Hiking the Black Hills

When you think Black Hills, SD, you probably think of Mount Rushmore, but there is so much more to the area than this iconic landmark. One of our favorites is hiking on the countless trails in the area. This free activity will take you down the path less traveled (quite literally sometimes) and might help tire out the kiddos (or make you feel better about having some of the amazing fudge produced in the area. As a bonus, there is a good chance you'll see some wildlife ranging from birds and deer, to bighorn sheep and mountain goats.

Did I mention this was FREE? 

While it is a free activity, I recommend coming prepared for the hike you are about to embark on. Also try to choose accordingly to your or your child's skill level. Do you really want to carry a 2-year old on the 4-mile hike back to the car? Maybe try a shorter, flatter hike with small children and work your way up to the more challenging paths. A few must-haves for longer hikes include water, snacks, comfortable and supportive shoes (no heels please!), sunscreen or a hat for longer hikes, and a camera for all the great shots you're going to capture. 

Trails

Trail Name	Length	Elevation	Difficulty	Directions
Lost Cabin	5.0	5100-6400	Mod-Difficult	Take Highways 16, 16A and 244 from Rapid City past Mount Rushmore to the Willow Creek Trailhead. Then follow signs to south on Lost Cabin Trail.
Norbeck	6.3	5100-6600	Moderate	North of SD Highway 87 near Hermosa, SD.
Cathedral Spires	2.3	6100-6600	Difficult	2.5 miles east of sylvan lake on needles highway
Willow Creek Rushmore	1.9	5200	Moderate	HWY 244 near Willow Creek Horse Camp
Sunday Gulch	3.2	5600-6100	Difficult	Slyvan Lake, behind the dam.
Grizzly Bear Creek	6.3	5100-6500	Mod-Difficult	North on Hwy 89 from Custer, Turn east onto Hwy 87 (Needles Highway). Continue west on Hwy 87 and take FR 345 towards Iron Creek Horse Camp. Grizzly Creek Trailhead on the west side of the road.
Willow Creek Loop	2.8	5100-5200	Moderate	Highway 244, Near Willow Creek Horse Camp
Harney Peak North	4.4	5100-7200	Difficult	The trail starts on the east side of the day use area of Willow Creek Horse Camp on South Side of road.
Harney Peak South	3.5	6100-7200	Moderate	Trail begins at Sylvan Lake Day Use Area
Horsethief Lake	2.7	5000-5600	Moderate	Highway 244, 2 miles welst of Mount Rushmore Memorial
Iron Creek	2.4	4200-5200	Easy-Moderate	Located at ~ mile marker 22 past Bridal Veil Falls in Spearfish Canyon. Park at the pullout area just before the bridge on West side of road.
Iron Mountain	1.4	5200-4900	Moderate	Take US-16a south from Mount Rushmore 3 miles or north from Custer State Park 14 miles. Park at Iron Mountain Picnic Area
Hell Canyon	5.5		Mod-Difficult	13.5 West of Custer on HWY 16.
Deerfield	23.0	4600-6100	Moderate	North of Lake Pactola on 385. Trailhead is on Silver City Rd or T299
Deerfield Lake Loop	11.7	5900-6100	Moderate	Off of Deerfield Rd, near Mt Meadows Camping, or from Custrer Trail Campground
Dutchman Loop	1.7	5900	Easy	From Dutchman Campground
Mount Roosevelt	0.6	5500-5700	Easy	Take US Hwy 85 North from Deadwood.  Turn onto FSR 133 after 1.5 miles.  Watch for the Mount Roosevelt picnic area after 2 miles.  Trailhead and bathrooms located here.
Flume	16.5	4400-5300	Easy-Moderate	Take U.S. Highway 385 to Sheridan Lake Campground. Follow signs to Flume Trail.
Veterans Point	0.7	4600	Easy	15 Miles west of Rapid City on US 44, South on 385 for 1 mile. Trail is on right of parking lot.
Osprey	1.7	4600	Easy	SW of Pactola Lake, take FSR 258 south of Pactola Visitor Center for 1.5 miles to FSR 545. Continue on FSR 545 for one mile.
Crow Peak w/Spur	3.7	4200-5760	Difficult	Take Forest Service Road 214 out of Spearfish 7 miles south. Trailhead is on right
Roughlock	1	5000	Easy	14A or Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway to Savoy. Trail can be seen from Spearfish Canyon Lodge.
Old Baldy w/Spur	6.4	5800-6096	Moderate	South of Spearfish 13 miles on FSR 134. Trailhead West of road or south of Savoy 6 miles on FSR 222 and north on FSR 134 for 1 mile.
