Needles Highway, South Dakota

You won't want to be in a rush when you drive the Needles Highway. As part of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, the Needles Highway stretches 14 miles through granite structures and pine covered mountains. With so much scenery to absorb, don't be surprised if you find yourself driving 20 miles per hour.

On the Needles Highway (SD 87), you'll experience hairpin curves, pigtail bridges, and narrow tunnels that wind in and around massive granite pinnacles and rugged terrain. With views of a variety of spires and outcroppings, the highway is considered one of the most scenic drives in America. At the end of one tunnel, you'll be treated to a spectacular view of the Needles Eye, a granite spire bearing a 3-4 foot wide slit that reaches 30 to 40 feet in the air.

Make sure you keep your eyes on the road as the Needles Highway section of the byway is laden with sharp turns and abundant wildlife. You'll find mountain goats, bighorn sheep, turkey, bison, deer, and elk in the area. Allow yourself an ample 2-4 four hours, or up to a day, to tour the entire byway, including the Iron Mountain Road.

Along the way you might want to visit the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. The preserve was created by Congress in 1920 to protect game animals and birds. The area was also intended to be a place where the animals could breed and prosper in their natural habitat. The 35,000 acres of the preserve is home to a variety of wildlife such as elk, deer, and mountain goat. For those who are adventurous, the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve also offers nearly 40 miles of excellent hiking trails.

At the end of the Norbeck Scenic Highway, via the section known as the Iron Mountain Road, travelers are rewarded with grand views of Mount Rushmore. Carved between 1927 and 1941, Mount Rushmore serves as a memorial representing the ideals and principals that the US stands for. The faces of Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln are carved into a towering and exposed granite wall.