Custer State Park is an unheralded gem tucked into the Black Hills of South Dakota. At 114 sq. miles, it's one of the largest State Parks in the country, and the immensity of its beauty is apparent from the air. I journeyed to Custer in August 2019 with a DJI Mavic 2 Pro (affiliate link) to take advantage of the landscape, and South Dakota's drone-friendly regulations.
I was lucky enough to perform two drone flights at the park. One from the summit of Little Devils Tower - whose smooth granite proved to be an excellent picnic destination, in addition to a high elevation launchpoint. Emboldened by the success of the first flight, I navigated around and through the jagged rocks of Cathedral Spires on day two.
Beyond the otherworldly aerial views, Custer is one of the best places in the world to see American Bison, and we were lucky enough to catch a herd grazing through the tall grasses at the center of the park. Switching the drone out for a DSLR with a telephoto lens, I was able to grab some close-up footage of these giant mammals from a safe distance (at least until an unexpected hail storm chased us back to shelter).
- Zach