Eagle Cliff Trails	27.1	5760-6520	Easy-Difficult	Hwy 14a from Spearfish to Hwy 85 at Cheyenne Crossing. Trailheads located SW on HWY 85 at 7.5 miles, 8.5 miles, and 9.5 miles.
Hanna	1.1	5600	Moderate	Take US85 south out of Lead 7.6 miles to Hanna Campground and turn left. Continue 2 miles to campground.
Big Hill Trails	13.6	5000-5480	Easy-Difficult	South of Spearfish on FSR 134 8 miles. Trailhead on East of road.
76 Trail	0.8	5000-5700	Difficult	From Lead drive past Cheyenne Crossing and turn north of HWY 14a. At Savoy, turn north and trail starts across road from Spearfish Canyon Lodge.
Dugout Gulch Botanical	6.7	3800-4680	Easy-Moderate	Take I90 from Spearfish to Beulah (Exit 205). Continue south on FSR 863 6 miles. Trailhead is on East side of road.
Rimrock w/Spur	6.7	5320-6040	Moderate	Drive south from Spearfish on HWY 14A to Savoy and continue West on FSR 222 for almost 5 miles.
Little Spearfish	5.9	4805-6280	Easy-Moderate	Drive south from Spearfish on HWY 14A to Savoy and continue West on FSR 222 for almost 5 miles.
Carson Draw Trails	6.8	5400-6200	Easy-Moderate	West of Sundance on HWY 14 one mile and north on FSR 838 2 miles. Trailhead on west side of road.
Cook Lake	1.5	4740-4780	Easy	West of Sundance on HWY 14 one mile and north on FSR 838 to FSR842 and continue one mile. Trailhead on west side of road.
Centennial	111.0	3200-5600	Easy-Difficult	Top of Bear Butte
Cliff Swallow	3.7	4740-5120	Moderate	Take HWY 14 west one mile from Sundance to FSR 838 and continue north to FSR 842 for one mile.
Sundance Trails	47.3	4600-6200	Easy-Difficult	From Sundance, drive north on County Road 123 for 3.5 miles. Trailhead on west side of road.
George S. Mickelson	114.0	3400-6200	Easy	15 trailheads, from Edgemont to Deadwood
Beaver Creek Ski	11.6	6000-6700	Moderate-Difficult	At Four Corners, drive East on FSR 810 for 5 miles or start at Mallo Camp.
Stockade Lake trail	1.5	Flat	Moderate	0.3 miles South of US 16A on Stockade Lake Drive
Slyvan Lake Trail	1	Flat	Easy	Sylvan Lake
Strato Bowl	1		Easy	2 miles west of Bear Country on HWY 16. Take a right after Bear Country gas station to turn into the trailhead.
Devil's Bathtub	1		Moderate-Difficult	South of Bridal Veil Falls on Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Turn at Cleopatra Place and park in area before bridge. Head across bridge and to the right.
Lake Trail	2.5	Flat	Moderate	Bear Butte Lake
Summit Trail	1.85	Hilly	Moderate	Bear Butte State Park near Education Center
Grace Coolidge Walk-in Fishing Area	2	Flat	Easy	Center Lake
Lookout Mountain Trail	1.6		Moderate	Nevada Street or Pony Espress Lane in Sandstone Development in Spearfish
Lover's Leap	3		Difficult	Behind the schoolhouse (across from the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center) on US Highway 16A
Prairie Trail	3		Moderate	Along wildlife loop roap, 13 miles from State Game Lodge
Creekside Trail	4	Flat	Easy	Game Lodge Campground to Grace Coolidge Campground along 16A
Storm Mountain	11	4383-4930	Difficult	Hwy 16 south of Rapid City 11.3 miles. Turn right onto Silver Mountain Rd. Go 0.15 miles, Parking lot is on the right.
French Creek	12	Flat	Moderate	Entrance to this trail 3 miles from Blue Bell Lodge on North Lame Johnny Road and on the East end 4 miles south of the State Game Lodge on Wildlife Loop Road

Devil's Bathtub

A few final tips:

• Some of the paths start or pass through private land. Please be respectful and pick up your trash. Try to plan that everything you came with should leave with you. 
• Watch the weather. If a storm is expected, hold off on some of the prone to flooding sites such as Devil's Bathtub (you can imagine how that name came about).
• Don't hike at night, unless you are experienced and came prepared for all possibilities. The landscape is often uneven and is hard to traverse in the dark. 
• There is a wide variety of wildlife. Remember if you spot a mountain lion not to run, but rather make yourself as big and loud as possible. Running could trigger a predatory instinct. But don't worry too much, we haven't seen one yet.