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Needles Highway, Custer State Park, South Dakota
Photo: Vladsinger · CC BY-SA 3.0

Drives South Dakota The Black Hills and the Badlands

Needles Highway

Needles Highway, SD 87 · Sylvan Lake → Legion Lake

Intense13.6 mi40 min1,100 ft climbHigh point ≈ 6,500 ftOne way
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The drive

The Needles Highway, SD 87, is a 14-mile scenic drive in Custer State Park, driven here from Sylvan Lake to Legion Lake. It has two tunnels cut through granite: Needles Eye Tunnel, 8 feet wide and 9 feet 9 inches high, and Iron Creek Tunnel, 8 feet 9 inches wide and 10 feet 10 inches high.

The highway gives access to Sylvan Lake Resort and is part of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, named for the senator who helped create several of the Black Hills' national and state parks. The road climbs to about 6,500 feet and is twisty most of the way.

Along the way

  1. Sylvan Lake (Highway 89)
  2. Needles Eye
  3. Legion Lake (Highway 16A)
Elevation
1,100 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 6,500 ft
Sylvan LakeLegion Lake
Curves
Twisty most of the way
Sylvan LakeLegion Lake
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The road closes to vehicles with the first snow of the season and does not reopen until April 1, or later depending on conditions.
  • The Needles Eye Tunnel is 8 feet wide and the Iron Creek Tunnel is 8 feet 9 inches wide.
  • The Sylvan Lake entrance is one of Custer State Park's entrances, where fees apply.

Closed to cars from the first snow of the season until April 1 or later. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check South Dakota 511.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Needles Highway take?

The Needles Highway from Sylvan Lake to Legion Lake is 13.6 miles and takes about 40 minutes; the park suggests allowing an hour or more.

Is the Needles Highway open in winter?

No. It closes to motor vehicles with the first snow of the season and doesn't reopen until April 1 or later.

How wide is the Needles Eye Tunnel?

The Needles Eye Tunnel is 8 feet wide and 9 feet 9 inches high.

Is there a fee for the Needles Highway?

Custer State Park charges $25 per vehicle for one to seven days ($20 per motorcycle).

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Needles Highway, from Sylvan Lake to Legion Lake