages 4 to 6 to complete with the help of an adult. Those completing the requirements can earn a patch for their work. For more information, visit either the Peter Norbeck or Wildlife Station Visitor Center.
Become a Junior Naturalist

As part of the Junior Naturalist Program, kids ages 7 to 12 take part in several different levels of activities to earn a certificate, gold seal and embroidered patch. Activities highlight the parks resources through guided nature hikes, recreational activities, living history demonstrations, evening programs and other fun and educational offerings. outdoor observation. Using handson activities, participants learn the importance of ecosystems, animal adaptations, predator/prey relationships, conservation management, signs of wildlife and other outdoor activities. The various programs offer a time for kids to interact with park interpreters and learn about the Black Hills. Program Hour is required of each participant. During the summer season, qualifying activities are held daily in the park. The Junior Naturalist Program Hour is at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. Some programs have a limit on the number of participants and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Check the parks daily activity schedule for times, locations and any applicable restrictions.
To earn an embroidered patch, a series Information on how to take part in the of activities and a Junior Naturalist Junior Naturalist Program is available at the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center or the Wildlife Station Visitor Center. The Junior Naturalist Guidebook explains the programs requirements and is packed with crossword puzzles, staff interviews, quizzes, matching games and other fun activities that guide kids as they learn about the park and its heritage. If you Visitor center hours have questions about the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center Wildlife Station Visitor Center activities, the interpretive April 1 - Memorial Day: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memorial Day - Labor Day: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. staff is always happy to provide assistance. Memorial Day - Labor Day: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Labor Day - Sept. 30: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Labor Day - Sept. 30: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Further participation takes kids into the realm of Oct. 1 - 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Badger Hole
a Long, Rich History

The home of Badger Clark
Theres a cabin in Custer State Park affectionately known as the Badger Hole. This cabin was home to one of the parks most colorful historic characters. Charles Badger Clark was South Dakotas first poet laureate. He lived in the park for the last 30 years of his life. The stories of Badger Clark, his life and poetry are stories of a man living an independent life. Clark built his home, the Badger Hole, near Legion Lake. Within this cabin, he wrote poetry, read from his extensive library and wrote letters to his many fans. He lived there until his death in 1957 at the age of 74. His life was fulfilling, as he enjoyed people and people enjoyed him. He gave lectures, told stories and recited his poetry at many social gatherings. His distinctive dress riding breeches and boots, military blouse, flowing tie, officer-type jacket and broad-brimmed hat illustrated the independence and mystery of this largerthan-life man. Today, the Badger Hole remains much as it was when Badger lived there. As you walk through the doors of the Badger Hole, or wander along the Badger Clark Historic Trail, you walk back into a place and a time of a man who lived and shared a simple life. Walking the same trail Badger walked years before, visitors will encounter six interpretive panels taking them through the life of Badger Clark, and putting them in the same surroundings in which Badger lived his life. The cabin is open daily for public tours from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Routine maintenance and upkeep of the Badger Hole are accomplished with the dedicated assistance of the non-profit Badger Clark Memorial Society.
Please refer to the map on the back cover for locations of these two historic sites.
The Gordon Stockade

In the summer of 1874, an expedition led by Lt. Colonel George A. Custer discovered gold in the Black Hills. Under the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, however, this region belonged to the Plains Indians, and white settlement was not allowed. Word of the discovery spread quickly, and a group of gold seekers from Sioux City, Iowa, moved into the Black Hills the following winter. Upon their arrival, the Gordon Party built a log fortress on the bank of French Creek to protect themselves from a possible Lakota attack. The Gordon Partys stay was short lived and not very profitable. Within five months, they were removed from the Black Hills by the U.S. Cavalry. Following their eviction, a flow of fortune seekers came to these newly discovered mountains of gold. It was more than the army could control and within two years, nearly 10,000 settlers illegally inhabited the Black Hills. Todays Gordon Stockade is the third replica built on the original site. The first was constructed by the citizens of Custer in 1925, and in 1941, the Civilian Conservation Corpsmen from Camp Narrows rebuilt the entire structure. Through the years, the outer walls and cabins weathered away until the park had to close the Stockade in the late 1990s for visitor safety concerns. Because the Stockade played a role in the history of the Black Hills, the park formed the Gordon Stockade Advisory Committee to help direct the long-term outcome of this historical landmark. Working together, the park and local advisory committee secured funding to once again reconstruct the Gordon Stockade in 2005. Today, as you approach the Gordon Stockade, interpretive signs tell the story of this short lived illegal occupation in 1874 -1875.
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Where the wildlife call home
White-tailed Deer White-tailed deer live mainly in the timberlands. As its name implies, the white-tailed deer has white hair on the underside of its tail. When the animal runs, the tail is flipped up and looks like a waving white flag.
Buffalo
The park is home to as many as 1,500 head of North American bison, more commonly known as buffalo. Bison can grow to 6 feet tall and weigh more than 2,000 pounds. They are considered the largest native terrestrial mammal of North America. The animals have a short tail with a tassel, a hump at the shoulders, curved black horns on the sides of the head and dense shaggy dark brown and black hair around the head and neck, which tends to look like a beard. There were once millions of bison, but by 1900 it is estimated that fewer than 1,000 bison remained on the entire continent. Peter Norbeck, often known as the Father of Custer State Park, recognized the situation and decided to take action to preserve this native beast. In 1914, the park, then known as Custer State Forest and Game Sanctuary, purchased 36 bison to start its herd. By the 1940s, the size of the herd had swelled to over 2,500. The herd soon began to overgraze the parks rangeland and the bison numbers were lowered. Each year during the roundup, the size and the structure of the bison herd is adjusted according to the predicted availability of grassland forage. The spring birthing season rejuvenates the herd size this year to approximately 1,300.
Mule Deer These deer are aptly named for their large ears. Their black-tipped tails, which are short and narrow, are carried down when the deer runs. Mule deer often bound with a stiff-legged gait as if bouncing on powerful springs when they flee.
Elk Elk are shy and seldom seen during the daytime hours. Elk are grazers and browsers. Adult bulls grow and shed heavy, wide antlers each year.
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Mountain Goats The mountain goat was not found in South Dakota until 1924, when it was introduced to the Black Hills. Today, they are found in the granite outcroppings and crags around Harney Peak, Needles and Mount Rushmore areas. The mountain goat is unique to North America and is not a true goat. The all-white mammal feeds on grasses, ferns, moss and lichen among other high-elevation plants. The animal grows a dense wool undercoat and a long outer coat of hair. Both sexes have sharp, slender, black horns.
Prairie Dogs The black-tailed prairie dog is found on the dry, upland prairie. It is a rodent that lives in large social groups called towns. The round mound of dirt that surrounds the prairie dog hole keeps rain water from running into the burrow and serves as an observation post to watch for danger. Prairie dogs get their name from their bark-like call.
Coyotes The coyote hunts in all habitats in Custer State Park. Its diet is varied, but consists mainly of small mammals. It also eats larger game as well as insects, fruits and berries. The coyote is gray and has a drooping, bushy tail and a pointed nose. The coyote is South Dakotas state mammal.
Burros The burros in Custer State Park are not native to the Black Hills. They are descendants from the herd that once hauled visitors to the top of Harney Peak. The rides were discontinued years ago and the burros were released into the park where they have become a popular visitor attraction. Through the years, visitors have stopped to photograph the burros. Visitors need to understand there is a risk taken when one approaches any animal, including the burros in Custer State Park. Please use your own judgment if you come across the burros while traveling in Custer State Park.
Pronghorns Pronghorns, commonly referred to as antelope due to their similar appearance, live on the open grassland. The name pronghorn comes from the bucks large pronged horns. The horn sheaths are shed each year. The fastest land animal in North America, pronghorns can run 60 mph for great distances. True antelope live in Africa and have unbranched horns that never shed.
Bighorn Sheep South Dakotas original bighorn sheep was the Audubon subspecies. When it became extinct about 1922, a herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep was introduced to Custer State Park. Bighorns have a sturdy but graceful build. Their coats consist of short hair, not wool. Rams have thick, curled horns and ewes have smaller curved horns.
Branding buffalo
Bison calves in Custer State Park are branded with a single-digit number with an S underneath. The S stands for State, indicating they are part of the States herd in Custer State Park. The number is the last digit in the year they were born. If kept for more than 10 years, staff can determine the animals age by its appearance. Birds The parks diverse habitat makes for exciting bird watching. Visitors can find the mountain bluebird, white-winged junco, golden eagle, prairie falcon and western tanager, to name but a few. A bird checklist is available at the parks visitor centers.
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Where the wildlife call home
You are in mountain lion habitat

