We needed to get some updated pictures for the website and even though the forecast was for rain, we decided to take a ride though the hills. By the time our day was done, our route had taken us on a one day tour of some of the most scenic spots in the Black Hills.
Downtown Keystone
We started the day by driving through Keystone and continued on highway 16A, also known as Iron Mountain Road. If you are ever in the Hills, don't miss taking this scenic drive in which the highlights include four Pigtail Bridges and three 1-lane tunnels that showcase Mount Rushmore as you drive through them. This 17 mile stretch of road was purposely built with many curves and switchbacks so it would have a 35 MPH speed limit, forcing people to drive slow and enjoy the beauty. At the top, we stopped at the Norbeck Overlook. From the overlook you can see Mount Rushmore, Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak), and the Cathedral Spires. Although it hadn't started raining yet, the clouds were low and covered Black Elk Peak and the Spires, but we had a nice view of Mount Rushmore. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was only 1 week away, and many bikers like to come a week early to avoid the crowds, so there were plenty of bikers along the road and at the overlook.
Pigtail Bridge
Pigtail Bridge
Mt. Rushmore through a tunnel
We left the overlook and continued on Hwy. 16A until we made a quick stop at Lakota Lake. Lakota Lake is a small, lightly used lake just off the highway. The main activity is fishing, but you could kayak. There are also 6 picnic spots.
Lakota Lake
From Lakota Lake we continued on Hwy. 16A again until we turned onto S. Playhouse Rd, just before the Wolf Camp and Spokane Creek & Cabins Resort. This route would take us to the Needles Highway and the Cathedral Spires. Along the way we passed Center Lake and The Black Hills Playhouse. Center Lake is another small lake but the campground is pretty nice with lots of sites for tents
Center Lake
We then turned west onto Hwy. 87 or The Needles Highway and it was then that it started to rain off and on for the next hour or so. By the time we reached the Cathedral Spires Trailhead, the rain had let up enough for us to give the trail a try. The Cathedral Spires Trail is a 3/4 mile one way trail that takes you into the middle of the Spires. It is mostly used as access to the Spires by rock climbers, but it's also a great way to view the Spires close up. Although the weather kept us from experiencing the full beauty and splendor of the Spires, the fog made for an eerie and unique experience.
The next stop was the Needles Eye Tunnel and the Needles Eye. Now is probably the best time to mention that the Needles highway is a tight 2 lane road with many tight turns, plus the Needles tunnel which is 8' 4" wide by 12' 0" high, so if your traveling in a big vehicle, know what you feel comfortable with before you go.
Needles Eye Tunnel
After driving through the Needles Eye Tunnel we continued on to Sylvan Lake. Sylvan Lake is one of the centerpieces of Custer State Park. It's a beautiful lake surrounded by granite rock. It's also the hub for many activities. There's camping or you can stay at the lodge. There's dining. There are 3 hiking trails accessible from the lake. There's a beach and boat rentals. It's just a great place to stop and enjoy the Hills.
We ended the day by driving the hour or so to Deadwood for a night of gambling. The end of July and beginning of August is a busy time of year in the Hills. As I mentioned before, the Sturgis Rally is just around the corner and The Days of '76 was just wrapping up in Deadwood so the town was packed with an interesting mix of Cowboys and Bikers. We weren't having much luck and the crowd was a little much for us so we decided to call it a day.
Deadwood on a slower day…
So there you go, if your visiting the Black Hills and your not sure what to see first, follow our path and you'll have a full day packed with memorable sites, a little hiking and some thrills. You could easily add Mount Rushmore to the day by stopping there right after leaving Keystone or go see Crazy Horse Mountain after going through the Needles Eye Tunnel..