We stuck closer to home on Saturday and drove the Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park — after eating breakfast at Baker’s Bakery, of course. Our first stop was the Mount Coolidge Fire Tower.
In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge came to the Black Hills for a three-week vacation and liked it so much that he stayed for three months. His visit resulted in a great deal of publicity for the region in general and for the proposed Mount Rushmore monument in particular and is credited for making the region a tourist hot spot.
The fire tower is still in active use by Custer State Park.
Harney Peak is on the right. At 7,242 feet, it is the highest point in the United States east of the Rockies. Just to the left of the peak are the Needles. We skirted Harney Peak several times during the week and our lodge was only a few miles away from it, but this is the only time I actually saw it.
Mount Rushmore
The view to the southeast.
Crazy Horse Memorial. Note all the trees killed by pine beetles.
A closer look
Harney Peak is in the right distance of my Red Chair shot.
