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Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota

Looking for the best hiking in Black Hills National Forest? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Black Hills National Forest. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

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Top Hiking Spots in and near Black Hills National Forest

  • Hill City, South Dakota

    Camp at Castle Creek Campground

    5.0
    0.25 mi / 0 ft gain
    Castle Creek is a challenging place to get to, the road in the off seasons can be even more difficult. In the spring/early summer when the road is wet it can become rutted. There is one road to get to the campground from the East from Mystic it is about 8 rough narrow miles, but you could arrive ...
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  • Rapid City, South Dakota

    Hike the Deerfield Lake Trail to Slate Creek Convergence

    5 mi / 60 ft gain
    The Deerfield Lake trail is overall 23 miles long, but this post is just about the section of the trail that starts at Silver City where Rapid Creek flows into Pactola Reservoir, and follows the creek upstream to where Slate Creek converges, about 2.5 miles from the trailhead. You could follow th...
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Hike Willow Creek Trail

    2.8 mi / 5200 ft gain
    The trailhead is located at the Willow Creek Horse Camp. This trail doesn't allow motorized vehicles but you may share it with some horses depending on when you venture onto the trail. The trail itself is pretty easy, it will take about 1.5-2 hours depending on your pace and is shaded for about h...
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  • Hill City, South Dakota

    Camp at Black Fox Campground

    Black Fox is 9 miles west of Rochford has nine campsites along the Rhoads Fork Creek where it meets up with the South Fork of Rapid Creek. Campsites are nicely arranged for the most part with a fire pit and picnic table at each site. From the campground there are many things to do, many people en...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Kayak Sylvan Lake

    4.0
    2 mi
    There are a few reservoirs within the hot and dry Black Hills of South Dakota. The water here comes from the harsh winter month's snowpack or frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Sylvan Lake in the town of Custer offers many activities thanks to it's unique and rugged terrain. Hiking, biking, rock c...
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Hiking to Harney Peak

    4.9
    The Harney Peak Trailhead #9 is located in the northwest corner of the parking lot just beyond Sylvan Lake. From there, the hike is very straight forward – the beginning of the trail is very moderate, being slightly flat with a few ups and downs along the way.Once you cross into the Black Elk Wil...
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Sylvan Lake Shore Trail

    5.0
    1.1 mi / 39 ft gain
    Sylvan Lake Shore Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Custer, South Dakota.
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Black Elk Peak and Little Devil's Tower Loop

    5.0
    7.85 mi / 1621 ft gain
    Black Elk Peak and Little Devil's Tower Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Custer, South Dakota.
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Hike Sunday Gulch Loop

    5.0
    2.8 mi / 400 ft gain
    To get to Sunday Gulch Trail you will need to walk around Sylvan Lake to the Northwest End of the Lake, there is a loop all the way around the lake, so either way will take you there. You will see a sign for Sunday Gulch Trail, it is trail #6.  The trail itself can be quite steep in places but it...
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  • Rapid City, South Dakota

    Dakota Point at Sheridan Lake via the North Trail

    2.2 mi / 200 ft gain
    There are 2 ways to get to Dakota Point, one from the north that is more common which I will talk about (or one from the south). The trail that starts on the north side of the lake is a nice easy trail to follow, it is wide and well-worn mostly in forested areas. Keep your eyes out for wildlife...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Hike to Little Devil's Tower in the Black Hills

    5.0
    The trail starts at the Little Devil's Tower Trailhead which is located roughly one mile east of Sylvan Lake on Highway 87. Take Trail #4 for around 1/2 mile until a fork in the trail. The right fork takes you to Harney Peak, while the left takes you to Little Devils Tower. Along the trail there ...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Hike to Poet's Table

    5.0
    1 mi
    This hike starts at the Little Devil's Towers trailhead just east of Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park. Follow the main trail from the parking lot about 300 yards then there will be an unmarked trail off to the left, it is a beaten path more than a trail. The trail that leads up to Poet's Table ve...
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  • Rapid City, South Dakota

    Fly Fish from the Rapid Creek Trailhead

    2 mi
    To get the the trailhead for Rapid Creek you must turn to the east onto Pactola Basin Road or FS road 164 when on Highway 385 crossing the Pactola Reservoir. The road down to the trailhead is steep and can be rough depending on the time of the year. Once at the trailhead there is a parking area, ...
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Rock Climb at 1880 Wall

    0.1 mi / 150 ft gain
    There are 2 walls named the 1880 Wall, one is the East Wall and the other is the West Wall. To get there you will need to follow Old Hill City Road, either from Hill City or from Keystone. If coming from Keystone it is about 3.8 miles heading west. There is a pullout right off the road and next t...
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  • Keystone, South Dakota

    Horse Thief Lake Trail

    4.0
    5.27 mi / 1132 ft gain
    Horse Thief Lake Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Keystone, South Dakota.
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Cathedral Spires in the Black Hills

    4.8
    1.65 mi / 200 ft gain
    This is a moderate hike with a huge payout in the form of some of the Black Hills' most beautiful features — tall granite spires rising hundreds of feet above the surrounding terrain, reaching a maximum height of 6,860 feet. Starting from the Cathedral Spires Trailhead --where you may be treated...
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Go Great Places in South Dakota

In the Mount Rushmore state, travels to South Dakota are full of one-of-a-kind adventure with wide-open spaces as endless as the horizons. Between legendary landscapes and scenic drives, you can always find space that shifts life into park. When you’re ready, go great places.

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