Tatanka 2017 GUIDE TO CUSTER STATE PARK Buffalo are dangerous Please do not approach. RESERVATIONS: CAMPSD.COM | 1.800.710.2267 1 Welcome Thank you for choosing to visit Custer State Park, a SODFHZKHUH\RXFDQ¿QGVHUHQLW\,UHDOL]H,¶PJHWWLQJ ROGHUEHFDXVH,FDQUHFDOOWKHGD\VZLWKRXWFHOOSKRQHV 1RZWKH\DUHSDUWRIRXUGDLO\OLYHVDQGVRPHFDQ¶W IXQFWLRQZLWKRXWRQH,QDVRFLHW\ZKHUHQRLVHDQG EHLQJSOXJJHGLQKDVFRQVXPHGXV,FKDOOHQJH\RXWRXQSOXJUHOD[DQGWUXO\ HQMR\\RXUWLPHLQ&XVWHU6WDWH3DUN )LQGWKDWSODFHRIVHUHQLW\ZKHUH\RXKDYH³QRVHUYLFH´DQGIRUJHWDERXWWKH SUHVVXUHVRIOLIH)RFXVRQWKHYHU\UHDVRQ\RXKDYHWDNHQWLPHRIIIURPZRUN ±WRUHOD[WRJHWDZD\IURPWKHQRLVHSUHVVXUHDQGWKHKXVWOHRIOLIH)LQG WKDWVSHFLDOSODFHWRUHFRQQHFWDQGFUHDWHODVWLQJPHPRULHVZLWKIDPLO\DQG IULHQGV2QFH\RXGR,¶PFRQ¿GHQW\RX¶OOJRKRPHUHIUHVKHGUHQHZHGDQG UHDG\WRIDFHDQ\FKDOOHQJH 0DWW6Q\GHU6XSHULQWHQGHQW Custer State Park tatanka Tatanka is the Lakota word for bison or buffalo. Volume 38 • 2017 The Tatanka is published by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. Dennis Daugaard, Governor of South Dakota; Kelly Hepler, Secretary SD Game, Fish and Parks; Katie Ceroll, Director, SD Division of Parks and Recreation; Matthew Snyder, Superintendent, Custer State Park; Brooke Smith, Tatanka Editor Front Cover: Photo by Chad Coppess, SD Department of Tourism. Other photos provided by SD Departments of Tourism and Game, Fish and Parks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Ron Fry. 2 INFORMATION: 605.255.4515 | CUSTERSTATEPARK.COM The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks’ mission is to provide sustainable outdoor recreational opportunities WKURXJKUHVSRQVLEOHPDQDJHPHQWRIRXUVWDWH¶VSDUNV¿VKHULHVDQGZLOGOLIHE\IRVWHULQJSDUWQHUVKLSVFXOWLYDWLQJ VWHZDUGVKLSDQGVDIHO\FRQQHFWLQJSHRSOHZLWKWKHRXWGRRUV Contents Things to know 4 Wildlife 6 Buffalo Roundup 10 Park Programs 11 Activities 12 Trails 14 Visitor Centers 16 Annual Events 18 Lakes and Streams 20 Scenic Drives 22 History 24 Lodging 26 Camping 28 Dining and Shopping 30 Area State Parks 32 Black Hills Playhouse 34 Black Hills Area Map Inside Back Custer State Park Map Back Cover (TXDORSSRUWXQLW\WRSDUWLFLSDWHLQDQGEHQH¿WIURPSURJUDPVRIWKH6''HSDUWPHQWRI*DPH)LVKDQG3DUNVLVDYDLODEOHWRDOOLQGLYLGXDOVZLWKRXWUHJDUGWRWKHLUUDFHFRORU national origin, sex, age or handicap. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to: SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501-3182; RUWRWKH2I¿FHRI(TXDO2SSRUWXQLW\86'HSDUWPHQWRI,QWHULRU2I¿FHRIWKH6HFUHWDU\:DVKLQJWRQ'& 235,000 copies of this publication were printed by Midstates Printing at a cost of 15 cents each. RESERVATIONS: CAMPSD.COM | 1.800.710.2267 3 things to know Entrance Fees Custer State Park Visitor Center /RFDWHGDWWKHMXQFWLRQRI:LOGOLIH/RRS5RDGDQG An entrance license is required for all park visitors. +LJKZD\ Only people traveling non-stop on U.S. Highway 16A Memorial Day – Labor Day | Open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. are exempt from this requirement. Entrance licenses Labor Day – September 30 | Open 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. are valid at all South Dakota state parks. October 1 – Memorial Day | Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Temporary Vehicle License | $20/vehicle Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter | Closed (1-7 consecutive days) $10/motorcycle Wildlife Station Visitor Center /RFDWHGRQ:LOGOLIH/RRS5RDG Annual Park Entrance License | $30 Memorial Day - Labor Day | Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Second Annual Park Entrance License |$15 Labor Day - September 30 | Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 1 - Memorial Day | Closed Transferable Park Entrance License | $65 Peter Norbeck Camping fees | See page 29 Outdoor Education Center /RFDWHGRQ+LJKZD\QHDUWKH6WDWH*DPH/RGJH Motorcoach License | $3/person per visit (Valid only at Custer State Park.) May 27- September 30 | Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 1 - Friday before Memorial Day | Closed 4 INFORMATION: 605.255.4515 | CUSTERSTATEPARK.COM Park Rules Lost and Found Regulations are designed to protect both park visitors and All lost and found items and records are kept at the park park resources. Park rangers enforce the park’s laws and RI¿FH,I\RX¿QGRUORVHDQLWHPVWRSDWRQHRIRXUHQWUDQFH regulations. VWDWLRQVYLVLWRUFHQWHUVRUWKHSDUNRI¿FHDQG¿OORXWDORVW » DO NOT approach the buffalo. and found form. » Feeding and disturbing wildlife is against park regulations. » Drones are not allowed in the park. Contact Information » 2SHQ¿UHVDUHSURKLELWHGXQOHVVLQDQDSSURYHG¿UHJUDWH Camping reservations located in campgrounds or picnic areas. 