Custer State Park
| Custer State Park | |
|---|---|
American bison at the Wildlife Loop Road | |
Custer State Park Location in South Dakota | |
| Location | Custer County, South Dakota, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°36′52″N 103°41′20″W / 43.61433°N 103.689°W |
| Area | 71,000 acres (29,000 ha) |
| Elevation | 4,721 ft (1,439 m) |
| Established | 1912 |
| Administered by | South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks |
| Named for | George Armstrong Custer |
| Website | Official website |
| Southwestern South Dakota |
|---|
| Sculptures |
| Geologic and natural history |
| Mountains |
| Caves |
| Forests and wildernesses |
| Lakes |
| Long-distance trails |
| Scenic byways |
| Historic sites |
Custer State Park is a South Dakota State Park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills of the United States. Located in Custer County, the park is South Dakota's first and largest state park, named after Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. The park covers an area of over 71,000 acres (287 km2) of varied terrain including rolling prairie grasslands and rugged mountains.
The park is home to a herd of 1,500 bison. Elk, coyotes, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, river otters, pronghorn, cougars, and feral burros also inhabit the park. The park is known for its scenery, hiking (including the South Dakota Centennial Trail), its scenic drives (Needles Highway and the wildlife loop), with views of the bison herd and prairie dog towns. This park is easily accessible by road from Rapid City. Other nearby attractions are Wind Cave National Park, Mount Rushmore, Jewel Cave National Monument, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and Badlands National Park.