We did the Custer State Park Winter Challenge again this year and had a blast. Each year it is different and the prize is different as well. We had some challenges with the weather and snow this year making it even more fun. This is a free event every year where you get outside, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and have the park mostly to yourself. You can usually do all the hikes in a weekend, so planning the challenge around the winter can be easier.
Badger Clark Trail
The Badger Clark Historic Trail is a little loop trail in Custer State Park that is about 1 mile in length. The trailhead is 1 mile south of Highway 16 on Badger Clark Road near Legion Lake. Part of the trail was created by Badger Clark himself, a famous writer and poet. Badger Clark lived in the area for over 30 years in a small cabin on site named “The Badger Hole”. During summer, tours are available through the Badger Hole, where volunteer rangers are there to answer questions. The trail itself is pretty easy and a good place to get out, stretch, and smell the fresh air. If open, the cabin is really cool and full of tons of history. The Centennial Trail also runs along the cabin.
Prairie Trail
Prairie Trail is a trail on the west side of Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park. It claims to be about 3 miles and goes in a loop. We actually tracked it around 2.1 miles. The trail goes through the prairie and the forest and although there wasn’t anything spectacular on this trail, some of the views were pretty and by the creek was nice. While we were there, the buffalo were far off, but there were buffalo chips everywhere. I would use extreme caution if buffalo are near the trail since you are exposed a couple of times in the prairie with no adequate means of cover if needed.
Needles Highway
This national scenic byway was considered impossible to construct by some before it was finished in 1922. It is named after the high granite "needles" it winds among. On the highway, you'll drive by the needles eye, around tight turns, through low tunnels and near the Cathedral Spires. One of the most famous parts of the drive is the Needle Eye Tunnel. This one-way tunnel is only 8′ 4″ wide by 12′ 0″ high so make sure your vehicle will fit through before starting up the highway because once you reach the tunnel, there isn't much room to turn around.
The Needles Highway starts near Sylvan Lake and ends up near Legion Lake, State Game Lodge, or Center Lake and is full of adventure and beautiful scenery whichever way you choose to go.
During the winter the road is closed and people walk the road or cross country ski it. It is just gorgeous and you can get up close with all the majestic spirals. This is one of our favorite trails to do in the winter. Be warned though the road is not plowed in the winter so walking it can be tricky if there has been a lot of snow. I recommend bringing poles.
Lover’s Leap Trail
The trail is a loop that begins behind the State Game Lodge School House which is across from the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center on Highway 16A. It begins with a pretty steep but not too long of a climb. About 1/4 mile from the start of the trail, you will come to an intersection - this is where the loop begins. We suggest taking the trail that goes to the left. This way you get most of the uphill out of the way early and you can enjoy the hike the rest of the way. This trail is 4 miles long and does a nice loop.
Snow Shoeing It
We snowshoed the Prairie Trail and that was pretty interesting. Some of the trail had snow, but there was a lot of slush, rocks, and dirt. There were a lot of hills you had to climb and sometimes going down the hills in the snow shoes was hard with all the snow. Picking a trail to do with the snowshoes can be fun since it sometimes can be hard to foresee how the whole trail is going to be.
Mount Coolidge
Mount Coolidge is located on SD 87 between Blue Bell Campground and Legion Lake Campground. The tower is atop a 6,023 foot peak and has some amazing 360 degree views of the Black Hills. From the top with binoculars or a good zoom lens, you can see Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore, the Needles, Black Elk Fire Tower, Ellsworth Airforce Base, and the Badlands.
The tower was built in the 1940's by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is now used to spot fires. The road up to the tower is a little steep and winds a lot. Large vehicles and motorhomes should not attempt the drive to the tower since it is narrow, curvy, and has a lot of sharp dropoffs with no guard rails. There is also limited car parking at the top and an outhouse. The tower is only open on good days and is usually closed in the winter due to the road that leads to the tower being slightly dangerous.
Our prize after showing our selfies to the Custer State Park Visitor’s Center.
