Game Lodge Campground, Custer State Park, SD

Monday, October 6 to Wednesday, October 8, 2025

The weather shifted to rain over the weekend, and by Monday night, temperatures dropped into the 30s. We kept an electric heater running overnight, and in the morning, we fired up Mr. Heater – it’s a powerhouse and had the place warm in no time. Along with our quilts, we both use wool blankets, but somehow mine ended up on the floor during the night. I couldn’t figure out why I was so cold until I sat up and saw it lying there.

Monday was mostly overcast, and it rained quite a bit overnight. I believe the area has been dry, so the rain was likely welcome. Tuesday started with clear skies and sunshine all day. We’ve been incredibly lucky with the weather throughout this trip, with just a couple of rainy days and mostly moderate temperatures in the 70s.

Fall in Custer State Park has been amazing. We met a couple from Spearfish staying in a cabin here. Stacey and Annabelle come to this area every fall because the weather is usually fantastic, and the autumn scenery is breathtaking. We couldn’t agree more—between the crisp weather, vibrant fall foliage, smaller crowds, and breathtaking scenery, it’s truly a wonderful time of year to visit Custer State Park!

Custer State Park offers several lodges, each with its own unique menu specialties. On Monday, we chose to visit Blue Bell Lodge to check it out. This 98-year-old lodge features massive timbers, a grand stone fireplace, log chairs, knotty pine siding, and local wildlife decorations adorning the walls. We both had the Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Pot Pie, Salad, and coffee but were too full to enjoy any dessert.

We’ve been wanting to make Sourdough Biscuits in the Dutch Oven to serve with Sausage Gravy. On Tuesday, we got them ready and baked them in about 15 minutes. They turned out great and we are looking forward to leftovers again today. The Dutch Oven has been a fantastic addition to our cooking gear. So far, we’ve made pizza twice, lasagna twice, sourdough bread, apple pie, and biscuits—all of which turned out amazing. We’re excited to try out more recipes on our upcoming trips.

The Custer State Park Visitors Center is just a short stroll from the campground, which we visited on Tuesday. It was impressive, and the walk there was lovely, with a cheerful stream bubbling along the pathway. The park host, one of the many seasonal volunteers, must have a tough job, but someone has to do it! We got our passport book stamped with Custer State Park and learned so much about the park’s origins and how it’s been maintained over the years.

Wednesday morning, we drove the Wildlife Loop again, hoping to spot some elk and other animals. While we didn’t see any elk, we enjoyed the stunning scenery along the way. At an overlook, we discovered a trail leading to the top of a hill, and the views from there were absolutely incredible—definitely worth the hike.

We visited the Custer Bison Center and learned about the roundup process and the importance of managing the park’s 1,100 bison herd. After the roundup, the cowhands work in the corrals, vaccinating, tagging, and sorting the bison to determine which will be sold for meat or to ranches to expand or start herds. It was fascinating to watch their work and see the bison up close. We also found out that older female bison stay in the park to guide the herds, teaching the younger ones how things work – how wise!

Tomorrow, we’re planning to visit Sylvan Lake and drive along Needles Highway! Tonight we are enjoying a campfire with a scenic view of the hillsides surrounding the Game Lodge Campground.