---
title: "Custer State Park Wildlife Loop — 18 mi ride from Sturgis"
description: "Roll through open prairie among bison herds, wild burros and pronghorn. Slow speed, huge payoff."
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●  Sturgis Ride Guide

# Custer State Park Wildlife Loop

Roll through open prairie among bison herds, wild burros and pronghorn. Slow speed, huge payoff.

Miles

18

Time

1 – 2 hrs

Difficulty

Easy

Starts at

Custer State Park Visitor Center

[Directions to Start](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=13329%20US-16A%2C%20Custer%2C%20SD%2057730&travelmode=driving) [Open Full Route in Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=Peter+Norbeck+Visitor+Center%2C+Custer%2C+SD&destination=State+Game+Lodge%2C+Custer+State+Park%2C+SD&travelmode=driving&waypoints=Wildlife+Station+Visitor+Center%2C+Custer+State+Park%2C+SD)

## The Route

Peter Norbeck Visitor Center, Custer, SD → State Game Lodge, Custer State Park, SD

## What to Expect

SD-16A south of the park visitor center. Expect bison in the road — actually IN the road. Give them space, kill the engine, wait them out. Beggin' burros will stick their heads in your saddlebags.

## Ride Brief

### Skill Level

Easy. Wide, well-paved, slow speeds. If you can idle in first gear behind a bison, you're qualified.

### Fuel

No gas inside the loop. Fuel in Custer or Hermosa before entering. 18 mi loop, easy on a tank.

### Food Along the Way

State Game Lodge for a sit-down buffalo pot roast; Blue Bell Lodge for a chuckwagon cookout on summer evenings.

### Best Time to Ride

Dawn or the last hour before sunset — bison and pronghorn are most active and the light is unreal.

## Watch Out For

-   ! Bison in the road — kill the engine, wait it out, do not honk 
-   ! Beggin' burros will lean on your bike 
-   ! Cattle guards; slow down and cross straight 

## Eat · Gas · See

3 Stops 

[

Eat 

State Game Lodge

Historic lodge, buffalo pot roast

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=State%20Game%20Lodge%20Custer%20State%20Park%20Visitor%20Center)[

Eat 

Blue Bell Lodge

Chuckwagon cookout in summer

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Blue%20Bell%20Lodge%20Custer%20State%20Park%20Visitor%20Center)[

See 

Wildlife Station Visitor Center

Mid-loop info & restrooms

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Wildlife%20Station%20Visitor%20Center%20Custer%20State%20Park%20Visitor%20Center)

## More Rides

[

14 mi · 1 – 1.5 hrs

Needles Highway

](/rides/needles-highway)[

17 mi · 1 hr

Iron Mountain Road

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

22 mi · 45 min – 1 hr

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

](/rides/spearfish-canyon)

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

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