Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway, Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park

We enjoyed a super scenic drive though Custer State Park, along Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway, with multiple narrow tunnels, fun twisty roads, and impressive views. Then went along the Wildlife Loop.

The map from their website; click or tap to see larger:

Map

An interactive map of our route; we started at the Legion Lake Campground, heading northeast towards the Norbeck Overlook waypoint along the Iron Mountain Road, continuing anti-clockwise to Sylvan Lake, where we had lunch and a walk, then through the middle and clockwise around the Wildlife Loop, back to the campground:

A narrow and low tunnel:

Narrow and short tunnel

Two narrow and low tunnels:

Two narrow and short tunnels

The second tunnel emerges to a bridge and corkscrew:

Tunnel to bridge and corkscrew

Another narrow tunnel:

Narrow and short tunnel

This one has a peek of Mount Rushmore:

Mount Rushmore

We went past Mount Rushmore on the route (been there before; not worth stopping again):

Mount Rushmore

The first tunnel on the Needles Highway:

Narrow and short tunnel

A selfie at Sylvan Lake:

Selfie at Sylvan Lake

We strolled along the lakeside after lunch; one of our favorite places:

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake

Needle’s Eye:

Needle's Eye

Needle’s Eye tunnel:

Narrow and short tunnel

More interesting rocks:

Interesting rocks

Interesting rocks

Narrow and short tunnel

Wildlife:

Deer

Turkeys

Deer

Prairie Dogs

Prairie Dogs

Bison

Sunset

Bison