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Custer State Park

Best Hiking Trails in Custer State Park

41 reviews


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Overview

One of the nation's largest state parks, Custer State Park in South Dakota is famed for its scenic drives, wild rock formations and the incredible wildlife practically at your fingertips. From weird rock spires to grazing bison and Wind Cave National Park as its neighbor, you definitely won't be disappointed with a trip out here.

Getting Started

Custer is best accessed by private car, since it's also a great driving park. There's a ton to do, from rock climbing, hiking and swimming to hunting and fishing. Stretch your legs and get your heart rate up on the Black Elk Peak/Harney Peak Trail, or the much easier Lover's Leap Trail loop. Check out the Custer State Park webpage for details, or find camping and lodging options here. Just make sure to book in advance.

This part of the country has some beautiful sites to see within an hour or two: Wind Cave National Park is just to the southern boarder, and well worth a visit. Take the opportunity to also drive out to nearby Mount Rushmore National Memorial, south to Oglala National Grassland, and east to Badlands National Park, and if time permits, out to Devils Tower National Monument, two hours northwest in Wyoming.

When to Go

Custer is open year-round, though it can get quite hot in the summer months. It's not unusual for snow to start falling as early as September, lasting until mid-May.

Permits

Fees apply, and details can be found on the Custer State Park webpage, above.

Dog Info

Dogs are permitted on a leash not exceeding 10 feet in length, but are not allowed in park buildings or on designated swimming beaches. The park also notes that visitors should never leave pets unattended.


Resources

  • wikipedia

  • Hiking Trails (22)
  • Reviews (41)
  1. 1
    Black Elk Peak Loop via Harney Peak Trail and Trail 4
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MODERATE 7.1 mi
  2. 2
    Lovers' Leap Trail Loop
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 3.6 mi
  3. 3
    Black Elk Peak via Harney Peak Trail 9S and Trail 4
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MODERATE 6.5 mi
  4. 4
    Little Devil's Tower via Trail 4
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 2.8 mi
  5. 5
    Sylvan Lake Dam Loop via Sunday Gulch Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 1.3 mi
  6. 6
    Black Elk Peak Loop via Norbeck Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ MODERATE 7.1 mi
  7. 7
    Cathedral Spires
    ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 1.6 mi
  8. 8
    Custer State Park Hike
    ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 4.6 mi
  9. 9
    Sylvan Lake via Sunday Gulch Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 3.9 mi
  10. 10
    Centennial Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ MODERATE 6.5 mi
    user_profile
    robertwwalshiii 8 months, 2 weeks ago
    French creek camp, cent. Trail to heddy draw to camp
    2river crossing then up a big hill. Then easy ride from there.
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    robertwwalshiii 8 months, 2 weeks ago
    French Creek, lame Johnny, no name trail, cut over to cent trail to camp.
    Easy ride out, up and down the valley to centennial trail. Good starter trail.
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    depointjm 8 months, 2 weeks ago
    Track (8/26/21, 10:13:12AM)
    Lovers leap - great view from the top
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    depointjm 8 months, 2 weeks ago
    Track (8/26/21, 2:41:19PM)
    Another hike that we enjoyed in South Dakota followed by cooling off at Sheridan Lake
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    winter.kc 1 year, 8 months ago
    Lovers leap
    Boring hike, annoying trying to find the trailhead
    ★ ★

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    rockymountaindiva 1 year, 8 months ago
    Lovers leap trail
    Trail passes through quite a bit of burnt forest, then heads down along a pretty stream. I thought there would be more views but only a couple of places had good overlooks. Plenty of poison ivy along the stream area.
    ★ ★

    user_profile
    peteandjunie 1 year, 9 months ago
    Grace Coolidge WIFT (8/19/20, 9:48:12AM)
    Nice walk with very limited crowd today. Two creek crossings for the dogs to play in.
    ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    brian_fichter 2 years, 4 months ago
    Track (1/9/20, 1:46:42PM)
    Very short and easy walk. Easily accessible
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    adiehl 3 years, 3 months ago
    Best hike in the Black Hills. Beautiful views along the way and at the top. Will return many times. Late spring or fall to beat the crowds. Would rate it as moderate/strenuous. Dog friendly.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    Bryan Stieglitz 1 day, 1 hour ago
    Custer State Park
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    sactownkidz 2 months ago
    Sylvan Lake Campground via State Highway 87 and SD 87
    ★

    user_profile
    khashoc 4 months, 3 weeks ago
    Hot Springs, Wind Cave, and Independent Ale House Excursion 12/26/21
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    willmurphy25 7 months ago
    Lovers Leap (10/14/21, 6:25:26AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    willmurphy25 7 months ago
    Lovers leap aka lonely boys leap
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    burgess827 7 months, 3 weeks ago
    Grace Coolidge fishing trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    Lancemoe09 9 months ago
    Track (7/21/21, 9:29:16AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    tonymellinger 10 months, 1 week ago
    Cathedral Spires
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    Cindy 10 months, 2 weeks ago
    Lovers leap with Steph Steve and vee
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    brent 10 months, 3 weeks ago
    Track (6/29/21, 8:11:13AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    dbweynand 11 months, 2 weeks ago
    Cathedral Spires
    ★ ★

    user_profile
    tommyboyta 11 months, 4 weeks ago
    Rim Rock, Fisherman’s Flat, French Creek Trail, Centenial Trail, French Creek Horse Camp
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    tommyboyta 11 months, 4 weeks ago
    French Creek Doc’s Lookout
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    alyssa.dikoff 1 year ago
    Grizzly Near Creek (#7)
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    chris 1 year, 2 months ago
    Lovers Leap
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    shannon.rainwater 1 year, 7 months ago
    Custer State Park
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    peteandjunie 1 year, 8 months ago
    Track (9/4/20, 8:52:46AM)
    ★ ★

    user_profile
    pkemm 1 year, 8 months ago
    Horse camp / heddy draw
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    peteandjunie 1 year, 8 months ago
    Wilson’s Corners to Sylvan Lake
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    robertwwalshiii 1 year, 9 months ago
    French creek
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    christinaplacek 1 year, 9 months ago
    Little Devils Tower via Centennial/Grizzly Bear Creek/Norbeck
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    ptrel 1 year, 10 months ago
    Cathedral spires
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    grizz 1 year, 10 months ago
    Pit Toilet to Wildlife Loop Road, East Custer, SD, USA
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    rwthomasjr94 1 year, 11 months ago
    Lover’s Leap
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    BrianRidge 2 years, 1 month ago
    Custer State Park GP
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    dwhike 2 years, 7 months ago
    Little Devils Tower
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    franhogue 2 years, 8 months ago
    Track (8/26/19, 10:32:48AM)Lovers Leap Custer SD
    ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    kablej13 2 years, 9 months ago
    Track (8/5/19, 5:52:24PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    kablej13 2 years, 9 months ago
    Track (8/4/19, 5:04:56PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    kablej13 2 years, 9 months ago
    Track (8/3/19, 6:29:17PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    zubkekylie 2 years, 10 months ago
    Little Devil's Tower via Trail 4
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    user_profile
    lukenelson00 2 years, 10 months ago
    Little Devils Tower
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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