The scenic byway is named after Peter Norbeck, a US senator and governor for South Dakota, who chose the layout of the Iron Mountain Road in the 1930s This byway has a length of 70-mile which includes spiraling bridges, hairpin curves, granite tunnels and awe-inspiring views.

The route makes a rough figure-eight route, with the route traveling through portions of Custer State Park, the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, near Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Black Elk National Wilderness Area. Highways 16A, 244, 89 and 87 combine to create the route.

Length	70 miles
States	1 – South Dakota
Astronomy Sites	4+
Bortle Scale	Class 3

Astronomy Sites

Although this is not a list of every single possible site in this area, these areas are places that have been great astronomy sites. All of these areas have had amazing photos of the milky way and astronomy done on site.

Custer State Park

Encompassing 71,000 acres in the Black Hills, Custer State Park is home to abundant wildlife and adventure; camping, hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, or relaxing, there’s something here for everyone. The park is South Dakota’s largest and first state park, named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer. The park is known for its scenery, its scenic drives, with views of the bison herd and prairie dog towns.

Black Elk Wilderness

Black Elk Wilderness is located in in the center of the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve and was designated as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System by Congress in 1980. The area is named for the Oglala Lakota spiritual leader Black Elk and is sacred to many American Indians.  It is the only Wilderness at Black Hills National Forest and currently spans over 13,426 acres. There are a plethora of viewpoints, clearings, panoramas and other areas to do astronomy. It is a really wonderful place to visit and do astronomy.

Sylvan Lake

Arguably the most recognizable Custer State Park lake, Sylvan Lake is a beautiful place for visitors and locals, which serve as a backdrop for events and photographs during the day. At night, this lake provides amazing opportunities along the lake to perform astronomy.

Lakota Lake

Lakota Lake is a small, non-motorized lake and a popular destination for fishing and kayaking. Several picnic tables offer a scenic view of the lake. There are several hiking trails, but the lake provides some different opportunities for astronomy in the area.

Norbeck Wildlife Preserve

The Norbeck Wildlife Preserve is 27,494 acres are administered by the Forest Service. Forest Plan direction states that this area is to be managed to provide habitat for game animals and birds. Some human activities are allowed, but these activities must be consistent with wildlife needs. Therefore, this is a good place to visit for astronomy and be minimally invasive while doing so.

Camping/Lodging

Custer State Park has a plethora of options for camping. It is highly recommended to use these campgrounds if possible. With a plethora of options to camp at different campgrounds, this is a great option!

Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and make sure to view our other unique astronomy roadtrips such as this one for more places to view astronomy when on a roadtrip.