How often does one get to pull off the side of the road to feed wild burrows? Well in Custer Park’s 18 mile wildlife loop one can. South Dakota is a family favorite travel spot, with countless trails to hike and scenic drives to take it’s not a bore for the outdoor lover. Just make sure you bring a bag of carrots for the burrows, as they will walk right up to your vehicle looking for a treat. That said, the Bison’s on the other hand are to be looked upon from a distant, do not approach or attempt to feed them.
The “Bison” or Tatanka as the native Lakota’s call them. One cannot visit the Black Hills of South Dakota and not see one of America’s national animal. One the largest mammals in the Badlands National Park and Custer State Park, in prehistoric times millions of bison roamed North America. However, in the late 1800’s with settlers pushing West reducing the bison’s habitat, the Native American culture and over hunting, the bison was facing extinction. It was the work of several private individuals working with local tribes in the area and the Interior Department that brought the bison back from near extinction. In 2016, the National Bison Legacy Act was signed into law by President Obama making the American bison the national mammal of the United States.
This 18 mile wildlife loop drive is in the heart of Custer State Park. It’s one of the few state parks that feels like a National Park, its that beautiful and amazing. I have found that if you go in the mornings or before dusk, you have the best chance of seeing the animals in their natural habitat. Custer State Park is busy in the summer months therefore if you go early morning or around 5ish when most folks are making their dinner plans, there is less traffic. I’ve traveled here both in late April and August, its quiet in April. So if you are looking for a quiet vacay of peaceful hikes and scenic drives, late Spring is perfect. That said if you are looking to take advantage of horseback riding, prairie dog farms and other entertainment activities the Black Hills has to offer, some of those services do not become available until after Memorial Day weekend and they usually close for the season around mid September.