Trail Run Project Logo
Trail Guide
Best Trails & Photos
Forum
Get the app

Black Hills National Forest

  1. Areas
  2. SD
  3. Western S. Dakota
  4. Black Hills National Forest
  5. View Sub Areas

Area suggestions or local tips? Tell us!

View Interactive Map
Difficulty
Easy — Difficult
Distance
mi
 - 
mi
Rating
Distance
mi
 - 
mi
Difficulty
Easy — Difficult
Rating
Popular Near Here
Google Map
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

Previous Next

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
 Days w/
 
J F M A M J J A S O N D

281 mi 453 km of trail — 7 Featured Runs

Gems 4 Gems Easy Trails 13 Trails Intermediate Trails 37 Trails Hard Trails 0 Trails

Areas Within Black Hills National Forest

Area suggestions or local tips? Tell us!
Trail Run Project is built by runners like you.
Share what you know about this area with the community.

Gems in Black Hills National Forest - 4

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Gems

gem

Sylvan Lake

6
Custer, SD
gem

Mount Rushmore

9
Custer, SD
gem

Little Devils Tower

2
Custer, SD
gem

The Cathedral Spires

3
Custer, SD

Featured Runs in Black Hills National Forest - 7

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Runs

Favorite Gorgeous views into the Black Elk Nature Area peek through the trees along the Harney Peak Loop.

Black Elk Peak Loop

7.9 mi 12.7 km • Loop • 1,357 ft Ascent 413.68 m Ascent

Singletrack Custer, SD

( 29 )
Favorite Looking Northeast across the canyon from the Hell Canyon Trail.

Hell Canyon Trail

5.4 mi 8.7 km • Loop • 606 ft Ascent 184.71 m Ascent

Singletrack Custer, SD

( 4 )
Favorite Scree field on the west side.

Crow Peak Trail (#64)

6.3 mi 10.2 km • Out and Back • 1,521 ft Ascent 463.73 m Ascent

Singletrack North Spearfish, SD

( 4 )
Favorite View from the fire lookout on Custer Peak.

Custer Peak

8.3 mi 13.3 km • Out and Back • 1,014 ft Ascent 309.07 m Ascent

Doubletrack Deadwood, SD

( 1 )
Favorite Groomed trail on the B loop

Big Hill Trail Outer Loop

11.9 mi 19.2 km • Loop • 1,471 ft Ascent 448.47 m Ascent

Singletrack North Spearfish, SD

( 1 )
Favorite The historic tower commemorating the friendship of Seth Bullock and President Theodore Roosevelt on the top of Mount Roosevelt

Mount Roosevelt Trail

0.7 mi 1.2 km • Out and Back • 156 ft Ascent 47.43 m Ascent

Singletrack Deadwood, SD

( 1 )
Favorite Trail marker - Rushmore Spur Trail.

Horse Thief Lake Loop - Black Elk Wilderness Area

11.2 mi 18.0 km • Point to Point • 1,815 ft Ascent 553.25 m Ascent

Singletrack Custer, SD

( 1 )