1.800.710.2267 | campsd.com » Pets need to be on a leash no longer than 10 feet. Pets are not allowed in any park buildings or on designated Custer State Park Resort swimming beaches. Please clean up after your pet, and do ,QIRUPDWLRQ_ not leave pets unattended. Service animals are welcome. Reservations | 1.888.875.0001 » Removal of any natural or cultural features such as rocks [email protected] | FXVWHUUHVRUWVFRP or artifacts is prohibited. Custer State Park » /RDGHG¿UHDUPVDUHQRWDOORZHGLQWKHSDUN8QORDGHGDQG 3DUN2I¿FH_ FDVHG¿UHDUPVPD\EHWUDQVSRUWHGLQDYHKLFOH [email protected] | FXVWHUVWDWHSDUNFRP » Open carry is not permitted. You may carry a concealed weapon with a valid permit. » Visitors are not allowed to jump or dive from bridges, rocks or cliffs into any of the park’s lakes. » Only state-sponsored geocaches are allowed in the park. RESERVATIONS: CAMPSD.COM | 1.800.710.2267 5 wildlife Wildlife Loop Road Prairie Dog Bighorn sheep 6 INFORMATION: 605.255.4515 | CUSTERSTATEPARK.COM Keep Your distance When viewing wildlife, please remain in your vehicle or stay at least 100 yards from bison, elk and other animals. Regardless of distance, if any wild animal changes its behavior due to your presence, you are too close. Please back off. Custer State Park Wildlife Custer State Park is one of the few places in the world where you are able to see an abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat. You will encounter a variety of wildlife throughout the park’s 71,000 acres, including along trails, in the campgrounds and beside the road. Wildlife Loop Road is particularly known for its common sightings of buffalo, pronghorn and prairie dogs, but keep an eye out for white- tailed and mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep and a host of birds and smaller wildlife as well. For the best results, travel the loop during the early morning or later in the evening, when wildlife are most active. Safari Jeep Tour RESERVATIONS: CAMPSD.COM | 1.800.710.2267 7 Elk Elk are the second largest member of the wildlife deer family with only moose larger. Mature bulls grow and shed heavy, wide antlers each year. Elk are mainly forest dwellers where they browse and graze on understory vegetation. They are shy and seldom seen during the daytime hours. They are best found in early morning or late at night. Pronghorns Pronghorns, commonly referred to as antelope due to their similar appearance, live on the open grassland. The name pronghorn comes from the buck’s large pronged horns. The horn sheaths are shed each year. The fastest land animal in North America, pronghorns can run 60 mph for great distances. True antelope live in Africa and have unbranched horns Mountain Lions Coyotes that never shed. &KLHÀ\QRFWXUQDODQGUHFOXVLYHWRZDUG Coyotes hunt in all habitats of Custer humans, mountain lions are found State Park. Their diet is varied, but within the Black Hills and Custer State consists mainly of small mammals. Park. These predators feed on several They also eat larger game as well as species, including deer, elk, rabbits and insects, fruits and berries. Coyotes are wild turkeys. Even though you may not gray and have a drooping, bushy tail see them, these big cats are a part of and a pointed nose. The coyote is South South Dakota’s wealth of wildlife. Dakota’s state animal. © Dean Pearson © Jim Thompson Jr. Mule Deer White-tailed Deer These deer are aptly named for their White-tailed deer live mainly in the large ears. Their black-tipped tails, timberlands. As its name implies, the which are short and narrow, are carried white-tailed deer has white hair on the down when the deer runs. Mule deer underside of its tail. When the animal often bound with a stiff-legged gait as UXQVWKHWDLOLVÀLSSHGXSDQGORRNVOLNH if bouncing on powerful springs when DZDYLQJZKLWHÀDJ WKH\ÀHH 8 INFORMATION: 605.255.4515 | CUSTERSTATEPARK.COM Hunting: a management tool Some animal species in the park are managed through hunting programs. Hunting helps reduce the size of populations, preventing overcrowding within the park. Bighorn Sheep Burros Control of numbers ensures an South Dakota’s original bighorn sheep The burros in Custer State Park are adequate supply of food for all was the Audubon subspecies. When not native to the Black Hills. They are species and prevents habitat loss and it became extinct about 1922, a herd descendants from the herd that once competition between species. of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep hauled visitors to the top of Black Elk Most hunting seasons typically occur was introduced to Custer State Park. Peak (formerly Harney Peak). The from mid-September through early Bighorns have a sturdy, but graceful rides were discontinued years ago and January. Turkey hunting takes place build. Their coats consist of short hair, the burros were released into the park in the spring from mid-April through not wool. Rams have thick, curled horns where they have become a popular mid-May each year. and ewes have smaller curved horns. visitor attraction. Through the years, visitors have stopped to photograph the The fees collected from hunting burros. Visitors need to understand there licenses generate revenue which help is a risk taken when one approaches any fund