TOUR AMERICA 2022, BROKEN ARROW CAMPGROUND, CUSTER, SD

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Temperature 62 Degrees, Sunshine and Clouds

Custer State Park, Needles Highway

This is the second scenic highway within the park that we have driven. Let me just say this is a highway like no other.

Yes, many said it was impossible to build because of the many rocky “needles” of solid granite studding the landscape. All it took was 150,000 pounds of dynamite and the road was done.

Per their literature The Needles Highway is more that a 14 mile road – it’s a spectacular drive through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen, and rugged granite mountains.

Let’s go for a ride.

You definitely need to take your time while driving this highway. There are cliffs, tunnels, hairpin turns, and so many twists and turns that it reminds one of a snake slithering along a mountain side.

Granite abounds all along the drive.

Definitely not an RV friendly road!

You begin to get an idea why dynamite was needed!

This is what the road’s name comes from, the needle-like granite formations which are throughout this region of the park. Look hard at those spires and then think about this – people come from around the world to climb them. Not a sport for me.

For some reason when I saw these spires I thought of organ pipes. Don’t ask me why.

I wonder how long that rock will remain balanced up there.

Absolutely breathtaking.

First time through Ms. Barbara drove so that I could take pictures. However, a day later I decided I just had to drive through this tunnel so back we went for round two.

It boggles the mind to think that some of the these rocks are over two billion years old.

Like I said, some people actually come to climb these granite peaks.

A few more miles and the highway comes to an end. This is a drive that I will long remember. For the road itself. For the scenic views. Believe me I know that a few pictures can never do justice to this scenic drive. It’s a drive that you have to make for yourself. I encourage you to put it on your bucket list of must experience first hand attractions.

Thanks again for spending some time with us.  It’s always great to be able to share our story with family and friends. Comments? Feel free to share them with me. And always remember, cherish every moment of every day that God gives you and live those moments to the fullest.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before