All About the Buffalo Round-Up

Every year, on the last Friday in September, Custer State Park holds the Buffalo Roundup. The goal of the Roundup is herd management - they give vaccines, check the cows for pregnancy, and decide which animals will be kept and which will go up for auction later in the year. It has grown into a large event and extends to the Thursday through Saturday with many activities including an Arts Festival with plenty of live music. There is no entry fee to the park on the day of the Roundup, for the Roundup itself, but Thursday and Saturday do require a pass which can be purchased at any of the entrances or the Visitor’s center. Let’s talk about what to bring for the actual Roundup.

Check the weather and plan to wear appropriate clothing - some years it snows, some years it rains, and some years it is dry and dusty. Plan to wear layers. Bring sunscreen and re-apply often. There is usually a pancake & sausage breakfast available, for a cost, until they run out. Plan to bring plenty of water as well as snacks. Throw your lawn chair or picnic blanket into the vehicle unless you enjoy sitting on the bare ground. You’re not going to want to miss any of the action, so a camera and/or binoculars are smart items to pack as well. Having said all that, it will be a little bit of a hike from your vehicle to the viewing area, so be prepared to carry it all or bring a wagon with good wheels.

Do a little research before the morning of the Roundup. The Bison Center has a good view of what can be seen from each angle. There is a North Viewing area and a South Viewing area. It has been likened to a football field with the North equivalent to sitting in the Endzone and the South as being on the 50 yard-line. Both have incredible views and you won’t regret either side. However, once you commit to a side, you are committed - there’s no switching to the other viewing area. To get to the South Viewing, you will need to take Hwy 87 South to the Bluebell entrance of the Wildlife loop. The North Viewing enters the wildlife loop on the east side of the park near the Visitor’s Center. The parking lots typically don’t open until 6:15am Friday. You can get there as early as you like, but you will be sitting in your vehicle waiting. Many of us typically don’t leave the campground until 5am, and we know we will be waiting in line for a bit. There are no restrooms along the loop, so plan ahead! There will be port-a-potties once you reach the viewing areas. Pets are not encouraged, but if brought should remain in vehicles. RVs are okay to bring, but know that parking is in the prairies and may be rocky and/or muddy with low ground clearance.

Once you have been directed to a parking spot, remember where it is! No one wants to get lost looking for the vehicle after the Roundup. You will see everyone moving toward the Viewing area, so in this case, follow the crowd. Find a spot you are comfortable at and settle in. The Roundup itself doesn’t typically start until 9:30am, so there’s plenty of time to visit with other folks and watch the prairie dogs. Even when it’s suppose to start, it all depends on the bison. You should have an idea of when it’s starting by the sounds and possible dust clouds.

Once all the bison have been safely corralled, the gates are opened and people are welcome to visit the corrals and see how all the health checks are conducted.

For even more information on the Roundup, visit the Custer State Park website.