Alternate U.S. 16 runs from Custer east to Custer State Park and north from there to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the town of Keystone.
Major Cities
Custer, Custer State Park, Keystone
Eastbound Alternate U.S. 16
Alternate U.S. 16 begins its eastbound journey in Custer, the seat of Custer County. The city of Custer was established in 1875, is home to 1,860 people (as of 2000 Census), and is located at a relatively high elevation (5,318 feet above sea level). On average, 19.03 inches of precipitation falls in Custer. Photo taken 09/03/04.
East of the South Dakota 87 south intersection, U.S. 16A and South Dakota 87 are cosigned for a short distance. The 111-mile Centennial Trail, which connects Wind Cave National Park and Bear Butte State Park near Sturgis, passes near this intersection. Photo taken 09/03/04.
U.S. 16A and South Dakota 87 split only a mile or so east of the previous intersection. South Dakota 87 turns north onto the Needles Highway, while U.S. 16A travels east toward the State Game Lodge. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Follow South Dakota 87/Needles Highway north to Center Lake, Sylvan Lake, and the Black Hills Playhouse. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Alternate U.S. 16, along with South Dakota 87, South Dakota 89, and South Dakota 244, form the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. Peter Norbeck, a former governor of South Dakota, was a champion for conserving the Black Hills, and now the scenic state highways through Custer State Park are named for him. A trailblazer for the scenic byway is posted along with the Alternate U.S. 16 shield. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Another U.S. 16A shield is posted along eastbound after the South Dakota 87 intersection. Photo taken 09/03/04.
At this intersection, continue straight ahead to Norbeck Visitor Center and State Game Lodge, three miles east of here. To the north is the park shop. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Continuing east, U.S. 16A reaches the Norbeck Visitor Center and State Game Lodge. Built in 1920, the State Game Lodge, is a fully functioning lodge for park visitors. The lodge gained notoriety in 1927, when the State Game Lodge served as the "Summer White House" for President Calvin Coolidge. Photos taken 09/03/04.
After passing by Custer State Park lodge, Alternate U.S. 16 eastbound passes by a small herd of bison near a parking area. Also note the U.S. 16A shield, which features a smaller than normal "A" and a two-digit U.S. 16 shield. Photos taken 09/03/04.
Continuing east, U.S. 16A approaches the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road, which travels south and west through the southern parts of Custer State Park before connecting to South Dakota 87. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Continuing east, U.S. 16A next intersects South Dakota 36, which travels toward Hermosa and the Heartland Expressway (Junction South Dakota 79). Photo taken 09/03/04.
Nearing milepost 39, U.S. 16A and South Dakota 36 prepare to split, with U.S. 16A turning north toward Keystone and South Dakota 36 turning east toward Hermosa. Photo taken 09/03/04.
South Dakota 79 is about nine miles east of here via South Dakota 36. Turn left to continue north on U.S. 16A via Iron Mountain Road to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Keystone. Photo taken 09/03/04.
This shield for U.S. 16 is posted immediately after the South Dakota 36 intersection in Custer State Park. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Built in 1933, the Iron Mountain Road provides an extremely scenic route from Keystone south into Custer State Park. The highway was built to minimize impact to the land, and specific tunnel and bridge designs were used to ensure this. Views of Mount Rushmore are paramount along the route, and they are often framed by trees, tunnel entrances, and other views. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Another U.S. 16A shield is posted here. This section of Iron Mountain Road is much easier to drive than the section that leads downhill toward Keystone and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. As part of the downgrade, U.S. 16A will use three tunnels and two "pigtail" bridges. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Upon exiting a particularly long tunnel along U.S. 16A, the "famous faces" of Mount Rushmore come into view through the trees. Mount Rushmore is still several miles north of here, and Iron Mountain Road takes many curves and twists to get to its destination. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Certain sections of U.S. 16A (Iron Mountain Road) split into two one-way segments, allowing for an extra-wide median. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Other sections of the highway remain narrow, passing alongside hillsides in steep, rocky terrain. Photo taken 09/03/04.
U.S. 16A approaches a "pigtail" bridge, where the highway passes over itself, then turns 270 degrees to pass under the bridge. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Continuing around the bend from the previous photograph, U.S. 16A northbound wraps around itself and passes under the bridge shown above. Note the use of wooden arches to support the bridge. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Passing through another pigtail bridge is this understructure, which does not feature wooden arches. After the second pigtail bridge, the highway straightens out a bit as it approaches Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Northbound U.S. 16A/Iron Mountain Road approaches its junction with South Dakota 244, an east-west route that connects U.S. 16A near Keystone with U.S. 16 near the northern terminus of the Needles Highway (South Dakota 87). Photo taken 09/03/04.