Chiefly nocturnal and reclusive toward humans, mountain lions are found within the Black Hills and Custer State Park. As predators they feed on other species, including deer, elk, rabbits and wild turkeys. Even though you may not see them, these big cats are a part of South Dakotas wealth of wildlife. People rarely get more than a brief glimpse of a mountain lion in the wild, because mountain lions prefer to avoid people and are chiefly nocturnal. Follow these guidelines when in mountain lion habitat. Keep children close to you. Do not allow them to run or ride ahead or lag behind. Hike, bike or jog with others. A walking stick can be used for defense. Keep all pets leashed and under control. If you encounter a lion, shout and wave your arms or hold your jacket open. Try to look as large and threatening as possible. Maintain eye contact with the lion and do not crouch down. Never run. Do not approach the lion. Throw sticks and stones that you can reach without bending down and without taking your eyes off the lion. Pick up small children and keep them from panicking and running. If the lion attacks, fight back! Report any sightings as soon as possible to 605.255.4515.
Hunting - a management tool in Custer State Park

Some animal species in the park are managed through hunting programs. Hunting helps reduce the size of populations, preventing overcrowding within the park. Like with bison, control of numbers ensures adequate forage for all species and prevents habitat loss and competition between species. Most hunting seasons typically occur from mid-September through early January. Turkey hunting takes place in the spring from mid-April through mid-May each year. The fees collected from hunting licenses generate revenues which help fund wildlife management programs. Species managed through hunting in the park include bison, elk, deer, pronghorn, mountain lion and turkey.
Please dont feed us!

Feeding the parks wildlife is prohibited. In fact, feeding any wild animal can be dangerous to both yourself and the animal you feed. Here are a few reasons to keep your food to yourself: Human foods are generally high in sodium and fat and thus pose a risk to wild animals. Feeding wildlife may cause them to lose their fear of humans and increase the chances of a vehicle/animal accident. Wildlife may become dependent upon human foods and thus lose their willingness and ability to secure their own foods. Please do your part to spread the do not feed the wildlife message.
14
Enjoy Lakes and Streams

2013 Fishing Licensing Fees*
License Resident Resident One-Day $7 Three-day N/A Annual $25 Youth Annual N/A Family N/A Senior (65 and older) $10 Combination $49 Senior Combination $34 Junior Combination (16-18) $25 Game Fish Spearing & Archery Fishing Permit $5 Non$14 $32 $60 $25 $60 N/A N/A N/A N/A $5 Possession 30 30 30 10 No limit 12 10
Swimming
Swimming is allowed at the parks five lakes: Center Lake, Legion Lake, Stockade Lake, Sylvan Lake and the Game Lodge Pond. There are no lifeguards on duty. Jumping from cliffs and rocks into the water is illegal and strictly prohibited. Pets and glass containers are also prohibited from all zoned swimming beaches. For your safety, wear a personal flotation device (PFD), commonly called a life jacket, whenever you are on the water. PFDs are mandatory for all people riding in a boat on South Dakota waters.
Boating
Boating is permitted within Custer State Park with the following restrictions: Sylvan Lake, Electric motors only Legion Lake, Electric motors only Stockade Lake, All boats allowed Center Lake, Only slow, non-wake boating allowed All South Dakota waters: Class A boats (up to 16): One wearable PFD for each passenger Fire Extinguisher Horn/whistle Class 1 boats (16 up to 26): One wearable PFD for each passenger One throwable type PFD Fire extinguisher Horn/whistle Non-motorized boats over 12 feet and all motorized boats, regardless of length, are required to have a valid boat license from South Dakota or another state.
2013 Black Hills Fish Limits**

Species Daily Perch 15 Crappie 15 Bluegill 15 Trout 5 Bullhead No limit Northern Pike 6 Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass 5
(any combination of the two) The possession limit is the number of fish any licensed angler may possess at any given time.
N/A = License option not available *License agents may charge an additional administrative fee. **See pages 20-21 of the 2013 Fishing Handbook for exceptions in certain waters of the Black Hills. The handbook of regulations and information may be picked up from most businesses selling fishing licenses.
Fishing
Fishing is allowed anywhere in Custer State Park. A valid South Dakota fishing license is required. Anglers will find rainbow, brown and brook trout in the parks waters. The limit for trout is five per day and ten in your possession. Only one trout can exceed 14 inches, but there is no minimum size restriction. (Stockade Lake has a 15-inch minimum size limit on largemouth and smallmouth bass.) It is legal to use artificial lures, flies, worms or other bait. Minnows cannot be used except on Stockade Lake. A variety of sport and panfish are found in Stockade Lake including northern pike, bass, perch, crappie, bluegill and bullhead. Licenses, bait and tackle are available at each of the four resort areas. For daily limits and rules, please refer to the 2013 Fishing Handbook, available at the park office or visitor centers.
15
Set Up Camp
Campsites Each campsite at Custer State Park has a gravel or paved camping pad, a fire grate and picnic table. Electric hookups are available at all campgrounds except Center Lake. Firewood may be purchased at Custer State Parks resort areas or convenience stores.
Campground
Open
Making Reservations
Call 1-800-710-2267 or visit www.campsd.com to make a camping reservation in Custer State Park. Camping reservations begin on January 2, 2013 for arrivals between May 1, 2013, and January 2, 2014. Prior to May 1, all campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Both campsites and camping cabins may be rented a year in advance. For example, at 6 a.m. MT on July 1, 2013, you can call or go online and make a reservation for a July 1, 2014 arrival. Camping cabin reservations begin on January 2, but must be made at least two days prior to arrival. Reservation fee: There is a $7.70 non-refundable reservation fee (not applicable to South Dakota residents) Camping fees for the entire stay must be paid when the reservation is made.
Game Lodge...................................... Year-round French Creek Horse Camp................ Year-round The parks modern Blue Bell................................... May 1 - Oct. 31 campgrounds have flush toilets, Center Lake.............................. May 1 - Sept. 30 while Center Lakes semiGrace Coolidge...................... May 17 - Sept. 30 modern campground has vault Legion Lake........................... May 17 - Sept. 30 toilets. All areas have warm Stockade South. ...................... May 17 - Sept. 30 showers. Stockade North. ...................... May 17 - Sept. 30 Sylvan Lake........................... May 17 - Sept. 30 Evening programs are presented nightly at campground amphitheaters between Camping Cabins Memorial Day and Labor Day. Program These one-room, log-style cabins are listings and other information is found found in Blue Bell, Game Lodge and on each of the campgrounds bulletin Stockade South campgrounds as well boards. as in French Creek Horse Camp. Each cabin has heating, air conditioning, About 260 campsites in the park electricity, picnic table, fire ring and a can be reserved beginning January 2 porch. Furnishings include a bunk bed, for arrivals beginning May 1, while a double bed, table and benches. other sites are available for same-day reservations (see page 17). What to know about cabins: Cabins sleep four to five people. Camping fees are collected daily and Linens are not included. are based on the number of camping Check in time is 4 p.m. units in your party. A camping unit is a Check-out time is 11 a.m. powered vehicle, motorhome, camping No smoking or cooking in the cabins. bus, pull-type camper, tent or any other Pets, except for service animals, are device designed for sleeping. not permitted in cabins. Additional tents for a family (parents Primitive Campsites or grandparents and unmarried minor For a more primitive outdoor children) are considered a single experience, backpackers will find the camping unit. French Creek Natural Area much to In some areas of the park, up to two their liking. Hikers using this area camping units may occupy one site, but can camp anywhere along the canyon each unit will be charged a camping bottom. Open fires are prohibited. fee. Double-ups are not available at Campers must self-register at the all campsites. Please check with park stations located on each end of the staff. Check-out time for all campsites natural area. The fee is $6 per person, is noon. per night.
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Camp South Dakota

