{"id":10774,"date":"2018-03-20T05:00:43","date_gmt":"2018-03-20T10:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/traun-photo.com\/dan\/?p=10774"},"modified":"2018-03-26T08:16:05","modified_gmt":"2018-03-26T13:16:05","slug":"custer-state-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/traun-photo.com\/dan\/custer-state-park\/","title":{"rendered":"CUSTER STATE PARK \u2013 Custer #South Dakota"},"content":{"rendered":"

CUSTER STATE PARK<\/h1>\n

Custer State Park\u00a0is a\u00a0South Dakota State Park\u00a0and\u00a0wildlife reserve\u00a0in the\u00a0Black Hills. The park is South Dakota’s largest and first state park, named after Lt. Colonel\u00a0George Armstrong Custer.\u00a0 The area originally started out as sixteen sections, but was later changed into one block of land because of the challenges of the terrain.\u00a0 The park began to grow rapidly in the 1920s and gained new land. During the 1930s the\u00a0Civilian Conservation Corps\u00a0built miles of roads, laid out parks and campgrounds, and built three dams that set up a future of water recreation at the park. In 1964 an additional 22,900 acres\u00a0were added to the park.\u00a0\u00a0The park covers an area of over 71,000 acres of hilly terrain and is home to many wild animals.<\/p>\n

\"Custer<\/a>The park is home to a famous herd of 1500 free roaming\u00a0bison.\u00a0 Elk,\u00a0coyotes,\u00a0mule deer,\u00a0white tailed deer,\u00a0mountain goats,\u00a0prairie dogs,\u00a0bighorn sheep,\u00a0river otters,\u00a0pronghorn,\u00a0cougars, and\u00a0feral\u00a0<\/a>burros\u00a0also inhabit the park. The park is famous for its scenery, its scenic drives (Needles Highway<\/a>\u00a0and the wildlife loop), with views of the bison herd and\u00a0prairie dog\u00a0towns. This park is easily accessible by road from\u00a0Rapid City.<\/p>\n

The popularity of the park grew in 1927, when U.S. President\u00a0Calvin Coolidge\u00a0made it his “summer White House” and announced from the Black Hills that he would not seek a second full term in office in the election of 1928.
\n~wikipedia<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Wild Life Loop Road<\/h3>\n

\"Wild<\/a><\/p>\n

South Dakota is a ruggedly beautiful land to explore.\u00a0 High on our list of favorites is Custer State Park.\u00a0 The whole park is absolutely beautiful.\u00a0 The Wildlife Loop road is so convenient.\u00a0 It is very easy to drive and the wildlife sighting are frequently and plentiful most of the time.<\/p>\n

Wildlife Loop Road travels through 18 miles of open grasslands and pine-speckled hills.\u00a0 This beautiful land is\u00a0what the park\u2019s wildlife\u00a0calls home. Depending on the day, you might see bison, pronghorn, whitetail and mule deer, elk, coyotes, burros, prairie dogs, eagles, hawks, and a variety of other birds.\u00a0 A medley of colorful wildflowers and prairie grasses surround the road, making for a picturesque drive.<\/p>\n

Our trip in late July 2017 was another memorable one filled with wildlife, scenery and of course, the burros.<\/p>\n

The Bison<\/h3>\n

We had a bit of a rain shower when we found the bison.<\/p>\n

\"Custer <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Custer <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Custer <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
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Pronghorn Antelope<\/h3>\n
\"Pronghorn <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pronghorn <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pronghorn <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pronghorn <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pronghorn <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pronghorn <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pronghorn <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pronghorn <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Burros<\/h3>\n
\"Burro\" <\/a> <\/div>
\"Burro\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Burro\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Burro\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Burro\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Burro\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
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\"Burro\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Burro\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Burro\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Burro\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Prairie Dogs<\/h3>\n
\"prairie <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"prairie <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"prairie <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"prairie <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"prairie <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Other wildlife and scenery<\/h3>\n
\"buzzards\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"buzzard\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"whitetail <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"white <\/a> <\/div>
\"white <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"flowers\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Custer <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"2017-08-06 <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Custer <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Custer <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Custer <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

EXTRA<\/h3>\n