Wildlife Loop Road

The Wildlife Loop Road is the best way to see Custer State Park's animals from a car. The loop is about eighteen miles long and takes roughly an hour and a half, but the time depends on wildlife jams, when bison or burros block the road and traffic stops. The herd is free-roaming, and about 1,350 buffalo are in the park, along with white-tailed and mule deer, elk and pronghorn. Prairie dogs have their own town beside the road, and feral burros come to car windows looking for treats, which you should not provide. Bighorn sheep, coyotes, burrowing owls and, rarely, mountain lions are possible sightings. The park recommends early morning or evening before sunset for the best viewing, when animals are most active and the light is soft. The road is open year-round, but winter conditions require careful driving. You need the park entrance license, which is separate from other fees. A coach or day tour covers the loop as part of a longer route, and a self-guided drive is the cheapest option.

The loop's appeal is unpredictability. Some mornings the bison sit near the road in clusters, and some days they are far out on the prairie, so you may need patience. The burros are more reliable, and children love them, but feeding them is discouraged and can lead to aggressive behavior. The prairie dog town is a good stop for a quick look and a photograph.

Binoculars and a telephoto lens help, and the best strategy is to drive slowly, scan the hills and watch for brake lights that signal an animal ahead. If you see animals near the road, stay in your vehicle and give them space.

Safety matters here. Bison are wild and weigh a ton or more, and every year visitors are injured by getting too close. Stay in the car unless the park says otherwise, never approach calves, and do not block the herd's path. Keep the windows up when animals are close, and watch for sudden movement.

The loop passes the Wildlife Station Visitor Center, which has shorter hours outside summer, and the road meets other park roads, so check a map. Sunset is beautiful but also the time when animals cross the road and visibility drops, so drive slowly and use your lights.

To make the most of it, combine the loop with a morning start at your hotel, a stop at the visitor center and a lunch at one of the lodges. Many visitors drive it twice, once in the morning and once in the evening, because the experience changes with the light and the animals' behavior. A jeep safari takes you off the road for a closer look, and a day tour combines the loop with Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse for visitors without a car.

The late-September Buffalo Roundup uses parts of the loop, so expect closures and crowds then. In winter, the loop can be quiet and rewarding, but check conditions before you go.