www.campsd.com Make reservations at South Dakota State Parks and Recreation Areas. www.travelsd.com/camping Search public and private camping opportunities in South Dakota. Horse Camp The French Creek Horse Camp is designed specifically for campers with horses. Reservations are required. It is located near Blue Bell Lodge on North Lame Johnny Road (Custer State Park Road 4). One corral is provided for each site and a second can be rented for an additional $5/night fee upon arrival. Horses are not allowed to graze and riders must bring their own feed. All hay brought into the park must be certified weed-free. Group Camping Custer State Park has two group
campgrounds, one near Stockade Lake and the other adjacent to the Game Lodge campground. The Game Lodge group area features a picnic shelter, showers, flush toilets, electrical outlets, picnic tables, water and fire grates on site. The area is located near the State Game Lodge and Peter Norbeck Visitor Center. Fishing, swimming, hiking and summer interpretive programs are all located within one quarter mile of the campground. The Stockade Lake group campground is located on the shores of Stockade Lake. This area features a picnic shelter, vault toilets, fire grates, picnic tables and water on site. Showers and flush toilets are available within walking distance at the Stockade Lake South campground. Evening programs are presented nightly on the other side of the lake in the Stockade Lake North campground. Non-profit Youth Camping Areas The park offers two primitive areas (tent
camping only) for non-profit youth groups to use for a reduced fee. Picnic Shelter Reservations can be made for the small picnic shelter on the south side of Stockade Lake. Call 1.800.710.2267 for reservations.
Same day reservations

Center Lake Campground All open sites can be reserved beginning at 6 a.m. MT each day. Check out time is noon MT. Campers occupying a same day reservation site must call before 6 a.m. MT to extend their stay. Campers are required to place a camping unit on their site by 10 p.m. MT on the night of their arrival. If they fail to do so, they would be charged a cancellation fee and forfeit the remainder of their reservation.
Campsite w/electricity
Boating (motorized)
Camping cabin fee
Large trailer sties
Evening program
Handicap access
Camping cabins*
RV dump station
Resrvable sites*
30 71 55 26 21 40 23 36 26 0 all all
Campgrounds
Blue Bell* Center Lake+ Game Lodge* Grace Coolidge* Legion Lake* Stockade Lake North* Stockade Lake South* Sylvan Lake* French Creek Horse Camp* French Creek Natural Area* Game Lodge Group Area* Stockade Group Area* Non-profit Youth Areas*
30 71 55 26 21 41 23 38 28
$20 $18 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20
$24
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Specialized Camping Areas

$6/person $6/person, minimum $120 $6/person, minimum $120 $0.50/person, minimum $6
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* Reservations available online at campsd.com or by calling 1.800.710.2267. l Within the campground aAvailable within one mile +Same day reservation, see above. Note: After the comfort stations are closed for the season, fees are $2 less per night.
Accessible sites
1 2 1 1
Number of sites
Campsite fee
Concessions
Fishing dock
Laundromat
Flush toilets
Vault toilets
Playground
Hiking trail
Swimming
Showers
Fishing
Fuel
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Forest Management
Q & A with Custer State Parks forest management team How many acres of Custer State Park are forested? Approximately 50,000 acres are classified as forested land. However, large wildfires have Mountain pine beetle significantly affected 23,000 acres; therefore, 27,000 acres have a significant forest component. Even though some of these large wildfires occurred over 20 years ago, some areas still havent regenerated to forest. How many wildfires have affected the park? The park has had a few major wildfires that have, to some extent, impacted about half of the forested acres in the park. Lightening caused the Galena fire that burned about 16,000 acres in 1988. The Cicero Peak fire in 1990, sparked by machinery, was similar in size, but only 5,000 acres within Custer State Park were involved. The most recent large fire was the 2007 Four-mile fire that burned 2,300 acres. That fire was arson. How many different tree species are found within the park? Which receive the most management? There are a number of tree species in the park, however the most prominent is ponderosa pine. This tree is the dominant tree and because of its prodigious reproduction requires management. If left unmanaged, ponderosa pine becomes overstocked, creating doghair stands of unhealthy trees with no understory. These stands provide extremely limited benefit to both plants and animals. Other conifer species include Black Hills spruce (white spruce) and juniper. Deciduous species include bur oak, green ash, box elder, American elm, aspen, paper birch, ironwood and several willows. Is the park doing anything to enhance the growth of hardwood trees throughout the park? Weve protected hardwoods with fences as well as planted native hardwoods back on site. We also manipulate timber sales to release hardwoods that have been encroached by pines. We have recently been burning areas to stimulate hardwood production. We will continue to use these tools to improve hardwoods in other areas of the park. What are the teepee-looking log structures near the roadways? What do you do with them? These are slash piles. They are made from woody debris on the forest floor within fuel breaks. We create these fuel breaks along roads and trails throughout the park. As a wildfire moves into a fuel break, it reduces in intensity and firefighters have an opportunity to safely try and stop the wildfire. The piles will be burned during the winter when (and if) we get the proper conditions. There seems to be a lot of pine trees turning red. Why? Billions of little beetles. Mountain pine beetles attack trees in the late summer.
Slash pile
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be utilized. Another method is to fell infested trees and cut them into smaller sections. Cutting trees into small sections allows the tree to heat in the sun and dry. The bark separates from the wood and there is not enough food for the growing beetle larvae. As much as 80% of the larvae die before they mature and can leave the tree to infest new trees the following year. We treated approximately 40,000 infested trees with this method from 2005-2008 in Custer State Park. Due to the high fuel loading and the negative aesthetics impact created by this method, approximately 35,000 infested trees on inaccessible ground in the Sylvan Lake area were removed with a helicopter from 2009 2010. In the spring when the tree is trying to transport nutrients, the thousands of beetle larvae feeding underneath the bark hinders the trees ability to send nutrients from the roots to the needles. This kills the tree and the needles turn from green to red to brown and eventually fall off. Is there anything that can be done to control the mountain pine beetle epidemic? The main technique that is proven to work is to maintain ponderosa pine stands at low to medium densities. Removing trees from a stand prevents it from being overcrowded. When a stand is overcrowded for a long period of time, individual trees become weak and are not capable of defending against mountain pine beetle attacks. This is the least costly method, and usually generates revenue to be used for additional resource management efforts. Another tactic is to treat trees infested with the beetle. The best method is to remove the infested tree and process it into a wood product. When the beetle is in the tree, the needles are still green and the wood maintains its structural properties. If trees are removed during the winter and spring before the beetles fly into new trees, all of the beetles are removed from the site and the wood can Efforts expanded in 2011 and almost 100,000 trees were treated park-wide. Treating infested trees is very costly. It is much more cost effective to thin stands before they are attacked by mountain pine beetle. Other methods, including chemically treating infested trees, are also expensive and of limited use. Why are trees marked with paint or flagged? The park has an active management program, and we use paint and flagging for a number of reasons. Some markings designate boundaries, while others are leave trees or cut trees. We also use paint to mark trees that have been infested with mountain pine beetles and need to be removed. As a summer visitor and camper what are my options for securing wood for an evening campfire? People should not bring any firewood from out of the area into the park. This is how several pest species are transported around the country, and these species, like the emerald ash borer, can kill the native trees. Campers can purchase campfire wood locally.
to occur on the sunny side of the trunk. These yellow barks tend to be the larger and older trees in the forest. Where is the most recent timber management activity? There are five active timbersales in Custer State Park covering approximately 6,000 acres. Commercial timbersales remove some trees greater than 8 inches in diameter that can make a commercial product. Timbersales help the park meet forest management objectives. The Flynn Creek 2B timbersale is west of the Four-Mile Draw Road and is adjacent to Highway 87 South. The Spokane/Norbeck timbersale is adjacent to the Playhouse Road and the Needles Highway. This area is surrounded by heavy mountain pine beetle pressure from the north and the west. The lower residual density of trees will make the area more resistant to mountain pine beetle attack. The Coolidge, Galena Divide, and Galena Divide 2 sales cover a large portion of the visual corridor, including portions of Needles Highway, Highway 16A, and Highway 87 South. The main goals of timbersales are to increase overall forest health and tree vigor, produce wood products now and into the future, reduce the risk of impact by wildfires and mountain pine beetle, and remove pine trees encroaching on meadows and hardwood areas.
Why is the bark on one side of many ponderosa pine trees yellow? Bark on Ponderosa pine trees tends to Timber management improves forest health and turn yellow as they age. This often starts reduces susceptibility to mountain pine beetles.
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Badger Hole Centennial Trailhead
Location: .5 south of US 16A on Badger Clark Road (CSP 9)
French Creek Centennial Trailhead
Location: 3 miles from Blue Bell Lodge on North Lame Johnny Road (CSP 4)
Harney Area Trails

