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Drive time 4 hrs -
Recommended 6 hrs

Peter Norbeck Scenic Highway - Yellow Route, 71 miles

The Yellow Route is absolutely wonderful. It's so beautiful that its listed as one of the top ten scenic byways in the United States.

Named after Peter Norbeck was a South Dakota Senator credited with designing and this highway along with help birthing the carving of Mount Rushmore. The road rises, falls, bends and twists its way for about 65 miles, traveling all the way around Harney Peak, the highest peak in the Black Hills. You'll travel on pig tail bridges, through granite tunnels and beautiful open meadows.

This highway, also known as 16a, will take you into Custer State Park where the buffalo roam free. You'll climb over the Needles Hwy to at least 6,600 ft in elevation. Along the way you'll have a chance to visit Sylvan Lake, one of the most photographed lakes in the Black Hills and a film location for the blockbust movie National Treasure "Book of Secrets". If you like hiking, take an entire afternoon, at least, and use Sylvan Lake as a base camp for your adventure through granite canyons and valley's.


Iron Mountain Road,

also called the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. Rated in the top 10 scenic roads in the United States. Enjoy the pigtail bridges that clmb the elevation over Iron Mountain. Have a picnic or take a nice hike at the many pull offs.


Custer State Park

Home to the largest state owned buffalo herd in the United States. Take your camera and hunt for many of the wild animals, scenic vistas, and secret spots on the 'off the beaten path' gravel park roads on the Wildlife Loop


Needles Highway

A windy intimate highway that climbs towards Harney Peak. Although the roads are too small for your motorhome, its perfect for a nice drive in your car. Enjoy many hikes and scenic vistas too


Crazy Horse
Memorial

The world largest sculpture, now in progress, is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota on US Highway 16/385 just 17 miles southwest of Mount Rushmore

The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway rises, falls, bends and twists its way around Harney Peak. Visit Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park and Crazy Horse while experiencing wildlife, granite tunnels, picturesque lakes and mile high views.

1-2 hrs – See Keystone, SD.
Wooden boardwalks, shopping & dining. See the Rushmore Borglum Story or pan for gold at the Big Thunder Gold mine. See the Presidential Wax Museum or ride the Presidents Alpine slide.

1-2 hrs – Mt. Rushmore Memorial
See the Lincoln Borglum Museum & walk the presidential walking trail as you look for the sculptor’s studio, gift shop and amphitheatre.

1-2 hrs - Hwy 16A/Iron Mtn Road.
Drive over pigtail bridges & thru granite tunnels. See the Peter Norbeck Scenic Lookout . Enter Custer State Park. Look for herds of buffalo & donkey‘s!

1 hr – Custer State Park Game Lodge (Add 1 hour to take the Red Route, the Wildlife Loop)
Lunch or Dinner at the presidential summer white house of president Calvin Coolidge in 1927. Jeep safari rides into Custer State Park.

1 hr Hwy 87/Needles Highway
Enjoy the Cathedral Spires for pictures, hiking and rock climbing. Drive the Needles Eye tunnel, 8’ 4’’ wide. Fantastic adventures! Lots of hiking if you want

1/2 -1 hr Sylvan Lake
Awesome pictures, rock climbing & trails like Sunday Gulch Trail or the Harney Peak trail. The hike to Harney Peak is 4-5 hours round trip so be prepared!

1 hr Custer, SD
Courthouse museum, dinng & wild Old West streets!

2 hrs Crazy Horse Memorial.
Visit the Sculptors Studio, Indian Museums, Visitors Center, and Mountain viewing terrace

2 hrs Enjoy Supper in Hill City or Custer.
Stroll the boardwalk to find many restaurants, boutique gift shops and jewelry shops.

1-2 hrs (pm)- Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony
Visit Mount Rushmore any evening for the official lighting ceremony including a 1/2 hour multimedia presentation by the park rangers and the lighting of the monument.


Make reservations for your SmartAlec Adventure Guide


toll free 888-304-8997 - local 605-348-4456

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