Trails in Black Hills National Forest - 43

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Trails

3.3 mi 5.4 km #1 Harney Peak #9 (South)
Custer, SD
3.3 mi 5.4 km Custer, SD
Minor Issues
Update
Muddy, Snowy, Icy, Fallen Trees - South loop is less trafficked and has some snow and tree issues. Summit steps were very icy and treacherous.
44 days ago
16 
1.0 mi 1.6 km #2 Sylvan Lake Shore Trail
Custer, SD
1.0 mi 1.6 km Custer, SD
Minor Issues
Update
Muddy, Snowy, Icy, Fallen Trees - South loop is less trafficked and has some snow and tree issues. Summit steps were very icy and treacherous.
44 days ago
7 
0.9 mi 1.4 km #3 Cathedral Spires Trail
Custer, SD
0.9 mi 1.4 km Custer, SD
Minor Issues
Update
Snowy - Snow covered with 12-24" of wet snow.
32 days ago
8 
4.4 mi 7.1 km #4 Harney Peak #9 (North)
Custer, SD
4.4 mi 7.1 km Custer, SD
Minor Issues
Update
Muddy, Snowy, Icy, Fallen Trees - South loop is less trafficked and has some snow and tree issues. Summit steps were very icy and treacherous.
44 days ago
3 
3.0 mi 4.9 km #5 Sunday Gulch Trail
Custer, SD
3.0 mi 4.9 km Custer, SD
Minor Issues
Update
Muddy, Snowy, Icy, Fallen Trees - South loop is less trafficked and has some snow and tree issues. Summit steps were very icy and treacherous.
44 days ago
15 
6.1 mi 9.8 km #6 Norbeck #3
Custer, SD
6.1 mi 9.8 km Custer, SD
Unknown
Update
1 
0.4 mi 0.6 km #7 Little Devils Tower Trail
Custer, SD
0.4 mi 0.6 km Custer, SD
Minor Issues
Update
Muddy, Snowy, Icy, Fallen Trees - South loop is less trafficked and has some snow and tree issues. Summit steps were very icy and treacherous.
44 days ago
1 
12.1 mi 19.5 km #8 Centennial Trail - Dalton TH to Elk Creek TH
Summerset, SD
12.1 mi 19.5 km Summerset, SD
Unknown
Update
1 
5.6 mi 9.1 km #9 Centennial Trail - Deer Creek TH to Rapid Creek TH
Blackhawk, SD
5.6 mi 9.1 km Blackhawk, SD
Unknown
Update
1 
6.9 mi 11.0 km #10 Victoria's Secret C-Cup
Colonial Pine Hills, SD
6.9 mi 11.0 km Colonial Pine Hills, SD
Unknown
Update
3 
6.8 mi 11.0 km #11 Centennial Trail - Brush Creek TH to Dakota Point TH Access
Colonial Pine Hills, SD
6.8 mi 11.0 km Colonial Pine Hills, SD
Unknown
Update
2 
2.4 mi 3.8 km #12 Little Devils Tower Trail #4
Custer, SD
2.4 mi 3.8 km Custer, SD
Minor Issues
Update
Muddy, Snowy, Icy, Fallen Trees - South loop is less trafficked and has some snow and tree issues. Summit steps were very icy and treacherous.
44 days ago
3 
113.3 mi 182.3 km #13 Mickelson Trail
Deadwood, SD
113.3 mi 182.3 km Deadwood, SD
Unknown
Update
1 
15.0 mi 24.1 km #14 Victoria Lake Loop 15
Colonial Pine Hills, SD
15.0 mi 24.1 km Colonial Pine Hills, SD
Unknown
Update
1 
4.4 mi 7.1 km #15 Tinton Trail
North Spearfish, SD
4.4 mi 7.1 km North Spearfish, SD
Unknown
Update
1 
10.2 mi 16.4 km #16 Storm Mountain Trail
Colonial Pine Hills, SD
10.2 mi 16.4 km Colonial Pine Hills, SD
Unknown
Update
1 
7.3 mi 11.8 km #17 Dakota Ridge
North Spearfish, SD
7.3 mi 11.8 km North Spearfish, SD
Unknown
Update
1 
4.8 mi 7.8 km #18 Centennial Trail - Rapid Creek TH to Brush Creek TH
Rapid City, SD
4.8 mi 7.8 km Rapid City, SD
Unknown
Update
1 
3.1 mi 5.0 km #19 Fight Club
North Spearfish, SD
3.1 mi 5.0 km North Spearfish, SD
Unknown
Update
1 
2.5 mi 4.0 km #20 Twin Bridges
North Spearfish, SD
2.5 mi 4.0 km North Spearfish, SD
Unknown
Update
1 

Photos of Black Hills National Forest - 61

Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Add Your Photos

Gorgeous views into the Black Elk Nature Area peek through the trees along the Harney Peak Loop.

#1

Gorgeous views into the Black Elk Nature Area p…
 3
Custer, SD
Some nice climbing on the rocks around Sylvan Lake.

#2

Some nice climbing on the rocks around Sylvan L…
 2
Custer, SD
Panorama of Sylvan lake. One of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen. If you are near Mount Rushmore take the time to drive up here and check it out. There is a nice trail that goes around the lake.

#3

Panorama of Sylvan lake. One of the most beauti…
 2
Custer, SD
One of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen. About a 45 minute drive from Mount Rushmore, Lake Sylvan.

#4

One of the most beautiful lakes I have ever see…
 2
Custer, SD
Elkhorn Mountain granite formations

#5

Elkhorn Mountain granite formations
 3
Custer, SD
The Cathedral Spires seen from the summit of Little Devils Tower

#6

The Cathedral Spires seen from the summit of Li…
 3
Custer, SD
Groomed trail on the B loop

#7

Groomed trail on the B loop
 3
North Spearfish, SD
Looking Northeast across the canyon from the Hell Canyon Trail.

#8

Looking Northeast across the canyon from the He…
 3
Custer, SD

Classes & Events Near You

Find More Classes and Events

TUE
Jun 25
Women's How to Climb a Fourteener
Finkel & Garf Brewing Company
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
WED
Jun 26
Bike Chains and Derailleurs Workshop
Westminster REI
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
WED
Jun 26
Deluxe Camping Workshop
Ft Collins REI
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
THU
Jun 27
Women's Lightweight Tents and Sleep Systems Workshop
Boulder REI
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
SAT
Jun 29
Introduction to Map & Compass Navigation Class
Boulder: South Mesa- Carpool Location
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
SAT
Jun 29
Introduction to Colorado Backpacking Skills
Golden: White Ranch Park
8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Shop REI Adventures

Find More REI Adventures

Arches & Canyonlands Hiking
View Trip Details
Capitol Reef & Escalante Hiking
View Trip Details
Utah National Parks Ultimate Adventure
View Trip Details

Trail Run Project is part of the REI Co-op family,
where a life outdoors is a life well lived.

Shop REI Running