A. Cathedral Spires Trailhead (Trail #4A)
Location: 2.5 miles east of Sylvan Lake on Needles Hwy Length: 1.5 miles to Cathedral Spires (one way) Difficulty: Strenuous
Explore Miles of Trails

Custer State Park offers trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. In addition to designated trails, hiking is allowed anywhere in Custer State Park.
B. Little Devils Tower Trailhead (Trail #4)
Trail Ratings
Easy: The trail mainly follows level ground. Moderate: Parts of the trail follow steep slopes and rocky areas. Strenuous: Much of the trail follows very steep slopes and rocky areas.
Location: 1 mile east of Sylvan Lake on SD Hwy 87 (Needles Hwy) Length: 1.25 miles (one way) Difficulty: Strenuous
C. Sunday Gulch Trailhead (Trail #6)

(Closed during winter season) Location: Reach the trailhead by following the Sylvan Lake Trail behind the dam to Sunday Gulch Length: 2.8 miles (loop) Difficulty: Strenuous (ice may be present along trail into early June)
Hiking Trails
Badger Clark Historic Trailhead
Location: .5 miles south of US 16A on Badger Clark Road (CSP 9) Length: 1 mile (loop) Difficulty: Moderate
Lovers Leap Trailhead
Creekside Trail (TRACK Trail)
Location: Parallel to US 16A. From Game Lodge Campground to Grace Coolidge Campground Length: 2 miles Difficulty: Easy (handicap accessible)
Location: Across US 16A from the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center, behind the schoolhouse Length: 3 miles (loop) Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
D. Sylvan Lake Shore Trail (Trail #1)

Location: Sylvan Lake. The trail may be accessed at various points along the lakeshore. Granite formations line portions of the lake. Length: 1 mile (loop) Difficulty: Easy
Prairie Trailhead
French Creek Natural Area Trailhead

Location: West End - 3 miles from Blue Bell Lodge on North Lame Johnny Road (CSP 4); East End - 4 miles south of the State Game Lodge on Wildlife Loop Rd Length: 12 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Along Wildlife Loop Road, 13 miles from the State Game Lodge or 5 miles from the Blue Bell Entrance Station Length: 3 miles (loop) Difficulty: Moderate
E. Sylvan Lake Trailheads to Harney Peak

Location: Sylvan Lake Day Use Area north of SD Hwy 87 (Needles Hwy) Two trailheads are located at the Sylvan Lake Day Use Area. Trail 9 begins just across the footbridge leading to the swimming beach. Trail 4 begins at the furthest southeast corner of the day use parking area.
Stockade Lake Trailhead
Grace Coolidge Walk-In Fishing Area Trailhead

Location: South End - Parking area along US 16A, across from Grace Coolidge Campground; North End - Adjacent to beach at Center Lake Length: 3 miles (one way) Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Location: .3 mile south of US 16A on Stockade Lake Drive Length: 1.5 miles (loop) Difficulty: Moderate
South Dakota Centennial Trail
Approximately 22 miles of the Centennial Trail are located within Custer State Park. Three trailheads provide access points to the parks portion of the trail.
Trail #9
Length: To Harney Peak, 3.5 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate.
Trail #4
Legion Lake Trailhead
Location: Within Legion Lake Campground Length: 1 mile (loop) Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Iron Creek Centennial Trailhead
Location: North of SD Hwy 87, Needles Hwy on Camp Remington Rd (CSP 345)
Length: To Harney Peak, 3.25 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
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Harney Peak 2
Sunday Gulch Trail

6
T 1 T T
Harney Area Trails

2 9 Little Devils Tower 4 Needles Eye Cathedral Spires 4A
T
7 4
Sylvan Lake Shore Trail
Grace Coolidge Walk-in Fishing Area
Legion Lake Trail

T T T
Creekside Trail
T
Stockade Lake Trail
Game Lodge Area
Custer State Park Trail Guide

For maps and detailed information about the trails, pick up a Custer State Park Trail Guide at the visitor centers.
Blue Bell Area
T
Badger BadgerClark Clark Historic HistoricTrail Trail
Lovers Leap Trail
French Creek Natural Area Trail
Harney Area Map

A more detailed map of the Harney Peak area trails is available at the vistors centers and at Sylvan Lake entrance station, store and lodge.
Centennial Trail #89

Wildlife Loop Road
T Trailhead
Entrance Station Information Center
T
Prairie Trail
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Discover a Winter World

Things to know during the winter
Roads Most roads in the park remain open throughout the year. However, the Needles Highway is closed from about Nov. 1 through April 1 each year. The road may be closed earlier or later depending upon weather conditions. Heavy snowfall and winter storms will occasionally force the closure of Iron Mountain Road (US Hwy 16A), leading to Mount Rushmore. A gate two miles north of the parks boundary will indicate whether the road is open or closed. Dial 511 for information on road conditions. (Dial 866MYSD511 from out-of-state phones.) Restrooms Restrooms are available at the park office, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on holidays. Vault toilets are found throughout the park. Locations include both visitor centers, various picnic areas and near major road intersections. Campgrounds/Camping Cabins Camping cabins are available year-round at the Game Lodge Campground. Game Lodge Campground and French Creek Horse Camp offer limited campground facilities including vault toilets, tables and firegrates after the comfort stations close for the season. Meetings and Events Creekside Lodge on the grounds of the State Game Lodge is open year-round. The Parks peaceful, picturesque winter transformation makes it the ideal setting for your next Black Hills wedding, meeting, or event. We will also open up the historical Game Lodge interior exclusively for your private banquet inquire with our Sales & Catering office for details. Continental breakfast included with a nights Winter stay. Luxury accommodations at a reduced rate! Reunion Cabin also available: Sleeps up to 28, designer kitchen, 4,200 sq ft, four bedrooms, oversized loft, five bathrooms. Ideal for your VIP experience! Call 888.875.0001 or go to www. custerresorts.com.
Winter in Custer State Park and the southern Black Hills displays a stark contrast to that of the northern hills, where snowfall accumulates in feet rather than inches. The warm Chinook winds that make their way into the southern part of the Black Hills tend to keep winter temperatures fairly mild. Although snow may fall in the southern hills as early as September, the snow rarely builds up to the levels needed for winter sports such as cross-country skiing or snowmobiling. For the most part, the snow in this region melts before the next storm, often leaving the southern grasslands with a winter coat of muted browns and scattered drifts of partially melted snow. Upon first glance, it may seem that there is little to see in the surroundings of these muted, earthy tones, but winter visitors will quickly discover many exciting possibilities. Park Wildlife Custer State Park is known for its large herd of North American bison, commonly called buffalo. Many other mammals also call the park home, including bighorn sheep,
mountain goats, white-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn and many more. During the winter months, when the lack of green vegetation provides less cover, these animals become much more visible to park visitors. In addition, the animals are more active in pursuing food and tend to shed their wariness of humans. Prime sites for wildlife-viewing are located along any of the parks hiking trails or roadways. Cameras or binoculars are valuable tools for exciting photo opportunities or behavioral observations. Snowmobiling Although snow conditions are unpredictable, snowmobiling is allowed on Stockade, Sylvan, Center and Legion Lakes and, in some years, along the closed portion of the Needles Highway when snow conditions permit. Ice Fishing Ice fishing is popular at Custer State Park. Most of the parks lakes are stocked with rainbow trout, though anglers may occasionally find brook and brown trout as well. Stockade Lake is home to a variety of fish, including perch, crappie, bluegill, northern pike and bass. Anglers must have a South Dakota fishing license.
22
View Grand Scenery by Car

