Custer State Park, SD

Covering 114-square miles Custer State Park is a must visit when traveling through South Dakota. There are campgrounds, general stores, an awesome visitors center, covered wagon and jeep excursions, and of course wild life. The park is made up of Needles Hwy, Wildlife Loop, Iron Mountain Road. We visited a non-denominational church on Sunday that is put together by young people that work in the park, and supported by a non-profit organization. The organization provides young people with funds, supplies, and training so that they are more equipped when sharing Christ with others. Church was held in a small chapel, we sat on wooden pews, there was a piano and two girls, a little younger than me who lead the service. After church we went back to our campsite at Wheels West and ate breakfast at their charming cafe. All the locals eat at the cafe, so it is a great place to meet and talk with them. Sunday morning was packed for breakfast, as you can imagine, and we were seated at a table with a two other couples to save room. We talked and shared, and learned more about the people who lived in and around Custer. Finishing up breakfast and paying our tab we went back to the camper and packed up, we then drove for the rest of the day. We drove the Needles Hwy and Wildlife Loop, spotting bison walking up the middle of the road, and driving by a bison so close that I could have touched him. All the pamplets you receive and signs say do not feed or approach the wildlife, especially not the buffalo, but when we saw these bison on the street, cars were stopped people were walking right up to there faces taking pictures. We were giving them their space, but I took a picture from up the road because I was just sure something would happen if I didn't have the camera ready. Nobody got hurt, and I hope their luck continues, not following rules in state and national parks that have been preserved for our nations education and enjoyment is not something I take kindly too. I feel it is just plain disrespectful. O.K. so I'll get off my soap box. And tell you that Needles Hwy was an extremely entertaining drive on tiny two lane roads, we had to pull over for motorcycles to pass by, roads spiraling higher and higher with no ground beneath. We knew there would be tunnels, and tunnels there were, our width and height was just barely sufficed to get through!! They were short in length, one lane tunnels so there were cars lined up taking turns on going through. One tunnel we went through was 9ft. 4in. wide, and eleven feet high. I giggled in sarcasm when Chris asked me if I could touch the wall out my window...hehe, yes of course I could touch it, touch it with my arm bent. Wondering if your going to make it, going so slow, the intensity, coming out on the other side makes you feel so alive!!