Needles Highway Scenic Drive

Needles Highway is located in the Black Hills National Forest and is part of the Custer State Park

The Needles Highway is more than a 14-mile road—it’s a spectacular drive through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen, and rugged granite mountains. The road’s name comes from the needlelike granite formations that seem to pierce the horizon along the highway.

Hood Tunnel

Deemed “impossible” to construct by its critics, Needles Highway—a National Scenic Byway—was completed in 1922 and includes 14 miles of sharp turns, low tunnels and impressive granite spires.

Hood Tunnel is 10 ft 6 inches wide and 12 ft high

Sylvan Lake Resort

Sylvan Lake

We stopped here and walked around the lake then we had lunch at the General Store.

They had a viewing platform over the dam.

Martha checking out the dam.

On the dam looking back toward the lake

Following the trail behind the dam

Looks like they were setting up for a wedding

Needles Eye Tunnel

These tunnels were just carved out of the boulders and are only wide enough for one car at a time.

The Needles Eye is 8 ft 4 inches wide and 12 ft high

Other side of the Needles Eye Tunnel

Prius at a viewing area after passing through the Needles Eye Tunnel

Iron Creek Tunnel

The Iron Creek Tunnel is 9 ft wide and 12 ft 3 inches high

Legion Lake at Legion Lake Lodge

We spent a little time at this lake after leaving the Needles Highway before heading back to the hotel.

Lenker Rock which is a Historical Landmark