---
title: "Needles Highway — 14 mi ride from Sturgis"
description: "Granite spires, one-lane tunnels and hairpin switchbacks through Custer State Park's most jaw-dropping stretch of blacktop."
lang: en
json-ld: |
  [
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "TouristAttraction",
      "name": "Needles Highway",
      "description": "Granite spires, one-lane tunnels and hairpin switchbacks through Custer State Park's most jaw-dropping stretch of blacktop.",
      "url": "https://sturgisgo.com/rides/needles-highway",
      "touristType": "Motorcyclists",
      "isAccessibleForFree": true
    },
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "Home",
          "item": "https://sturgisgo.com/"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Rides",
          "item": "https://sturgisgo.com/rides"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Needles Highway",
          "item": "https://sturgisgo.com/rides/needles-highway"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
---

[![Sturgis GO](/__l5e/assets-v1/825af66a-9c59-4c6a-a97c-14a735d4514a/skull-logo.png)STURGIS GO ](/)

[Main St](/downtown)[Rides](/rides)[Saloons](/saloons)[Stay](/stay)[Rally](/rally)[Guide](/guide)[Be Seen](/be-seen)

[Pick a Ride](/rides)

[All Rides](/rides)

●  Sturgis Ride Guide

# Needles Highway

Granite spires, one-lane tunnels and hairpin switchbacks through Custer State Park's most jaw-dropping stretch of blacktop.

Miles

14

Time

1 – 1.5 hrs

Difficulty

Advanced

Starts at

Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park

[Directions to Start](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Sylvan%20Lake%2C%20Custer%2C%20SD%2057730&travelmode=driving) [Open Full Route in Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=Sylvan+Lake%2C+Custer%2C+SD&destination=Legion+Lake%2C+Custer+State+Park%2C+SD&travelmode=driving&waypoints=Needles+Eye+Tunnel%2C+SD-87%2C+SD%7CCathedral+Spires+Trailhead%2C+SD)

## The Route

Sylvan Lake, Custer, SD → Legion Lake, Custer State Park, SD

## What to Expect

SD-87 climbs into a forest of granite Needles with tight tunnels — including the 8'4" wide Needle's Eye — hair-pin curves, and pigtail bridges. Take it slow, mind your bars in the tunnels, and watch for buffalo. Park entry fee applies.

## Ride Brief

### Skill Level

Intermediate to advanced. Tight one-lane granite tunnels and blind switchbacks demand slow-speed clutch control and confident low-lean cornering. Not for a first-week rider or a wide bagger without patience.

### Fuel

No gas on the highway itself. Top off in Custer or Hill City before you go in. Longest dry stretch is ~25 mi.

### Food Along the Way

Sylvan Lake Lodge at the north end and Legion Lake Lodge at the south end are the only sit-down options along the road.

### Best Time to Ride

Weekday mornings before 10am — tunnels back up fast with RVs. Snow can close SD-87 into May.

## Watch Out For

-   ! Buffalo and mountain goats in the roadway 
-   ! 8'4" wide tunnels — bagger mirrors clip 
-   ! Loose gravel in shaded curves after rain 

## Eat · Gas · See

4 Stops 

[

Eat 

Sylvan Lake Lodge

Lakeside dining at the north end

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Sylvan%20Lake%20Lodge%20Sylvan%20Lake%2C%20Custer%20State%20Park)[

See 

Needle's Eye Tunnel

Iconic 8'4" granite tunnel — walk through it

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Needle's%20Eye%20Tunnel%20Sylvan%20Lake%2C%20Custer%20State%20Park)[

See 

Cathedral Spires Trailhead

Short pull-off, huge views

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Cathedral%20Spires%20Trailhead%20Sylvan%20Lake%2C%20Custer%20State%20Park)[

Eat 

Legion Lake Lodge

Gas & food at the south end near US-16A

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Legion%20Lake%20Lodge%20Sylvan%20Lake%2C%20Custer%20State%20Park)

## More Rides

[

17 mi · 1 hr

Iron Mountain Road

](/rides/iron-mountain-road)[

22 mi · 45 min – 1 hr

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

](/rides/spearfish-canyon)[

68 mi · 2.5 – 3 hrs

Badlands Loop

](/rides/badlands-loop)

 [![Sturgis GO](/__l5e/assets-v1/825af66a-9c59-4c6a-a97c-14a735d4514a/skull-logo.png) Sturgis Go](/)

[Guide](/guide)[Get Listed](/get-listed)

Black Hills, South Dakota · © 2026

Engineered by [Eary Digital](https://earydigital.com) | Architecture · Design · Marketing