Black Hills, Custer, SD

Custer State Park

(click here to visit CSP website)

When you visit the Custer State Park website, check out the Volunteer Opportunities section. Do the "Unattended Vehicle Patrol" officers look familiar? Also, take a look at the 2005 Tatanka magazine. This is Custer State Park's official magazine. It provides a schedule of activities and a lot of information about the Park.

We started volunteering at Custer State Park in 1996. Our first job was Campground Host at Blue Bell Campground. It was a beautiful campground and we enjoyed that first summer but didn't like the fact that we were confined to the campground 24/7 (even though we were told we had 2 days off).

CENTER LAKE

We became friends with one of the law enforcement seasonal rangers. He told us they could use some help but couldn't afford to hire additional people. We talked to one of the full-time Rangers and he said he would create a position for us. We began our career as "Volunteer Rangers" in 1997 and enjoyed it so much, we went back every summer for 9 years.

VIEW FROM OUR FRONT DOOR

We love the Black Hills and decided to buy a small piece of property near Custer, just outside of the Park. Last year (2004) we decided to turn in our resignation and spend the summer working on our lot. We leveled a site for our RV and managed to get the sewer, electricity and phone hooked up. We have a beautiful view of the Needles and Cathedral Spires from our front yard. We are planning to return there this summer (2005) and use our "new home" as a base. We'll be taking some short trips into the Northwestern states but otherwise we'll be around. If you're in the area, stop and see us!

There are many hiking trails in Custer State Park.

Some of them start in the Park but go past the

Park Boundaries in to the National Forest and

Harney Range. We have hiked all

of the trails in the Park.

Prairie Trail - 3 mile loop

Sunday Gulch Trail - 2.8 mile loop

Sylvan Lake Shore Trail - 1 mile loop

Lover's Leap Trail - 3 mile loop

Stockade Lake Trail - 1.5 mile loop

Grace Coolidge Walk-In Fishing Area - 3 miles one way

Cathedral Spires Trail - 1.5 miles one way

Little Devil's Tower - 1.5 miles one way

Harney Peak Trails - 3 miles one way

These are beautiful trails....some are strenuous....others are moderate. You won't be disappointed no matter which ones you choose.

Please click below to visit our Webshots site for more pictures of our hiking experiences.

Mike & Pat's Photos

Our Summer Address and Phone Number:

                                        12387 Windmill Lane

                                        Custer, SD   57730

                                        850-294-0281

WEBSITE LINKS:

(CLICK HERE)