Custer Peak Lookout Tower
Custer Peak Lookout Tower is a fire tower that was built in 1911. The fire tower is still active today and when we went, there was a female that was working inside the tower watching for signs of fire. The road to the tower is one lane, and can only be accessed by an atv or small 4 wheel vehicle - we went in our jeep renegade and had no problems. The road is kind of scary at times and reminded me of some of the roads we went to in Colorado - steep, no railings, one lane, bumpy, extremely rocky, high-centered, etc. On the way up make sure you always take the road to the right which leads to the tower. If you are able to make it to the top the views are amazing.
To get to the fire tower take Highway 385 south of Deadwood or North of Highway 44 out of Rapid City. Turn onto Custer Peak Rd (county road 216) which is just north of Roubaix Lake or South of the turn off to Nemo Rd. It is about 5 miles to the top of the tower. The last 3 miles are where it starts to get scary. There is a sign that states vehicle restrictions if trying to go to the top right before the road starts to get bad.
View of the tower in the distance.
Road on the way to the top. Very bumpy, one lane only, lots of rocks, and high centered at times for water control.
Parking lot at the top - very small. Notice we are the only vehicle. the rest are atvs. The man I talked to at the top was very impressed we got to the top without an atv and even asked what we were driving.
Walking path leading to the fire tower.
Great views.
