The landscape of South Dakota’s Black Hills makes it the perfect destination for sightseers and nature-lovers alike. It’s lesser-known, but totally gorgeous for scenic drives and incredible views. One of the most epic routes in all of South Dakota is Needles Highway. Thought impossible to build, thanks to the rocky “needles” of solid granite studding the landscape, it took several years (and some dynamite) to craft a road that winds among (and sometimes tunnels through) the rocky route. It’s a one-of-a-kind drive that offers sightseers and those looking to head a bit off the beaten highway a chance to experience the rugged, almost-untamable Black Hills of South Dakota.
The Needles Highway is one of the most scenic drives in the US. Its hairpin turns, sheer drop-offs, narrow lanes, and one-way tunnels are part of South Dakota Highway 87, running to the south of Interstate 90 in the southwestern part of the state just 30 minutes south of Rapid City within Custer State Park. The Needles Highway portion starts near Legion Lake and ends near Sylvan Lake.
The Needles are eroded granite pillars, towers, and spires and are unique and iconic. They were sculptor Gutzon Borglum’s original choice for his carving of four American presidents, but the rock proved too thin to work with. Toward the end of the trail, look for a stand of about 200 limber pine trees; common from the Rocky Mountains westward, these are the furthest east you’ll find them in the U.S. and the only stand in the Black Hills. For this reason, the Cathedral Spires and Limber Pine Natural Area was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1976.
Part of the experience is getting to the Needles Highway, which winds through some of South Dakota’s most iconic landmarks. The Black Hills, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, combining outdoor recreation, natural beauty, wildlife, and history.
Although it’s only 14 miles long, the towering granite spires that give this part of the highway its name are sensational. Some of the “needles” are 100 feet tall. Famously, the highway winds along and even through the tight spaces of these amazing rocks. There are two narrow tunnels with low clearances along the route. The narrowest tunnel is the famous Needles Eye Tunnel, which is only 8 feet, 9 inches wide, and 9 feet, 8 inches high. The Iron Creek Tunnel is 8 feet, 9 inches wide and 10 feet, 10 inches tall. Unsurprisingly, these tunnels are one way.
The Needles Eye Tunnel is one of the highlights of the Needles Highway. It’s hair-raising but magical to drive through the small 8-foot, 9-inch wide, and 9-foot, 8-inch high space.