To Mount Rushmore National Memorial, follow South Dakota 244 west to the parking area. Continue straight ahead on U.S. 16A to Keystone. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Turn left here to westbound South Dakota 244; turn right to continue on northbound U.S. 16A. Photo taken 09/03/04.
After the South Dakota 244 intersection, U.S. 16A continues north toward the town of Keystone. Photo taken 09/03/04.
A brown recreational sign provides mileage to Keystone (one mile), Junction U.S. 16 (four miles), and Rapid City (22 miles). Photo taken 09/03/04.
A turkey crosses the road as U.S. 16A northbound enters the town of Keystone. Photo taken 09/03/04.
The "Home of Mount Rushmore," Keystone provides lodging, shopping, and eating establishments near Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Black Hills, and Custer State Park. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Tourist attractions and motels line U.S. 16A as the highway passes through downtown Keystone. The town has its history based in gold mining, but mining was largely completed by the turn of the 20th Century. However, the carving of Mount Rushmore between 1927 and 1941 brought workers to Keystone. Even with the arrival of the railroad, the town was beset by tragedy, with a series of fires in 1908, 1917, 1921, and 1937. In 1972, the railroad was destroyed by a flood and only partially rebuilt. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Just north of downtown Keystone, U.S. 16A approaches its junction with South Dakota 40. This east-west highway travels east to Hayward, then south to Hermosa and Red Shirt before entering the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Photo taken 09/03/04.
North of Keystone, a large rock cut serves as a tunnel carrying three lanes of U.S. 16A northbound out of Keystone and toward its final junction with U.S. 16. Photo taken 09/03/04.
This sign advises motorists en route to Lead and Deadwood via U.S. 385 to continue straight ahead on U.S. 16A. Photo taken 09/03/04.
The northern terminus of U.S. 16A is an interchange with U.S. 16. The left lane connects to westbound U.S. 16 en route to Hill City and U.S. 385, while the right lane transitions onto eastbound U.S. 16, which travels north toward Rapid City. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Now on a hill prior to the U.S. 16 interchange, the end of U.S. 16A is signed. Photo taken 09/03/04.
U.S. 16A splits, with the left lane traveling west to Hill City and the right lane connecting to U.S. 16 north to Rapid City. Photo taken 09/03/04.
This view shows the transition from northbound U.S. 16A to U.S. 16 north to Rapid City. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Westbound Alternate U.S. 16
This mileage sign is located near the northern end of the Wildlife Loop Road, just prior to the State Game Lodge. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Now at the Needles Highway intersection, U.S. 16A west meets South Dakota 87 north. The two routes continue west briefly before South Dakota 87 turns south again toward Hot Springs. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Now entering the city of Custer, U.S. 16A westbound approaches its end at the junction with U.S. 16-385. U.S. 16A and South Dakota 89 southbound are cosigned through here. Photo taken 09/03/04.
The end of U.S. 16A is signed on a telephone pole above the awnings of the adjacent shops in downtown Custer. Photo taken 09/03/04.
South Dakota 89 continues west along U.S. 16-385 briefly in Custer; once the routes divide, U.S. 385 travels south toward Sanator and Pringle. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Follow U.S. 16-385 north to Crazy Horse Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial (via South Dakota 244), Hill City, Rapid City (via U.S. 16), and Lead/Deadwood (via U.S. 385). Photo taken 09/03/04.
Side Trip: Wildlife Road in Custer State Park (Southbound)
The Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park starts at Alternate U.S. 16 just east of the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center. It offers an 18-mile trip through the southeastern part of the state park. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Living up to its name, antelope are among the many animals that wander through the state park. Other hoofed animals in the park include deer and elk. Photo taken 09/03/04.
An antelope crosses the Wildlife Loop Road with its white tail contrasting with the pavement. Photos taken 09/03/04.
Wildlife Loop Road continues south as it crosses this short bridge over French Creek before reentering the open plains of Custer State Park. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Southbound Wildlife Loop Road splits, with the main route continuing south and a spur road connecting to an airport. The elevation of this area is approximately 3,980 feet above sea level. Photo taken 09/03/04.
A wide valley comes into view immediately after the airport cutoff. Photo taken 09/03/04.
A visitor center and wildlife station is located in the valley; it is open seasonally. Continue southwest toward South Dakota 87. Photo taken 09/03/04.
A black and white spotted horse grazes near the Wildlife Loop Road. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Buffalo also roam in Custer State Park; the state park is famous for its extensive herd of bison, which is among the world's largest. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Reaching the end of the Wildlife Loop Road, travelers have a choice of following South Dakota 87 south to Wind Cave National Park and Hot Springs and north to U.S. 16A, the city of Custer, and Needles Highway. Photo taken 09/03/04.
