Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway

The Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway complements the park's three scenic drives and includes some of the most dramatic natural and historic features in the Black Hills. It consists of a loop made up of four numbered highways: SD 87 (Needles Highway), SD 89, SD 244, and US Route 16A (Iron Mountain Road). Sites include the Needles, Mount Rushmore, and a bird’s-eye view of the rocky peaks and forested hills of the Black Hills National Forest.

The byway is named for Peter Norbeck, a South Dakota conservationist, Governor and U.S. Senator. Norbeck planned and surveyed most of the roads located within the park and his vision inspired Custer State Park, Norbeck Wildlife Preserve and Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Highways 16A, 244, 89 and 87 combine to create the route. Just like Peter Norbeck did when he mapped the route on foot, visitors find that a good starting point is the historic State Game Lodge, which served as the Summer White House in 1927. Here, visitors will enjoy breakfast at the restaurant, stop at Coolidge General store for snacks, and visit the Custer State Park Visitor Center before journeying on to Iron Mountain Road a few miles North. This route ensures that your first sight of Mount Rushmore is viewed through the tunnels that 'frame' the national monument--all in anticipation of your stop there.