SYLVAN LAKE AND THE NEEDLES HIGHWAY

Sylvan Lake is a lake located in Custer State Park, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States. It was created in 1881 when Theodore Reder built a dam (the Sylvan Lake Water Dam) across Sunday Gulch Creek. The lake area offers picnic places, rock climbing, small rental boats, swimming, and hiking trails. It is also popular as a starting point for excursions to Black Elk Peak and The Needles. A hotel was operated on the shore of the lake in the early 20th century .

The lake was featured in Disney's 2007 film National Treasure: Book of Secrets. The film made the lake appear to be located directly behind Mount Rushmore when in reality it is actually five miles southwest of Mount Rushmore.

Sylvan Lake was probably one of the most beautiful things I have seen in this area. We were told to be sure and not miss this. I'm glad we didn't. The day we visited, the sky was blue, the water was blue, and the pictures were clear. Several hikes originate at Sylvan Lake, but we didn't have enough time to do anything but hike about half way around the lake. It was gorgeous.

We stopped at one of the picnic areas in Custer State Park and it looked really nice and peaceful. Once we pulled out our picnic lunch, we were invaded with bees. We checked under the table and benches to make sure there weren't nests because there were so many.  There weren't any nests, but it was crazy how many bees. Not a fun experience.

We continued from Sylvan Lake on the Needles Highway.  The Needles Highway is 14 miles long. The Needles Highway is a spectacular drive through ponderosa pine and Black Hills spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen, and rugged granite mountains. The road's name comes from the needle-like granite formations, which seem to pierce the horizon along the highway. The roadway was carefully planned by former South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck, who marked the entire course on foot and by horseback. Construction was completed in 1922.

Visitors traveling the highway pass Sylvan Lake and a unique rock formation called the Needle's Eye, named for the opening eroded by wind, rain, freezing, and thawing. The Needle's Eye Tunnel is only 8 foot wide. Mr. W put his mirrors in on the truck just in case. Needles Highway closes to vehicles with the first snow of the  season and does not reopen until April 1, or later depending on conditions. The trail remains open for hikers, walkers, bikers and skiers. The roads have hairpin turns and in places has  room for only one vehicle. It is beautiful, but a little stressful in places.  Well worth the drive.