Sturgis
Rally Custer State Park Buffalo
On
the this Enlightenment tour of the Sturgis Rally you
continue on up Hwy 87 a few miles and enter Custer
State Park. Right by the fee booth is a turnoff to
the Wildlife Loop Road. I's a nice little ride where
you're almost certain to see buffalo.
If you take the loop, don't underestimate the beasts.
For the most part, they just stand around and ignore
you. But they can be nasty, and have killed people,
smashed up trucks, and generally they do as they please.
Stay
away from Mamma at the Sturgis Rally
Certainly
you don't want to get between a cow buffalo and its
calf. This is one of the most dangerous situations.
When they raise their tail in the air, that is the
first sign that they are upset. It's not a pleasant
way to end the Sturgis Rally.
The second sign that they are upset is when their
front feet are at standing on your chest.
At the big buffalo auction in the park each fall,
some of the buffalo are sold off. Most of them go
to buffalo breeders across the country.
Wildlife
Loop Ride in Custer State Park at the Sturgis Rally
The
Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park winds through some
mixed prairie and ponderosa pine country. It's is
good wildlife habitat. You'll see prairie dogs, and
possibly a few antelope.
On this loop you'll cross trailheads for both the
Centennial Trail and for the French Creek Natural
Area. Both are excellent places to hike and get a
close-up look at things.
Eventually you'll come to the 16A junction. Take a
left and head west. You'll go past the Needles turnoff.
It's a great ride, but I'm skipping it here because
the Enlightenment Ride can get too long if you take
the Needles road. And besides, the Needles is included
in the Best
Short Sturgis Rally Ride section of SturgisZone.com.
Sturgis
Rally Hairy Bodies
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