Scenic Viewpoints

This collection features the most prominent granite formations and overlooks along the Needles Highway in Custer State Park. These sites showcase the unique geology of the Black Hills, including narrow tunnels carved through solid rock, jagged spires, and high-altitude peaks. Visitors can observe the effects of erosion on 1.7-billion-year-old granite and access panoramic views extending from the 6,023-foot Mount Coolidge to the distant Badlands and Mount Rushmore.

Needles Eye Tunnel

A narrow 8-foot-9-inch wide passage blasted through solid granite along South Dakota Highway 87. It provides a direct view of the Needles Eye formation upon exiting.

Needles Eye

A 30-foot tall granite pillar featuring a narrow vertical slit created by wind, water, and ice erosion. It stands adjacent to the historic one-lane tunnel.

Cathedral Spires

Jagged granite formations designated as a National Natural Landmark. These vertical pillars are accessible via a 1.5-mile trail and are a major site for technical rock climbing.

Mount Coolidge

A 6,023-foot peak featuring a historic stone fire lookout tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. It offers views of the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, and Crazy Horse Memorial.

Flashers View

A roadside viewpoint on the Needles Highway offering a perspective of the Cathedral Spires and the surrounding granite formations of the Black Hills.

Aquarium Rock

A distinct granite cliff formation located near the Needles Highway, characterized by its sheer faces and popularity among rock climbers.

Needles other eye

A secondary natural opening in the granite ridges near the main Needles Eye formation, visible from the surrounding rock scrambles.