Needles Highway
The Needles Highway is more than a 14-mile road its a spectacular drive through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen and rugged granite mountains. The roads name comes from the needle-like granite formations which seem to pierce the horizon along the highway. The roadway was carefully planned by former South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck, who marked the entire course on foot and by horseback. Construction was completed in 1922. Visitors traveling the highway pass Sylvan Lake and a unique rock formation called the Needles Eye, so named for the opening created by wind, rain, freezing and thawing. Expect travel time of about 45 to 60 minutes. Needles Highway, Wildlife Loop Road and Iron Mountain Road are highlighted on the map on the back cover.
Wildlife Loop Road

The 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road takes visitors through the open grasslands and pine-speckled hills that much of the parks wildlife call home. Visitors will often see bison, pronghorn, white-tailed and mule deer, elk, coyotes, burros, prairie dogs, eagles, hawks and a variety of other birds. The morning and evening hours are the best times to view the wildlife, when they are most active. On the southeast part of the loop, the Wildlife Station Visitor Center gives visitors shade and information on wildlife and outdoor habitats. Expect travel time of about 45 minutes.
Peter Norbeck Scenic Highway

The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway complements the parks three scenic drives and includes some of the most dramatic natural and historic features in the Black Hills. Sites include the Needles, Mount Rushmore and a birds eye view of the rocky peaks and forested hills of the Black Hills National Forest. This designated scenic byway includes all or portions of two scenic drives within the park. The byway was named for former South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck who planned and surveyed most of the roads located within the park. Expect travel time of about two to three hours.
Iron Mountain Road

This winding road runs between Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the junction of US 16A and SD 36. Constructed in 1933, only a portion of this road lies within the park, but it is a must-see. Along the highway, visitors will find wildfire exhibits, pigtail bridges, magnificent Black Hills scenery and tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore. Expect travel time of about 45 to 60 minutes.
Mount Coolidge Lookout

The Mount Coolidge Lookout and Fire Tower was built in 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It rests atop a 6,023-foot peak and is used for communications and spotting fires. The turnoff is located on SD 87. A 1.7mile gravel road leads visitors to the top of the mountain, but large vehicles and motorhomes should avoid making the trip, as the road is narrow and winding. From the top, visitors can see as far away as the Badlands.
Take your time

These winding drives are enjoyed at a slower pace. When making plans, please allow ample time to travel at a safe speed generally 25 miles-perhour or slower.
23
Getting Around the Black Hills

Traveling through Custer State Park is not as difficult as it may seem. By looking at the map on the back page, visitors can easily determine where they are and where theyd like to be. It is important that visitors watch their odometer and not the clock. Winding roads make travel through Custer State Park much slower than in other areas of the state. Please plan all travel accordingly. If you ever have questions regarding your location within Custer State Park, please feel free to stop any passing park employee or stop at the nearest visitor center or lodge. The visitor centers also have current South Dakota highway maps and maps of the outlying regions. The visitor centers are located near the State Game Lodge and along Wildlife Loop
Road.
Tunnel Information
Tunnels are found on three highways in or near Custer State Park. Drivers of travel trailers, campers, recreational vehicles and buses should be aware of the tunnel sizes. Numbers correspond to the tunnels shown on the map on the back page. Iron Mountain Road -- US 16A N
1 2 3 4 5 6 14 0 Wide 13 2 Wide 13 4 Wide 10 6 Wide 8 4 Wide 9 0 Wide 12 9 High 12 2 High 12 4 High 10 7 High 12 0 High 12 3 High Has by-pass Has by-pass No by-pass No by-pass No by-pass No by-pass
Driving Distance from the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center

Badger Hole (via US 16A)........................................................6 Blue Bell (via the Wildlife Loop Road). .................................20 Center Lake (via US 16A & SD 87N).....................................10 Gordon Stockade (via US 16A). .............................................11 Legion Lake (via US 16A)........................................................6 Mount Coolidge Fire Tower (via US 16A & SD 87S). .............9 Sylvan Lake (via the Needles Highway - SD 87N).................19 State Game Lodge................................................................. 1/8
In the Park
Miles
Sylvan Lake Road -- SD 87/89, N. of Sylvan Lake Needles Highway -- SD 87 N
Nearby Cities
Custer (via US 16A). .............................................................. 15 Hermosa (via US 16A & SD 36). ........................................... 14 Rapid City (via US 16A, SD 36 & SD 79)............................ 28
Weather Information
Call 511 from any phone Weather in the Black Hills can be mild, yet unpredictable. Be sure to plan appropriately for your travel and changing conditions.
Month January February March April May June July August September October November December Ave. High 36 39 45 58 63 72 79 78 68 58 45 37 Ave. Low 12 14 20 32 38 46 52 50 40 30 22 12
Parks and Monuments - in South Dakota
Angostura Recreation Area, near Hot Springs....................... 46 Badlands National Park. ......................................................... 88 Bear Butte State Park, near Sturgis........................................ 72 Crazy Horse Memorial (via US 16A & US 16)..................... 20 George S. Mickelson Trail (city of Custer trailhead)............. 15 Jewel Cave National Monument (via US 16A & US 16)...... 28 Mount Rushmore National Memorial (via US 16A N). ......... 20 Rocky Point Recreation Area, near Belle Fourche.............. 102 Wind Cave National Park...................................................... 23 Battle of Little Bighorn National Historic Site, Montana.... 286 Devils Tower, Wyoming..................................................... 140 Glacier National Park, Montana.......................................... 770 Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming................................. 441
Parks and Monuments - Out of State
24
Custer State Park prides itself in its 71,000 accessible acres of a wildlife preserve. Nestled peacefully within its majestic borders are four lodges that make up Custer State Park Resort, each with its own heartwarming flavor. Here at the Resort, we believe that the parks unparalleled respect for Peter Norbecks vision, combined with the tastefully modern elegance of our four lodges places us a step above the rest when it
Adventure Awaits
Sylvan Lake
comes to making memories during your stay. The State Game Lodge, Blue Bell Lodge, Legion Lake Lodge and Sylvan Lake Lodge provide you with a variety of modernized accommodations for all tastesincluding historic lodge rooms, deluxe hotel rooms and modernized first-class cabins. All units at all resorts are climate-controlled, fully-furnished, and include daily housekeeping service, coffee pots and flat screen TVs. All
four lodges offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner in their restaurants, resort activities, General Stores, nearby State Park camping facilities and hiking trails, banquet space (our largest facility seats up to 350), free wi-fi and a chance to wake up to wildlife! Explore each Lodge for a day or two; you are bound to find a favorite. Visit www.custerresorts. com or pick up an activity brochure from our front desks for more details!
Live Entertainment and Old-Fashioned Fun! 605-255-4531
Guided Off-Road Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour 605-255-4541
Watercraft Rentals At Sylvan & Legion Lake 605-574-2561
Breathtaking Horseback Rides Beginners Welcome! 605-255-4700
Blue Bell Legion Lake State Game Sylvan Lake Lodge Lodge Lodge* Lodge 29 8 27 12 101 28 67 10
Total Units Largest Unit Sleeping Capacity Lake, Creek, or Pond Hayride Chuck Wagon Cookout Horseback Riding General Store Restaurant
* Includes Creekside Lodge & Reunion Cabin
CUSTER STATE PARK RESORT

