*DO NOT USE THESE MAPS AS YOUR “OFFICIAL” TRAVEL MAP use AVENZA MAP
*WITH STREET TIRES
(Click on The Picture to Zoom)
The Custer State Park drive is not an ordinary drive. You are riding on roads, not trails. But you are driving in the best State Park in the nation.
We made this drive recently during the parks Open House (free access) weekend. Any other time, you will be required to pay an access fee for the vehicle. This is a great ride for those who desire to view wildlife. Custer State Park is the home of a large Bison herd. Use caution and keep a distance – a vehicle is no match for a male Bison.
The First White woman to enter the Black Hills, arriving in Custer City, in December 1874. A monument to her is located in this area.
The park is full of visual and historic features. My favorites are Mt Coolidge Fire Tower, Hazelrodt Cabin, Meeker Ranch Meeker Road Cabin and the Badger Hole cabin.
The baby Mann grave sits on the edge of one of the interior park roads. The baby died during birth on June 6th 1902 on the original Fleur de Lis Ranch. Other known graves in the Park include the Major Whitehead gravesite and the Dr. Alvin Herbert grave.
There is some evidence here, of ghost towns. Watch for the Bakerville Ghost Town and Westford Ghost Town and the Gordon Stockade.
Water features in the Park include; Grace Coolidge Creek, Grace Coolidge Creek Waterfall, Lame Johnny Creek, Badger Hole Creek, Legion Lake, and Stockade Lake.
Park features to watch for are the Bison Viewing areas, the Custer State Park Entrance Sign, Custer State Park Visitors Center, Lover’s Leap Peak, Mount Coolidge, Prairie Dog Viewing areas, Praire Hiking Trail, and theNeedles Eye Tunnel.
Mining evidence can be found at the Wild Rose Mine, and November Mine.
Places to Visit:
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STOCKADE LAKE NORTH CAMPGROUND
STOCKADE LAKE SOUTH CAMPGROUND
Other Places to Visit:
Parking:
Decimal Degrees: 43.7196833,-103.5062206
Trailhead:
Connecting Drives:
Links: