I'm never going to rank something nature made less than 5 stars!…read more A unique national park...and a hot one! There is very little shade in this park and it is incredibly hot (we visited in July). We visited with two small kids (5 year old, 1.5 year old) so didn't do any major hikes. We did Door Trail which was fun to leave the boardwalk and explore for the whole family. We also did the Window "trail" which I would consider more of an overlook. We did the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail which I highly recommend for anyone! It gets you some different terrain and some shade. The views can be awe inspiring and otherworldly--not every overlook is worth stopping in my opinion but there's some really neat ones. The visitor center is good. Most stops have vault toilets which were all pretty well maintained. Would not recommend the extra drive to the prairie dog town...we saw prairie dogs all over the state so it wasn't really anything special. We saw several bison outside of the Pinnacles entrance and several herds on the way to the Interior entrance from the west. Try to go early in the day and late in the day to keep cool. And make sure your kiddos get their junior ranger badges at the visitor center.

Breathtaking topography. Piques the curiosity. I mean, can you believe much of our land used to be…read moreunderground? Supposedly that's how ancient rapids carved the Badlands we see today. + Thankfully, restrooms and disposal bins at like every stop. + Water refill & A/C at the VC. - Virtually no shade. Desert climate out there. - And yet very crowded! People taking photos everywhere. Crowded museums.

Amazing experience! Through the badlands loop in South Dakota!…read moreI wish I had a full day here to explore the trails and see every ravine! One of the most peaceful places I've ever been! I can't wait to come back! I completely recommend this experience to everyone one.

+ Peaceful nothingness for miles. Gosh the plains out here so plain…read more + Except for the cows in the distance. Wonder how close I coulda gotten to them. - But still, felt like whole lotta nothing out there. . But I suppose it's a decent break in between your visits to the more exciting hot spots like Mt Rushmore and Custer SP. . Prob gotta dig deeper to find the few animals you see in the other reviews' photos, but I was omw to too many flagship destinations to slow down here, unfortunately.

Our visit to South Dakota was an unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Custer park was…read moreone of our top priorities to visit. Man was it worth it! Every turn along the scenic drives revealed something new and breathtaking--towering mountains, rolling hills, endless grassy plains, crystal-clear lakes and streams, beautiful log cabins, and wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitat. We drove arms reach from bison, and deer. We got out of our car to pet and feed burros, and marveled over other animals right alongside the roadway. The prairie dogs were adorable and funny too. It was an incredible reminder of how special this park truly is. Especially considering I love animals, history, and the artistry of nature. One of the highlights was driving through the famous narrow rock tunnels. The engineering is amazing, and the views framed through the tunnels are simply unforgettable. We also stopped at several cliffside overlooks where the panoramic views stretched as far as the eye could see. Standing there, looking out over the landscape, gave us a true appreciation for the beauty and scale of the Black Hills. Whether you're looking for incredible photography, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, or simply a peaceful escape into nature, Custer State Park delivers on every level. It's one of those places that makes you slow down, take a deep breath, and appreciate God's incredible creation. If you're visiting South Dakota, Custer State Park isn't just worth seeing--it's an experience you'll remember for a lifetime. We can't wait to return.

This place should be a national park, in my opinion!…read more Going in to it with an open mind is important--wild animals are, in fact, wild and can't be predicted or controlled! That being said, you're almost guaranteed to see SOMETHING. We were lucky enough to get stuck in a bison jam, see the burros and a number of deer and prongtails. Get up early or take a drive around dusk if you miss the wildlife during the day. It's a beautiful, diverse park. Needles highway is a must do and is so cool to see the rock formations. Starting after the wildlife loop and driving to Sylvan Lake was amazing and the lake offered a great break from the car. We wish we would have planned for more time at the lake and come prepared with swimsuits, etc! Even if just visiting for a day, I think the $25 park entrance fee is worth it. But if you have the time, plan to take your time and spend more than one day here!

We stopped here to view America's largest Berlin Wall exhibit and of course see the many beautiful…read moresculptures we had heard about. It is a lovely park with lots of greenspace and beautiful foliage but there were many unhoused persons and some seemed to be living/sleeping next to the statues so we weren't able to spend to much time enjoying some of them or get to close and we didn't want to bother anyone. The ones we did see up close were magnificent! We enjoyed walking through the park on the paved trails and perhaps it was just because we were from outside the area but we had difficulty finding anywhere close to park so we also had a nice walk to and from the park as well. The highlight for my husband was getting to spin the 9,000 lb piece of granite. The engineering makes it possible but it's still pretty tough to get that 4 ton stone moving. This park is worth a stop just for that.

This park is a memorial to those that died in the Rapid Creek floods of 1972. An amphitheater,…read moreplayground, lake & war monuments are displayed here as well. There are sections of the Berlin Wall because this was the front line for the Cold War. Missile & launch control facilities are peppered through the grasslands & are run by the National Park Service.

We were just driving by and noticed how inviting this park looked even in the midst of all the…read moreconstruction.. We were just drawn to it. It offers nice view and an awe inspiring jealousy of the guy on the hillside. I wanted to knock on their door just to see if they would let me on the deck. It is well done and spacious and isn't crowded at all, even if though were were there around bike week.

Beautiful area with breathtaking views. We drove to the…read morelookout area and then to the beach. The beach was gorgeous. We saw people setting up for a wedding. We will definitely be returning here to camp.

Absolutely gorgeous state recreation area! This state recreation area is located around 1 hour…read moresouth of Rapid City. It has multiple campgrounds and beach access along the shorelines. We spent the majority of our day biking along the 3.5 mile paved bike trail that follows on the outside of the lake. It was a moderately difficult trail that had it's many ups and downs, however, not too bad considering I was carrying 2 kiddos in a bike trailer that made it heavier and harder to do. Most of the facilities were closed due to Covid but the area as a whole is beautiful, and we cannot wait to go back. If you have a boat, you've got to check this place out. There is another state recreation area on the west side that we didn't get to go to unfortunately but our trip was totally worth it. Another quick note, please ensure that when booking a campsite, you know what you are getting. Many of the sites only haveelectric but some had noth electric and water. Finally, if you live in SD state parks, just go ahead and get the annual membership. By the time you go to Custer once and another time here or another park, it practically pays for itself.

I really wanted to have a good experience at this park; I'm passing through for work and wanted to…read morefind a nice green space to walk my dog. When I arrived I was the only person there. The little park seemed idyllic, halcyon, a slice of hometown Americana. I leashed up my dog, grabbed some poop bags because I'm a good dog owner, and began to traverse the park. After a few minutes I found myself enjoying the sunshine with my dog and began to look for a trash can for the newly acquired baggie of doggie doo. That's when I noticed ...THEM. As I had passed through the grass, a tiny, unnoticed signal was passed and they lifted from the grass in a wave, stalking my movements only briefly before descending on my position in a full assault from all sides. They attacked again and again, latching onto my flesh and ripping into me with their mouth parts. I was familiar with their type, having traveled far and wide through the jungles and marshes and swamps, through the humid caves and bogs they preferred. I was not ready, and their surprise attack was critically effective. I had to fall back, I had to get out of their immediately and in a cowardly moment of panic I dropped the leash, turned, and ran, poop bag flailing in arcs through the air as I swung it haphazardly around me to fend off my attackers. I doused myself in repelly as they continued to swarm around me, landing on any spot on my clothes that I missed. They bounced against me as their little face holes were frustrated by my defensive coating. Encouraged and feeling protected I walked back out into the park, thinking "I can get through this minor inconvenience" and was immediately assailed in the nostrils and ears by a second wave of reinforcements. These were a new type of monster, unafraid of DEET, undeterred by their brethren's painful demise at my hands. They laughed in the face of their own end. They embraced it. This was my Vietnam. In the end I found myself in my car, nursing my wounds and executing the few trespassers in my vehicle with extreme prejudice. They'd defeated me, my dog was laughing at me (she was immune to their attacks) and I knew that others may find themselves in my shoes. I write this review now in my lowest of lows, my dignity forfeit, to warn the next traveler in my position to bring bug spray. Maybe a beekeeper suit, before daring to enter this forsaken place. 3 stars because nobody knew they were building this park on the portal to hell

Great little green space we had a picnic lunch at after trying unsuccessfully to have lunch at Wall…read moreDrug. Lots of room to walk our dogs. There is a swimming pool and even a space that looked like a combination basketball court/skateboard area. Our visit here made up for the disappointment that was Wall Drug. If I lived in Wall, I'd be here all the time!

While it is not a place that will take a while afternoon, it is well worth the stop. Lots of…read morebeautifully visual habitat displays. It's very relaxing to just sit and watch the fish in the tank. There are tons of learning opportunities for kids! There are some hands on learning items are available in each habitat setting. And each habitat display has so much depth! There are so many small details that help make up the whole thing! There is also a nook of books for reading. I wish we had something like this where I am from! We didn't get to explore more.of the grounds, as a pretty heavy storm was coming gin and we left just as it hit. We will definitely stop by again next time we visit!

Highly educational. Great for homeschooling and learning about the outdoors . I give it 5 stars.read more

Beautiful state park with a wonderful campground. Bathrooms were very clean, but keep in mind…read moreshowers do cost money, so come with either quarters or cash. The pool looked very clean and fun and overall this is just a neat little state park!

Really cool little gem of an overall boring Nebraska. Sorry, but you guys know it's true. Lol…read more Great little mostly quiet campground in a neat little park.

Looks alone doesn't cut it, when safety and peace of mind is not part of the package…read more People laying on the grass, laying at the front of the entrance of the restrooms, screaming at passerby, iffy by standers, no thanks I'm good!!

Super cute park up near the hospital with grassy areas, a pond, and a lot of little trellis/gazebo…read moretype structures. Tennis courts and a kids play area off to the side. Bonus, good place for pictures.