13389 US Hwy 16A Custer, SD 57730 605-255-4772
Buffalo Safari Jeep Tours Water Sport Rentals
Reservations: 1-888-875-0001
www.CusterResorts.com info@custerresorts.com
Regency CSP Ventures LP, is an authorized concessionaire of South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, serving the Public in Custer State Park.
Not valid with any other offers. One promotional item per transaction. Purchase total must be before tax. Licenses, Passes, Alcohol, Tobacco purchases do not apply. Regularly priced merchandise only. While Supplies Last. Offer available at all CSPR retail outlets. Valid April 26-August 15, 2013, depending on availability.
1 FREE CSP TOTE WITH A PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE - 1 FREE CSP THROW WITH A PURCHASE OF $200 OR MORE
2013 RETAIL PROMOTIONS
www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267 Resort Reservations: Information: 1.888.875.0001 | www.custerresorts.com
25
Brown = PMS 497 70% Magenta 100% Yellow 78% Black
13389 US Hwy 16A Custer, SD 57730 605-255-4541
This gracious stone and wood lodge is set in a beautiful mountain valley, surrounded by a ponderosa pine forest. Grace Coolidge Creek winds through the valley and offers excellent trout fishing. Oak, birch and aspen trees line the creek, providing a colorful display year-round. The State Game Lodge served as the Summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927 and was visited by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. Built in 1922, it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Accommodations The lodge features historic lodge rooms, newly renovated hotel rooms and pine-shaded cabins. Choose from housekeeping cabins that feature either a kitchen or a kitchenette, or choose a sleeping-only cabin. Free wireless Internet is available. Creekside Lodge Creekside Lodge is open year-round and offers 30 rooms, a beautiful lobby and great room, two meeting rooms and incredible views of the Black Hills. Free wireless Internet is available at the Creekside Lodge located on the grounds of the State Game Lodge. Reunion Cabin The Reunion Cabin sleeps up to 28 people and boasts a full kitchen, great room and patio overlooking Coolidge Creek. The cabin is available for family reunions and corporate retreats yearround. Pavilion Conveniently nestled amongst the pine
trees directly west of the Game Lodge lies our Pavilion, a 4,000 square foot gabled roof shelter complete with both a fireplace and a group fire pit, modern lighting, heaters, a bridal changing room, and spacious wash rooms. With banquet seating for over 350 guests, this newest addition to the State Game Lodge luxuriously allows you to combine the beauty of an outdoor event with the safe haven from an unexpected Black Hills shower. Meeting & Banquet Rooms Meeting and banquet rooms are available for family reunions, and small meetings and events. Please contact our sales department for assistance in planning your future meeting or event 888.875.0001. Fly Fishing School & Guide Service The Black Hills lakes and streams are perfect for fly fishing. Join our staff for an experience you wont soon forget. Trips are perfect for both novice and experienced anglers. Mountain Bike Rentals Explore the back roads and mountain trails of Custer State Park. Rentals are available by the day or hour at the State Game Lodge. Dining Room & Lounge State Game Lodge dining room serves a delicious menu of native game, chefs specialties and many other excellent entrees. Enjoy your favorite cocktail in
the comfortable lounge just off the main lobby. Relax by our ornate fireplace and view historic photographs, or enjoy the outdoor view from our front porch. Free wireless Internet is available. Group tours and buses are welcome. The dining room is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Coolidge General Store & Gift Shop Located just beyond the chapel, onequarter mile west of the State Game Lodge, this unique store offers grocery and deli items, fishing licenses, gasoline, camping supplies and souvenirs. The General Store and Gift Shop is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily during the summer. Hours are reduced in the spring and fall seasons. The State Game Lodge Chapel The chapel, adjacent to the Coolidge General Store, holds nondenominational Sunday services June through August. The chapel is also available for weddings and other special events. Call the lodge for times of service.
26
Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com Resort Information: 1.888.875.0001 | www.custerresorts.com
Green = PMS 3305 100% Cyan 61% Yellow 61% Black
24572 US Hwy 87 Custer, SD 57730 605-574-2561
Rich in history and natural beauty, Sylvan Lake holds the designation as Custer State Parks crown jewel. The lake was created in 1881 when Theodore Reder built a dam across Sunday Gulch. In 1921, this unique lake became a part of the newly created Custer State Park. In 1895, a Victorian-style hotel opened its doors on the shores of Sylvan Lake. The hotel was a popular site for many Black Hills vacationers until it burned to the ground in 1935. The current lodge was opened in 1937, and a new wing was added in 1991. Accommodations The lodge features beautifully renovated rooms, lobby, lounge, restaurant and a veranda offering a breathtaking view of Harney Peak. Several rustic cabins in the area are nestled among the pine and spruce forest. Free wireless Internet is available. Dining Room & Lounge The newly remodeled dining room features the best in steaks, seafood and chefs specialties. Relax in the lounge adjacent to the dining room, lobby and
veranda. Enjoy a cocktail in the lounge before your meal or on the veranda while viewing the breathtaking scenery of Harney Peak. Free high speed wireless Internet is available. Group tours and buses are welcome. The dining room is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner plus Sunday Brunch Buffet. Sylvan Lake Auditorium Renovations to the auditorium, located adjacent to the Sylvan Lake General Store, were completed in early 2008, adding more space to this already-ideal location for wedding receptions and other group banquets. Call our sales department for additional information and accommodations for your group, 888.875.0001. Water Sport Rentals Paddleboats, hydrobikes, canoes and kayaks can be rented for 30-minute, half-day and full-day excursions on beautiful Sylvan Lake. Life jackets are provided. Boating is a great way to get your exercise and explore a beautiful mountain lake.
Sylvan Lake General Store The general store is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer months and offers fast food service, groceries and a large selection of gifts and souvenirs. Bait, fishing licenses and camping supplies are available for the outdoor adventurer. The large patio overlooking the lake is a great place to take afternoon snack breaks. Recreation and Trails Recreation near Sylvan Lake includes fishing, swimming, boating, hiking and rock climbing. The Sunday Gulch, Sylvan Lake Shore and Harney Peak trails offer diverse opportunities for exploring the area. The Sunday Gulch Trail was designated a National Recreation Trail in 1971 and leads hikers through a diverse and beautiful environment. See page 20 for more information on the parks trails. The Veranda Chapel Located near Sylvan Lake, the chapel offers non-denominational services each Sunday from June through August. Call the lodge for times of service.
Lodge Rooms & Suites
Variety Of Cabin Types
Dining With A View
Handy General Store
www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267 Resort Reservations: Information: 1.888.875.0001 | www.custerresorts.com
27
Blue = PMS 2776 100% Cyan 94% Magenta 47% Black
15453 SD Hwy 87 Custer, SD 57730 605-255-4531
Amidst the towering ponderosa pine, Blue Bell Lodge is the perfect hideaway. Located along French Creek at the base of Mount Coolidge, Blue Bell was built in the early 1920s by an executive at Bell Telephone. Bell Telephones logo a blue bell is the lodges namesake. Accommodations Visitors can choose accommodations from rustic cabins to charming handcrafted log cabins with fireplaces and open-beamed ceilings. There are housekeeping cabins with kitchenettes, as well as sleeping cabins. All cabins are newly renovated. Fire grates are located near every cabin. Free wireless Internet is available. Dining Room & Lounge This dining room is famous for downhome cooking. Dine in the comfortable Western atmosphere, where specialties range from burgers and sandwiches to salads, buffalo, trout and steak. The lounge provides an Old West saloon-
style setting, or enjoy the outdoors from the adjoining patio deck. Free wireless Internet is available. Group tours and buses are welcome. The dining room is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The White Buffalo Room The White Buffalo Room is available for meetings, family reunions and wedding receptions. Keep this in mind for your next family gathering or group event. Our staff will be glad to assist you with information and planning. Blue Bell General Store & Gift Shop The general store and gift shop is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily during the summer months. Visitors can purchase fishing licenses and camping supplies. A self-service gas station is also available. Western Chuck Wagon Cookouts Cookouts are offered nightly during the summer. Youll enjoy a vehicle-drawn
hayride to a chuck wagon cookout in a beautiful secluded canyon. Once you arrive, be sure to participate in the singa-long with Western entertainers and enjoy a tasty steak or burger served with all the trimmings. Reservations are required, so book your spot today. Horse Trail Rides Our guides will lead you along historic trails through some of the parks most scenic backcountry. One or two-hour rides are available daily. Full-day and half-day rides are also available by special request. Reservations are recommended. For information, call 605.255.4700. Blue Bell Outdoor Chapel Adjacent to the lodge, the chapel holds non-denominational Sunday services June through August. Weddings may use the chapel upon request. Call the lodge for times of service and additional information.
Variety Of Cabin Types
Western-Style Restaurant
Horseback Riding
Outdoor Chapel
28
Resort Information: 1.888.875.0001 | www.custerresorts.com Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com
Blue = PMS 300 100% Cyan & 44% Magenta
12967 US Hwy 16A Custer, SD 57730 605-255-4521
Located along Galena Creek, Legion Lake Lodge dates back to 1913 when Custer State Park was a game preserve in the Custer State Forest. At that time, the area was leased by the local American Legion post, and thus the basis for the resorts name. Mirroring the ponderosa pines and sheer rock walls, Legion Lake offers wonderful photo opportunities. It is a natural water stop for the parks wildlife.
refrigerators. Most cabins sleep up to 4, 5, or 7 people. The Centennial Cabin, added in 2011, is newly-remodeled and offers a full kitchen, two stories, private location, and sleeps up to 12 people. Dining Room Casual and friendly dining at Legion Lake Lodge is a comfort, reminiscent of home cooking. Hearty breakfasts, classic lunches and dinner selections are sure to please. Legion Lake is proud to serve Starbucks coffees. Enjoy a cappuccino, latte, TAZO tea or frappuccino. Hot and cold sandwiches include burgers and hot dogs or tasty chicken salad. The salad selection at Legion Lake Lodge offers a healthy choice, but dont forget the fresh baked pies! Enjoy your meal in our dining room or take in the lake scenery while dining on the deck. A selection of wine and domestic and imported beer is offered. Take-out orders are also available. Free wireless Internet access is available. Group tours and buses are welcome.
Water Sports Rentals Paddleboats, row boats, canoes and kayaks are available for rent at the Legion Lake Lodge for 30-minute, halfday and full-day excursions on the lake. This man-made lake is an excellent place to fish, swim, or simply bask in the sunshine. Legion Lake Store & Gift Shop The store and gift shop is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily during the summer, offering fishing licenses, supplies, gifts and souvenirs. Hiking Trails Take a hike and experience the beautiful Black Hills on foot. The Centennial Trail passes right through the Legion Lake area, offering easy access for both mountain bikers and hikers. The Legion Lake hiking trail offers hikers a chance to view the surrounding area from a high vantage point. At the summit, a rock ledge offers panoramic views of the lake, Mount Coolidge and the southern Black Hills. See page 20 for more information on the parks trails.
Accommodations A variety of comfortable, family-size cabins are nestled in the pines at this lake resort. Total inventory: 27 modernized cabins, each with flat screen TVs, coffee pots, microwaves, and small
2013 - $1.00 Off

