Black Hills National Forest

US Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
605-673-9227

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

Contact: Frank Carroll (605) 673-9216 or Stephen Keegan (605) 673-9236, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

VIRTUAL TOUR NOW ONLINE FOR PETER NORBECK SCENIC BYWAY

CUSTER, SD: MARCH 3, 2008

Tourists planning to visit the Black Hills this summer have a new website to help plan their trip.

“The virtual tour provides a sneak preview of the great attractions along the byway,” said Craig Bobzien, Black Hills National Forest Supervisor. “The real goal is to have people come experience the beauty and excitement of nature in person with family and friends.”

The virtual tour is located at http://peternorbeck.americasbyways.net/. The multimedia content has slide shows and movies of features along the 66-mile byway. Horsethief Lake and Sylvan Lake are some of the sites that are showcased. The site has images from around the lakes.

The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway winds through the granite spires of Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial, providing access to some of the most beautiful landscapes in South Dakota, officials said. Producers credit Peter Norbeck and his vision in laying out the route and preserving the area.

Visitors may download maps of the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve and Black Elk Wilderness trail system, or click the Norbeck Visitor Center icon and download the Custer State Parks publication called Tatanka, the guide to South Dakota’s Custer State Park, with pictures of the popular wildlife loop.

Visitors to the site will find links to Chamber of Commerce sites from Custer, Keystone, and Hill City. The Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial websites are also available as links. A Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway Brochure is available for downloading.

The virtual tour project was funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Forest Service’s Black Hills National Forest. For more information, contact Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway Coordinator Stephen Keegan at (605) 673-9200 or via email at spkeegan@fs.fed.us.

The site is located at http://byways.org/explore/byways/2459/. Other websites may link to the virtual tour. The website will be updated regularly, Bobzien said.