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Black Hills National Forest

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Gems in Black Hills National Forest - 4

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gem Favorite The walk to Mount Rushmore.

Mount Rushmore

(12) Custer, SD
gem Favorite The Cathedral Spires seen from the summit of Little Devils Tower

Little Devils Tower

(6) Custer, SD
gem Favorite Some nice climbing on the rocks around Sylvan Lake.

Sylvan Lake

(11) Custer, SD
gem Favorite Spire 2 and the Khayyam Spire towering above the trail

The Cathedral Spires

(8) Custer, SD

Recommended Routes in Black Hills National Forest - 8

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RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View from Black Elk Peak
Intermediate/Difficult

Black Elk Peak Loop

7.9 mi 12.7 km • 1,357' Up 413.68 m Up • 1,357' Down 413.67 m Down

Custer, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Looking Northeast across the canyon from the Hell Canyon Trail.
Intermediate/Difficult

Hell Canyon Trail

5.4 mi 8.7 km • 606' Up 184.71 m Up • 629' Down 191.69 m Down

Custer, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Scree field on the west side.
Intermediate

Crow Peak Trail (#64)

6.3 mi 10.2 km • 1,521' Up 463.73 m Up • 1,521' Down 463.64 m Down

North S…, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite The historic tower commemorating the friendship of Seth Bullock and President Theodore Roosevelt on the top of Mount Roosevelt
Intermediate

Mount Roosevelt Trail

0.7 mi 1.2 km • 156' Up 47.43 m Up • 156' Down 47.43 m Down

Deadwood, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View from Black Elk Peak
Intermediate/Difficult

Black Elk Peak Loop

15.7 mi 25.3 km • 3,476' Up 1059.4 m Up • 3,527' Down 1074.92 m Down

Custer, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Mount Rushmore from The Centennial Trail.
Difficult

Horsethief Lake Loop

11.1 mi 17.9 km • 1,672' Up 509.77 m Up • 1,672' Down 509.72 m Down

Custer, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View from the fire lookout on Custer Peak.
Intermediate

Custer Peak

8.3 mi 13.3 km • 1,014' Up 309.07 m Up • 1,014' Down 309.15 m Down

Deadwood, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Groomed trail on the B loop
Intermediate

Big Hill Trail Outer Loop

11.9 mi 19.2 km • 1,471' Up 448.47 m Up • 1,471' Down 448.48 m Down

North S…, SD

Black Hills National Forest Running

  • 370 Miles 595 Kilometers of Trail
  • 8 Recommended Routes
  • 4 Gems Gems
  • 7 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 42 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 5 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
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Areas Within Black Hills National Forest

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Trails in Black Hills National Forest - 46

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3.0 mi 4.9 km #1Sunday Gulch Trail
Difficult
Custer, SD
Difficult
Custer, SD 36 
3.3 mi 5.4 km #2Harney Peak #9 (South)
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD 20 
0.9 mi 1.4 km #3Cathedral Spires Trail
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD 21 
1.0 mi 1.6 km #4Sylvan Lake Shore Trail
Easy/Intermediate
Custer, SD
Easy/Intermediate
Custer, SD 16 
0.4 mi 0.6 km #5Little Devils Tower Trail
Difficult
Custer, SD
Difficult
Custer, SD 6 
4.4 mi 7.1 km #6Harney Peak #9 (North)
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD 9 
5.6 mi 9.1 km #7Centennial Trail - Deer Creek TH to Rapid Creek TH
Difficult
Blackhawk, SD
Difficult
Blackhawk, SD 2 
6.1 mi 9.8 km #8Norbeck #3
Intermediate
Custer, SD
Intermediate
Custer, SD 1 
12.1 mi 19.5 km #9Centennial Trail - Dalton TH to Elk Creek TH
Difficult
Summerset, SD
Difficult
Summerset, SD 1 
1.8 mi 2.9 km #10Willow Creek Rushmore Trail #5
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD 1 

Photos of Black Hills National Forest - 92

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View from Black Elk Peak
Dec 28, 2020 near Custer, SD
Gorgeous views into the Black Elk Nature Area peek through the trees along the Harney Peak Loop.
Feb 20, 2017 near Custer, SD
Stump along Black Elk Loop
Jan 20, 2021 near Custer, SD
Sneaking up on Washington
Aug 5, 2019 near Colonia…, SD
Curious locals
Aug 5, 2019 near Custer, SD
The Cathedral Spires seen from the summit of Little Devils Tower
Dec 26, 2018 near Custer, SD
Heading back toward Sylvan Lake, enjoy gorgeous, quiet, moss-covered woodlands.
Mar 19, 2017 near Custer, SD
Beautiful view from the top looking toward Harney Peak.
Jun 28, 2021 near Custer, SD