You're not supposed to drive here at 60 miles an hour. To do the scenery half justice, people should drive 20 or under. To do it full justice they should get out and walk.
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 Forest, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The exhilarating Centennial Trail climbs through over a hundred miles of the Black Hills, including a portion of wilderness. One section of the byway, the Needles Highway, passes among towering 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 cross-country skis, providing another dimension to traveling the byway.
The byway is within five miles of the largest sculptural undertaking in the world. The Crazy Horse Monument features an American Indian Museum and 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. For another viewing experience of this remarkable byway, visit the Peter Norbeck Virtual Tour.
Adventurous Hikes along the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
Peter Norbeck vs. the Diploma Boys: Building the Impossible Road