Per Person
Present this coupon for discount. Limit one coupon per party.
2013 - $1.00 Off

Per Person
2013 - $1.00 Off

Per Person
Guided Horseback Trail Ride

Blue Bell Stables, Highway 87S Reservations required: 605-255-4700
Off-Road Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour &/Or Jeep Ride & Cookout
State Game Lodge, 13389 Hwy 16A Reservations recommended: 605-255-4541
Blue Bell Lodge, Highway 87S Reservations recommended: 605-255-4531
Hayride & Chuck Wagon Cookout
Resort Reservations: Information: 1.888.875.0001 | www.custerresorts.com www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267
29
Experience incredible theatre in a forest.

2013 Shows
Tatanka Teaser May 31- 7:30 pm, June 1-7:30 pm A glorious assortment of comic and musical number featuring 2013 BHP Company members--Suggested donation $5 per person. Boeing, Boeing (PG 13) June 6-16 Quirky, classic farce about one man + three fiancs Tuesdays with Morrie (PG) June 20-30 Unforgettable drama A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (PG) July 4-21 Wild, bawdy musical comedy Children of Eden (G) July 25-Aug 4 Enchanting musical based on the age-old conflict between parents & children Hound of the Baskervilles (PG) August 8-18 Ridiculously funny adaptation of a classic tale
Looking for a singular event to cap off your visit to Custer State Park? Escape to the Black Hills Playhouse to experience amazing productions in beautiful Custer State Park where the buffalo roam. With us, you can be equally comfortable arriving after a day on the trails, coming straight from the campsite, enjoying a picnic on our grounds or making a night of it, dressing up and having dinner at one of the fine Custer State Park Lodges before a show.
Curtain Times
Tuesday Saturday evening, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees, 2 p.m. Monday, closed
Ticket Prices
Adults: $32 Seniors/Military/Students 19-21: $29.50 Kids (4-18): $15
Every Friday 2 kids (ages 4-18) go free with each paid adult
Discount for Custer State Park Visitors
$3 off
Use online or mention code CSP13 when making reservations for a $3 per ticket discount!
30
Information: 1.855.584.4141 | www.blackhillsplayhouse.com
Devils Tower National Monument
From Broadus, Custer Battlefield, MT

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Belle Fourche Reservoir Orman Dam
From Bowman, ND From Dickinson, ND
From Faith, SD From Lemmon, SD
From Devils Tower, Wyo From Hulett, Wyo
212
er
10
85
24
ALADDIN
111
Vore Buffalo Jump
From Devils Tower, Wyo
34
543
McNenny Fish Hatchery Mirror Lake
BELLE FOURCHE
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212
Belle
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22
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85
NEWCASTLE EL4334
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296 284
291 Bear Mountain Lookout 293
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299 305
Spring Creek
244
6
Old Hill City Road
323
11
Heartland Expressw
Boy Scout Camp
303
16A
?
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Suggested Itineraries
Southern Hills - 78 miles Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park - 67 miles Central Hills - 71 miles Northern Hills - 143 miles Devils Tower - 121 miles Special Routes
769 715 273 315 316 316 715 313 313
385
336 391
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?
85
10 D.C. Booth 12 Historic Fish Hatchery 14 17
17
18
79
South Dakota
Copyright 2012 by BHB&L Computer generated by BHB&L
SPEARFISH
863
EL3657
90
14A
Spearfish Peak
23
Crow Peak
SUNDANCE
130 214
Iron Creek Lake Cement Ridge Lookout
Citadel Rock
134
High Plains Western Heritage Center 85

Mt. Theo Roosevelt 133
?
3
Elkhorn Ridge Golf Club

8
WHITEWOOD
EL3648
Bear Butte Lake
Bear Butte State Park
34
Bear Butte Creek
MAP LEGEND
Bridal Veil Falls
195
Broken Boot Gold Mine
14
30
STURGIS
EL3450
6
112
141
Little Crow Peak
134 222 105 222
19
CENTRAL CITY
Black Hills Mining Museum
DEADWOOD
12
14A
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170 170
32
103 807 875 850
SAVOY
Roughlock Falls
Spearfish Falls
LEAD EL5320
PLUMA
385
Adams Museum & House Gulches of Fun Amusement Park

18
34
Black Hills National Cemetery 135
Ft. Meade Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame 37 40
79
14A
CHEYENNE CROSSING
Terry Peak Ski Area EL 7064 Deer Mountain

