September 26, 2025
We finally made it to the Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park. It's held the last Friday in September. The Game, Fish, and Wildlife Department rounds up the herd for a health check, branding, and a determination of how many and which buffalo will be auctioned off. They like to keep the herd at around a thousand head. This year they will auction off around 400 head of buffalo.
The roundup starts around 9:30 am. The gates open at 6:15 am, with some people pretty much camping out overnight in front of the gate. Over 24,000 people attended last year.
The viewing areas are divided into a north viewing area and a south viewing area. We chose the north since it was a bit closer. We left at 5:30 am and got to the viewing area around 8:00 am. The park's food service offers pancake breakfasts in both viewing areas. After the roundup, they offer lunch near the corrals.
It was closer to 10:30 when the herd made its appearance. Because of the unusually warm temperatures in the 80's, the wranglers were moving the herd at a slower pace. So, no thundering hooves for us. It was still a sight to see - cowboys on horseback (along with a fair amount of pickups) keeping a herd of 1400 buffalo headed in the right direction, dust rising, and the whips cracking.
We did hang out at the car for awhile. Sitting in the shade and enjoying the breeze, watching the endless traffic go by. The park runs you out the same way you came in as opposed to the normal bidirectional loop.
If we ever do this again, we'll go to the south side, probably adding another hour to our morning drive time. The viewing area was closer to the action. Plus, we saw people routed out Lame Johnny Rd, a dirt road to be sure, but one that bypassed a lot of traffic headed out.
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| Waiting in a miles long line |
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| North viewing area |
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| Here they come (and South viewing area) |
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| Dust flying |
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| Last push into the corrals |
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| Almost there |
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| Into the corrals |
