Among South Dakota’s Black Hills are five national parks, including the famous Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park. Granite spires, forest-covered hills, and grassland prairies are among the area’s most spectacular features. It’s often scenic mountain rides that offer the most dramatic views. Traveling up Iron Mountain Scenic Road is something everyone should do at least once.
So why should you want to drive the Iron Mountain scenic road? A 17-mile journey along this byway is an adventure unto itself. With 14 switchbacks, 314 hairpin curves, 3 pigtail bridges, and 3 narrow tunnels, it’s a challenging ride. The scenery, though the natural beauty of the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota, is absolutely breathtaking.
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How do I Get There?
It is easiest to fly into Rapid City if you are visiting the Black Hills. You can reach Iron Mountain in just 20 minutes.
North access from Keystone to Custer State Park is by US-16A. Turn northeast on US-16A E 5.5-miles toward Mount Rushmore. Turn left onto U.S. Route 16A. which is Iron Mountain Road. If you continue toward the Mount Rushmore National Park, entrance on the route becomes US-244.
South access from Custer State Park to Keystone SD via Iron Mountain begins from US-36 East, turn left onto US-16A (follow the signs) for Iron Mountain Road.
Be aware of the Tunnel Clearances.
- Doane Robinson Tunnel–13’2″ wide, 12’2″ high
- C.C.Gideon Tunnel–13’0″ wide, 11″0″ high
- Scovel Johnson Tunnel–13’2″ wide, 12’4″ high
Note: In the winter, Iron Mountain Road is not maintained.
History of Iron Mountain-Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway was the brainchild of Peter Norbeck. His idea was to bring in more tourists to the area. Engineers told him it was impossible. However, he persisted, and they eventually constructed it in 1933. The three tunnels were labor intensive, requiring dynamite to blast. He asked Cecil Clyde Gideon to design the road to connect the three tunnels. What makes this roadway so exceptional is that all three tunnels frame the faces of the Mount Rushmore presidential faces. He incorporated the idea of using ‘pigtail bridges’. These corkscrew-shaped wooden bridges allow for quick elevation increase/decrease in a smaller footprint. The roadway loops over itself 360 degrees.
Peter Norbeck was elected governor of South Dakota in 1917. Previously, he had served as a state senator and Lieutenant Governor. Officially named in his honor in 1996, the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway creates a loop if you include the14-mile scenic Needles highway The Iron Mountain road connects Custer State Park to the Mount Rushmore National Monument.
Make a Connected Loop-Needles Highway and Iron Mountain
One of the best ways to experience the Black Hills in Custer State Park is to combine both Needles Highway and Iron Mountain in a one day loop. The best starting point is from Hwy 385, beginning the Needles highway following south US-87 driving to Sylvan Lake. The highway passes through notable tunnels including the Needles Eye, before reaching the awe-inspiring Cathedral Spires. The byway US-87 connects back to Us-16-A. Turn left heading towards Custer State Park Visitor’s Center.
Note: You can access Iron Mountain Road from Needles Highway 87 by turning left at the junction of south Playhouse Road-head north for 4-miles. You will then turn left onto Iron Mountain Road 16A.
Make the stop at the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center is one-mile west of the Visitor Center and one-mile east of the Park Office. This is a great place for kids to learn about the ecosystems in the park. We did Needles as a separate day trip so we could do more of the hiking trails.
Where Should we start?
If you want the best views, go northbound from Custer State Park towards Mount Rushmore National Monument. The scenic drive is truly captivating. We steered toward Iron Mountain after completing the Wildlife Loop at Custer State Park in the morning. By the time we hit the road, it was mid-afternoon. Depending on the number of stops, the trek can take 1-2 hours to complete. The speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
After a short lunch break of walking through the Custer State Park Visitor Center, Peter Norbeck Education Center, and the Game Lodge, we continued our drive. A short 1-mile on East US 16-A/US-36, turning left onto North US-16A. The Iron Mountain road steadily climbs out of the valley through a series of tight switchbacks. At the top, the first pull-out overlooks a lush green meadow. There are distant views of the Black Hills and Black Elk Peak. Simply stunning on a clear day. Unfortunately, we have more clouds than the sun today. Not optimal for distant panoramic shots.
An informational placard gave us insight into why the meadow exists. A lightning strike in 1988 ignited the Galena Fire, which burned 16,002 acres in Custer State Park. There were many Ponderosa pine forests along Iron Mountain roads which were consumed. The fire was actually beneficial for the wildlife as the forest service overseeded the area to protect it from erosion. The meadow is a prime spot for bison or pronghorn antelope in the summer.
Back in the car, the road begins its twists and turns, following the plateau as it rambles through ponderosa pine and aspen forests lining both sides of the highway.
Iron Mountain Road Visitor Center
Our next stop was the Iron Mountain Road Visitor Center. It is at the halfway point next to the Spokane Creek Cabins & Campground. This is a good place to stretch your legs. The center has more historic lore to share about the road and its construction. Old photos tell the story.
They have a cute little gift shop filled with collectable memorabilia and merchandise (shirts, coffee mugs, etc.). There is a small coffee shop, so we grabbed a cup of their famous Iron Mountain Road Coffee and enjoy it with a freshly baked cinnamon roll. Delicious!
