Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Custer State Park

We checked out of our hotel in Rapid City to head west into the Black Hills region of South Dakota. We drove along the scenic Iron Mountain Road through Custer State Park on our way to Mount Rushmore. Once we arrived at Mount Rushmore, we watched the video in the visitor center about the history of the monument and then walked the Presidential Trail which takes you along the base of Mount Rushmore.

Mount Rushmore is visible through several tunnel openings as you drive north on Iron Mountain Road

From the Presidential Trail

Next, we drove the short distance to the Crazy Horse Memorial. We ate a picnic lunch in the car while listening to the live broadcast of the Indy 500 in the parking lot of Crazy Horse. Once inside the Crazy Horse visitor center, we learned some of the history of the monument. Construction first began on the mountain in 1948 and is estimated to be complete in 2037.

 

Jim with the Crazy Horse Memorial in the distance

After checking in to our hotel in Custer and finding a restaurant for dinner, we decided to drive the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop. We had read that the best time to see wildlife was early morning or evenings, and we found that to be true. We saw so many animals including buffalo, pronghorn deer, white tailed deer, mule deer, wild burros, prairie dogs, a bobcat, and a coyote.

The following day, we spent more time exploring Custer State Park. We drove the Needles Highway to get to our hike - the Cathedral Spires Trail and the Little Devil's Tower Trail.

The Cathedral Spires as seen from the Needles Highway

A little bit of a rock scramble on the Little Devil's Tower Trail

After our morning hike, we continued through Custer State Park to Sylvan Lake where we did the short walk around the beautiful lake.

Sylvan Lake

In the evening, we went back to Mount Rushmore to see the lighting ceremony. It's a very patriotic event that includes a short film, ranger talk, tribute to military personnel, and the illumination of the monument. It was really neat to be there on Memorial Day!