10
Homestake Gold Mine Visitor Center

227
Strawberry Hill
534 44
136
168 137
ROUBAIX
Nem o
151
? ?
TILFORD 90
44
196
26
Beautiful Wonderland Cave

Dalton Lake 224
875 107
O'Neill Pass EL.6905 175
DUMONT
209 206 231 233
White Tail Peak
17
Custer Peak Lookout
216
Road
Petrified Forest of the Black Hills 46

4
Interchange Exit Number U.S. Hwy. Marker State Hwy. Marker 21 Forest Service Road 18 County Road ? Visitor Information 7 Mileage Between Stars Paved Highway Multi-Lane Divided Hwy. Gravel Road Black Hills National Forest Custer State Park Wind Cave National Park Tunnel George S Mickelson Trail
14
44
Elk Creek
PIEDMONT
EL3463
231
256
255
19
198 193 140
NEMO
Steamboat Rock
48
Black Hills Visitor Information Center

52
BUCKHORN HORTON
5 11
Crooks Tower
Mickelson Trail
231
Roubaix Lake
385
208 201
SUMMERSET
EL3624
Ro ad
14
RAPID CITY
Journey Museum 55
EL3198
Box Elder Creek
?
ELLSWORTH AFB
61 90
117
Ne
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BLACK HAWK
EL3493
Box Elder Creek
ROCHFORD
SD Air & Space Museum 67
237
672
85
810
110 110 233
189
Flag Mountain
17
FOUR CORNERS
111
109 157 655 117
Rapid Creek Castle Creek
SILVER CITY
321
Rimrock
JOHNSON 173 SIDING

167
?
231 234
57 58
?
59
60
14
From Badlands, Wall & Kadoka
18
Dinosaur Park
251 Pactola Lake 258

13
Hwy.
The Outdoor Campus West
TRUCK
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BOX ELDER
110
417 607 421

Deerfield Lake
MYSTIC
Seth Bullock Lookout
Thunderhead Underground Falls

159
HISEGA Black Hills Caverns

159
Lak e
Road
44
of 16 Museum Geology 228

?
TRUCK
212
Rapid City Regional Airport
DEERFIELD
294
188 17 300 318 17
Chapel in the Hills
Mount Pisgah
18
Sa
lt
301
Ditch Creek
291
297
EL4974
Circle B Ranch Chuckwagon & Trail Rides South Dakota State Railroad Museum 1880 386 Train 4 Deerfield
Road
?
385
The Golf Club at Red Rock

Sheri dan
16
79
Black Hills Maze
Rapid Creek
44
From Badlands & Scenic
HILL CITY
16
452
392 Spring Creek
Cosmos Mystery Area
Sheridan Spring Lake 358 Creek

18
Reptile Gardens Bear Country USA
Ft. Hays Chuckwagon Supper & Show

Spri ng
ROCKERVILLE
Cre
ek R
235
16
297 292 285 284
385 Crazy Horse Memorial

6 11
Horsethief 350 ? Lake Harney Peak Mount Rushmore EL 7242 Sylvan Lake Nat'l Memorial
KEYSTONE
16A
753
EL4340 330
Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns Big Thunder Gold Mine 233 79 Rushmore Tramway & Alpine Slide Battle Creek Natl Presidential Wax Museum Holy Terror Mini Golf 6 Rushmore Borglum Story 40
Old MacDonalds Petting Farm
oad
17
220
Cre ek
Rd .
Spring Creek
HAYWARD
Battle Creek
Rushmore Cave
10 9
16
117 668
283
Signal Hill
282 282 288
Rockin R Trailrides
284 286
Sylvan Rocks Climbing School

344
87
Needles
Playhouse Road Hw y.
Ir o
tain o un nM
287
Spirit Horse Stables, Trail & Dinner Rides
118 769 123
27
16
Beaver Lake Water Park
French Creek EL5303
CUSTER CITY
89
?
345 14 Bismarck 349 Lake Stockade Lake

7
Center Lake
10
Black Hills Playhouse
17
360
HERMOSA
Battle Creek
16A Center
?
Visitor
36
11 12
40
From Pine Ridge
Road
Custer Mountain
Elk Mountain Lookout
Jewel Cave Nat'l Monument

270
Flintstones Bedrock City Four Mile Old West Town Nat'l Museum of Woodcarving
653
342 343
Cicero Peak
12
Legion Lake Game Lodge Mt. Coolidge Lookout EL 6023
408
Blue 339 Bell Lodge
793
Custer State Park

PARK ENTRANCE FEE
French Creek Visitor Center
14
FAIRBURN
www.blackhillsbadlands.com
Copyright 2012 by BHB&L
769
715
89
87
ild
33
Kilometers 1 Miles 5
10
85
34
Wind Cave National Park

5
79
Prairie Dog Exhibit Beaver Creek
719
DEWEY
Mickelson Trail
16
385
333 Road
13
656 656
101
Trout Haven Ranch
Arg yle
BUFFALO GAP
Beaver Creek
Black Hills Tunnels

Buses, Trucks & Trailers Note
Location 6.5m S of Keystone 4m S of Keystone 3m S of Keystone 1m N of Keystone 6m SE of Sylvan Lake 2m SE of Sylvan Lake 1m N of Sylvan Lake W 13'4" 13'2" 14'0" 47'0" 9'0" 8'4" 10'6" Route US 16A US 16A US 16A US 16A SD 87 SD 87 SD 87 H 12'4" 12'2" 12'9" 18'0" 12'3" 12'0" 10'7"
317
Ri
ve
89
Cottonwood Reservoir
Cold Brook Reservoir
Battle Mountain Lookout
Ch
ey
en
ne
318
Cheyenne
MINNEKAHTA JUNCTION
322
Evans Plunge
18
12
HOT SPRINGS
EL3443
Mammoth Site
MULE CREEK JUNCTION

18
18 71
12
BH Putt 4 Fun Mini Golf
385
ORAL
Black Hills Badlands
Riv
er
10
Angostura State Recreation Area

331
27 10
J.H. Keith Park
Reservations: www.campsd.com
8
18
EDGEMONT
EL3459
13
Black Hills Wild Horse Cascade Falls Sanctuary
385
From Crawford, NE
1.800.710.2267
Angostura
18
SMITHWICK
From Oelrichs, SD From Chadron, NE
Reservoir
Explore Custer State Park

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Tatanka Custer State Park

the 2013 guide to

are dangerous. Please Reservations: Buffalo www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267

Welcome to Custer State Park

inside this issue

Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com

Important Phone Numbers

New to Custer State Park

Reservations: www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Practice safety at the park

Lost and found

Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com

the Parks Team

Help support Custer State Park

Area state parks showcase the variety of the Black Hills

Reservations: www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267

Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com

Reservations: www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267

Explore the Natural World

Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com

Reservations: www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267

Calling all Pups!

Become a Junior Naturalist

Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com

a Long, Rich History

The Gordon Stockade

Reservations: www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267

Where the wildlife call home

Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com

Reservations: www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267

Where the wildlife call home

You are in mountain lion habitat

Hunting - a management tool in Custer State Park

Please dont feed us!

Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com

Enjoy Lakes and Streams

2013 Black Hills Fish Limits**

Reservations: www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267

Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com

Camp South Dakota

Same day reservations

Camping cabin fee

Large trailer sties

$20 $18 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20 $20

$24 $24 $24 $24 $24 $24 $27

Specialized Camping Areas

Reservations: www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267

Information: 605.255.4515 | www.custerstatepark.com

Reservations: www.campsd.com | 1.800.710.2267

Badger Hole Centennial Trailhead

Location: .5 south of US 16A on Badger Clark Road (CSP 9)

French Creek Centennial Trailhead

Harney Area Trails

Explore Miles of Trails

B. Little Devils Tower Trailhead (Trail #4)

C. Sunday Gulch Trailhead (Trail #6)

Lovers Leap Trailhead

Creekside Trail (TRACK Trail)

D. Sylvan Lake Shore Trail (Trail #1)

French Creek Natural Area Trailhead

E. Sylvan Lake Trailheads to Harney Peak

Stockade Lake Trailhead