Marilyn and I had never been to Custer State Park so we decided to spend our last afternoon in South Dakota there. There is a lot to do within the 71,000-acre preserve, such as hiking, camping, hunting, boating, swimming, and birdwatching (there is even a playhouse with performances during the summer) but we decided to take two of the many scenic drives. We started with the Wildlife Loop but it was a bust because we did not see any of the 1,400 buffalo who roam freely throughout the park (we didn't see any wildlife at all). However, our next scenic drive on the Needles Highway was absolutely spectacular with needle-like rock formations made of granite that rise up through the pine and spruce trees.
This tunnel is called the Needle's Eye (it was nerve-wracking to drive through because it is very narrow).
The entrance fee is $25 per car and we spent about five hours in the park but could have stayed all day. It is a beautiful place and I definitely recommend visiting (go here for more information).