Basics
- Length:
- 68 miles (109 km)
- Time:
- Two to four hours to drive the Byway or one day to experience the entire Byway.
Description
Peter Norbeck, South Dakota conservationist, Governor, and U.S. Senator, said this in regards to the Black Hills area of South Dakota. The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway pays homage to the man who recognized the beauty of his home and encouraged the nation to come closer.
The rugged beauty of the Black Hills has inspired artists, naturalists, prospectors, and patriots, and the sights along the Byway exemplify the spirit of the area. Pig-tail bridges circle through forested mountain passes, including sections in the untamed Black Hills National Park and Custer State Park. The exhilarating Centennial Trail climbs through over a hundred miles of wilderness. One section of the Byway, the Needles Highway, passes among straight stone spires, including one called the Needles Eye with a 3 foot opening near the top. During the winter, a 14-mile section of the Needles Highway is available to tour on skis, providing another dimension to traveling the Byway.
The Byway is also home to the largest sculptural undertaking in the world. The Crazy Horse Monument features a white model of the sculpture that visitors can compare with the mountain-size sculpture. When completed, the sculpture of Crazy Horse will be 563 feet high and 641 feet long, the largest in the world. The Byway also highlights two profiles of Mount Rushmore: the row of famous presidents on one side, and the pristine beauty of the dramatic granite pinnacles on the other.
The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway combines the brilliance of man's artistry and nature's wonder to exemplify the beauty of wild South Dakota.
