The Great American Bison Roundup: Witness the Wild Beauty of South Dakota's Buffalo Herd

The Buffalo Roundup

The roundup is an annual event at Custer State Park. You can witness this unique spectacle as cowboys herd nearly 1,300 buffalo into a coral. It’s an impressive display of buffalo, cowboy skill and culture. 

The cowboys make the roundup look easy, but herding that many buffalo requires expert horsemanship, sharp reflexes, and intimate knowledge and understanding of the animals and their behavior. You’ll see the cowboys working as a team through their use of calls and hand signals to herd the buffalo. The display of skill is a testament to American cowboy culture and legacy. Visitors to the park agree that the Buffalo Roundup is an experience you’ll never forget.

Learn more about the roundup

Why is there a Buffalo Roundup?

Not only is the roundup a breathtaking sight, but it is also an important management strategy that helps keep the herd strong and healthy.  The roundup is used to keep the park's buffalo population in balance, making sure the animals are looked after, vaccinated, and sorted for auction as part of the resource management program. 

The roundup is an opportunity to assess the health of the buffalo herd. Any buffalo not in good health are separated from the herd and given appropriate treatment. This helps keep the park’s buffalo population strong and healthy, which supports the larger ecosystem.

Maintaining a healthy balance of buffalo within Custer State Park’s ecosystem is a critical goal of the annual Buffalo Roundup. The Bison’s grazing helps shape the landscape, creating a diversity of plant life that supports other wildlife. However, an overpopulation of buffalo leads to overgrazing, damaging the ecosystem. By rounding up and sorting the buffalo, park officials can manage the herd size, ensuring that grazing pressure is not too great and the ecosystem remains healthy.

A Brief History of the Buffalo Roundup 

The park has had a herd of buffalo since 1914, before it officially became a park. In the early years, the herd was small, and the park did not have a consistent strategy for managing it. As the herd grew, park officials would periodically round up the buffalo to thin the population and prevent overgrazing.

They held the first official Buffalo Roundup in 1965, and it has been an annual event ever since. The roundup has grown in size and popularity over the years, attracting thousands of visitors to Custer State Park each fall.

Today, the Buffalo Roundup is a beloved tradition at Custer State Park, celebrating the park’s rich history and the enduring legacy of the American West. The event is proof of the park’s commitment to conservation and preserving one of America’s most iconic wildlife species.

The Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival

Even though the Buffalo Roundup is a big event on its own, the park also hosts an arts festival. Typically it runs for three days at the end of September. You’ll find hundreds of vendors offering crafts, art, and more. Many of the vendors are local to South Dakota who often craft their own merchandise.

The festival begins with a large pancake breakfast, with Native Tribes and Western entertainment under a big top. There’s no admission fee for the festival, and a park entrance license is not required on the day of the Buffalo Roundup.

The festival is an excellent opportunity to explore the vibrant culture and traditions of the American West, with live music, dramatic performances, and demonstrations performed by local talent. Browse handmade items, from jewelry and pottery to paintings and photography, and take home a souvenir of your visit.

Overall, the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival is a wonderful complement to the Buffalo Roundup itself. It’s a chance to experience the beauty of South Dakota’s arts and culture while celebrating one of the state’s most iconic wildlife events.



After the Roundup

After a thrilling day at the Buffalo Roundup, it’s time to unwind and recharge for more sightseeing adventures. Head back to your room at Summer Creek Inn to relax on plush beds and enjoy the beautiful views of the Black Hills. Perhaps use the time to plan the next day’s adventure. There’s always something else to see in South Dakota. But whatever the plan may be, take a deep breath and get ready for the next exciting chapter of your trip.