Explore Custer State Park Jeep Safari & Hiking Tour
Jeep safari and guided hiking in Custer State Park with lunch
Duration
8 hours
Ideal For
2 to 18 people
Includes
Equipment, lunch, bottled water
Highlights
Travel from Rapid City to Custer State Park for an open-air jeep safari and an afternoon of hiking on park trails. Enjoy lunch at the historic State Game Lodge along the way.
- Depart Rapid City at 8:30 am and head to Custer State Park
- Ride an open-air jeep on a wildlife-viewing safari
- Spot buffalo and other wildlife from the jeep and trails
- Hike scenic trails in Custer State Park for the afternoon
- Dine at the historic State Game Lodge for lunch
- Plan for the jeep safari portion to include other guests
What's Included
- All equipment
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- Light snacks
Things to know
Arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled tour time.
Cancellation Policy
Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Otherwise, no cancellations; you can rebook within one year.
FAQs
Bring layered comfortable clothes, sunglasses, good hiking shoes, and a camera.
Yes. Arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled tour time.
Your tour includes lunch, bottled water, and light snacks.
Meeting details
550 Berry Blvd, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA
More about Custer State Park
Custer State Park sprawls across more than 71,000 acres of the Black Hills in South Dakota, a landscape where granite spires rise above rolling prairies and one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in the world roams freely. This private Jeep safari and hiking tour is built entirely around the rhythms of Custer State Park, taking you off the paved scenic loops and into the quieter corners where wildlife gathers at dawn and the light catches the rock formations just right. With a local guide behind the wheel, you trade the stress of navigating Wildlife Loop Road for the chance to actually look around, scanning for pronghorn, elk, mule deer, and the famous "begging burros" who often wander right up to the vehicle.
The day blends two ways of experiencing Custer State Park, the comfort of an open-air Jeep and the immersion of stepping out onto the trail. Your guide pieces together a route based on conditions and your interests, pausing for photos when a bison herd crosses the road, sharing stories about the park's history, geology, and the Lakota heritage of the surrounding Black Hills. On foot, you might wind through ponderosa pine forest, scramble among the weathered granite outcrops, or follow a creek bed where the air smells of warm pine and wildflowers. Because this is a private tour, the pacing is yours, more hiking if you want a workout, more driving if you would rather cover ground and chase wildlife sightings across Custer State Park.
This experience is ideal for families, couples, photographers, and curious travelers who want a deeper connection with Custer State Park than a self-guided drive can offer. Wildlife lovers will appreciate the guide's eye for spotting animals tucked into the brush, while hikers will value being shown trails that match their fitness level and the day's weather. If you have limited time in the Black Hills and want to make every hour count, a private day inside Custer State Park is a memorable way to do it.