Iron Creek East Trailhead #15-Lakota Lake Picnic Area
A good place to stretch your legs is along the shores of the crystal clear Lakota Lake. We stopped for a quick snack from our picnic lunch. I wish we had time to fish the trout stocked lake, but we hiked the trail instead along Iron Creek.
The trailhead for the Iron Creek East tail (#15) begins here. The trail follows the southern boundary of the Black Elk Wilderness Area. Dogs are welcome on this 5-mile out & back trail. There are a few places we had to cross over wooden plank bridges placed over the river. On a few crossings, logs or well-placed rocks kept our hiking boots mostly dry. Pretty secluded as the trail meanders through ponderosa forest. The smell is amazing. You can connect to the Iron Mountain #16 trail by following Forest Service Road 345.
We encountered a friendly group of horseback riders on the return leg of the trail. Thinking this is a great idea if we ever return to the Dakotas. The views are good, but not spectacular.
First Tunnel-Scovel Johnson Tunnel
This is the first tunnel you will encounter driving along the Iron Mountain Road toward Keystone. The tunnel isn’t that long, but after you’ve passed through it, the trees lining the road lead to a perspective of Mount Rushmore’s presidential faces in the distance. This is the first glimpse of Mt. Rushmore as you travel the road. We pulled off just before the tunnel to get a few pictures before moving on. The tunnels are all one lane only, so SLOW is the best way to go. Honk your horn before you enter as a warning to other drivers. Take care, make sure the coast is clear.
Norbeck Overlook-A Tribute to a Great Conservationist
Peter Norbeck came to the hills in 1905. He was determined to preserve the area for future generations. A small memorial to Governor Norbeck is at the summit of Iron Mountain, the highest point (5,446 ft.) of the byway. This is a must-do stop, not just for the views of Mount Rushmore. There are panoramic views of the Black Hills Wilderness Area that are breathtaking. The 35,000 acre rugged terrain in the preserve he established in 1920 provides vital habitat for bighorn sheep, mountain goats, deer, elk and other species. Although we did not see wildlife on our drive, the area is renowned for its management and protection of wildlife habitat.
The overlook is a good place to rest and have a picnic lunch enjoying the views. The rocks created small arches, nooks and crannies where kids were scrambling up and over them, appreciating the day.
Iron Mountain Trailhead & Picnic Area
The picnic area has great views of the surrounding wilderness, plenty of tables set amongst giant granite boulders in a good deal of shade. The pit toilets were actually really well-maintained.
It is a fairly easy 1.4-mile out & back trail through the Black Elk Wilderness. The trailhead for the Iron Mountain Creek #16 begins from the picnic area. Follow the paved pathway of the Centennial Trail Bypass #89B a 1/2-mile till it intersects the #16n trail. It gains some elevation through mostly ponderosa pine forest that has been impacted by spruce pine beetle damage.
If you take the #16 trail, it follows the creek. The rock formations near the end of the trail “Turtle Rock” are pretty interesting. We created a loop by taking the forest road to the Grizzly Creek returning on the Centennial Trail Bypass #89B. The tail was muddy in some areas, but hiking boots made the difference.
What did we bring with us? Remember, a good pair of sunglasses, sunscreen, towel, ball cap or wide-brimmed hat, and a light loose-fitting long-sleeved shirt for sun protection while on the trail. If you plan to walk the trails, bring bug spray for the biting insects.
CC Gideon Tunnel
Pigtail Bridge leads into the CC Gideon Tunnel. it sits at an elevation of 5,043 feet. This tunnel has the ceiling open up about halfway through. A marvel of engineering, you can see how difficult it must have been 70 years ago for CC Gideon and Scovel Johnson to achieve the dream of creating this scenic byway. Naming the tunnels is a fitting contribution to them. It is possible to see Mt. Rushmore’s faces, but the view is not that remarkable because of the distance and trees.
About a mile further down the road, the pavement splits separating the north and southbound lanes. You feel a sense of isolation. The trees lining the road are thick and serene. As we approached the pigtail bridges, I had the GoPro camera mounted to the dash of the car. Unfortunately, none of the videos turned out. Bummer.
Framed by the Doane Robinson Tunnel
The best view is yet to come. The third and final tunnel is the Doane Robinson Tunnel. It affords the best views of Mt Rushmore. The tunnel walls perfectly framed the faces. There is no parking area on the north side of the tunnel, only on the south side. Limited, the pullout can support about 3 or 4 cars. We got lucky and found a spot to park. It was difficult to find the perfect shot with no cars, but with patience, I did finally get my photo opportunity. Not the best, but I was delighted I got something. This is definitely a highlight of the scenic drive. From this point the road descends back down the mountain to the intersection of US-244 and US-16.
Final Thought on Iron Mountain Scenic Drive
Iron Mountain from Custer State Park to Keystone South Dakota is totally worth the journey. Adding this in conjunction with the Needles highway creating a dazzling scenic loop. There are no fast lanes on Iron Mountain Road; it was built to allow travelers to slow down and take in the beauty of the Black Hills. If you are visiting the Black Hills, definitely add this to your itinerary. You will enjoy every moment on this awesome drive.
Do you have any experience driving the Iron Mountain Road? Are there any scenic drives in the Black Hills that you particularly enjoy? Why did you think it was best?
