3 Best Sights in The Southern Black Hills, South Dakota

Legendary former governor and U.S. senator Peter Norbeck personally oversaw the layout of this road, which was designed during the 1930s to complement the park's scenic beauty. The 17-mile route winds around several wooden, pigtail bridges and passes through three rock tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore. Plan an hour or more on this road, because the going is intentionally slow, and you'll want to stop for pictures. The road forms part of the longer Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway.

Like Iron Mountain Road, the construction of Needles Highway was overseen by the late South Dakota politician Peter Norbeck, who took great care to complement the area's natural beauty. The winding, 14-mile road has numerous scenic overlooks, passes through two rock tunnels, and showcases the giant, fingerlike granite formations known as the Needles. The most popular stop on the route is the Needle's Eye, where one of the massive Needles formations sports a hole worn away by erosion. Because the Needle's Eye area is often packed with people and vehicles in tight quarters, use extra caution when passing through or stopping for a look.

Plan a couple of hours to make this 18-mile drive through some of the park's best meadows, where wildlife come to graze. You're likely to see some of the park's 1,300 bison, and you might have to stop for a while as they amble across the road (bison are dangerous, so keep a safe distance). You'll also see prairie dogs and burros (which are small, feral donkeys), and you might spot deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and birds of prey.