Experience the annual Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park. Watch as the buffalo are gathered up and driven by horseback and lorry into corrals, where each animal is individually vaccinated and new calves are branded.
Start your day with a pick-up from your hotel in Rapid City at 6:00 AM and drive to the Custer State Park roundup grounds parking areas. Go to the south area of the park just above the corral where the rangers will work with the buffalo. The roads close early so they can start moving the buffalo over the hills without traffic being in the way.
Around 8:00 AM, enjoy a hot breakfast of an egg-buffalo sausage-vegetable dish, muffins, fresh fruit, yoghurt, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and bottled water. Be provided with a bag chair to sit in as you eat and wait for the buffalo to come over the ridges. This may be anywhere from 10 to 11 AM.
After the buffalo come down and you watch the big stampede into the corral area, catch a shuttle to the corrals around noon to buy your lunch of a BBQ sandwich, chips, beans, and a drink for about $13.50 per person. Once you finish lunch, walk over to the corrals to watch the rangers work with the buffalo.
Drive back to Rapid City around 3 PM or so.