Seeing bison on the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park

The Wildlife Loop Road winds for 18 miles through the open prairie and pine-dotted foothills of southern Custer State Park. It is one of the best places in America to see bison in the wild, and on a good morning you may share the road with hundreds of them.

What you might see

• Bison: the park’s herd of well over a thousand animals roams freely. In spring, look for the orange-coloured calves.
• Pronghorn: graceful and incredibly fast, often grazing in small groups on the grassland.
• Prairie dogs: a busy prairie dog town sits beside the road, full of chirping sentries.
• Burros: descendants of the pack animals that once carried visitors up Black Elk Peak, they wander up to cars near the southern end of the loop.
• Elk, deer and bighorn sheep: less predictable, but often seen at dawn and dusk.

When to go

Early morning and the last two hours before sunset are best. Animals are more active, the light is beautiful and there is less traffic. Allow at least an hour for the drive, and much longer if a herd is crossing.

The Peter Norbeck Visitor Center, near the State Game Lodge, has exhibits about the park’s wildlife and rangers who can tell you where the herd has been seen recently.

Staying safe

• Stay in your car when bison are nearby. They can weigh a ton and run at 35 miles per hour.
• If you are on foot, keep at least 25 yards away, and more from bulls in the late-summer rut and cows with calves.
• Do not feed any animals, including the burros.
• Pull right off the road to watch, and never block traffic.

Make a day of it

Combine the loop with the Needles Highway and Sylvan Lake for a classic day in Custer State Park. At the end of September, come back for the Buffalo Roundup.