Custer State Park Trail Guide

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www.custerstatepark.com BADGER CLARK TRAIL 3

Centennial Trail T Hole Badger 0.5 miles south of US south 0.5 miles Lake Legion Historic Trail Badger Clark : Much of the trail follows Parts of the trail follow steep slopes and Moderate 1 mile (loop) 1 hour The trail mainly follows level ground. culty: fi Shore Trail Legion Lake Badger Clark Historic Trail Historic Clark Badger Trailhead: of Location 9) Road (CSP on Badger Clark 16A Length: Time: Dif Badger Hole, the historic Located behind a mixed pine and this trail winds through A along rocky hillsides. hardwood forest and trail was built by poet portion of the rock-lined laureate Badger Clark. TRAIL RATINGS EASY: MODERATE: rocky areas. STRENUOUS very steep slopes and rocky areas. berglass posts. Trails in the Trails posts. berglass fi plants, rocks, antlers nd: Removing fi

Park are only allowed in res in Custer State ﬁ

and dispose of it when you return to camp. are hiking, and an estimated time of return. thunderstorms are common. Dress appropriately. Area. is abundant in the French Creek Natural These are wild animals owned bison herds in the world. and are dangerous. Keep your distance. Be aware of your surroundings. Lake watershed closed. Closed areas include the Sylvan Area. Fishing Walk-In and the Grace Coolidge anywhere in Custer State Park. activities due to resource management concerns. information about hiking, mountain biking and horse trails may be obtained at either of the park’s visitor centers and at local bookstores. horses. Stay on the trail, do not cut switchbacks. and other items from Custer State Park is prohibited. and other items from Custer State Park established campgrounds and day use areas. established campgrounds Black Hills National Forest are marked with tree blazes. Black Hills National water with you. and in the French Creek in designated campgrounds Natural Area.

diamonds. The Centennial Trail is marked with gray marked with gray is Trail The Centennial diamonds. and brown diamonds

• are going, what trails you Let someone know where you • Afternoon conditions. Always be aware of weather • trails near streams and Poison ivy is often found along • publicly one of the largest Custer State Park is home to • in Custer State Park. Rattlesnakes are sometimes seen • in those areas posted Horseback riding is allowed except • In addition to the designated trails, hiking is allowed • Some areas may be posted closed to recreational • Black Hills National Forest maps and other sources of • litter along trails Pack out what you pack in. Collect • yield to hikers, and both yield to courtesy: Bikers Trail • Pets must be leashed. • you Leave what

• carry Always is not available along the trails. Water • Custer State Park is only allowed Camping within • Open • blue are marked with Custer State Park within Trails the following etiquette and safety tips: etiquette and safety the following To ensure you have a safe and pleasant hike, please review pleasant hike, please you have a safe and ensure To RULES, ETIQUETTE & SAFETY & ETIQUETTE RULES, 4 Park Of T

Creekside Trail CREEKSIDE TRAIL ﬁ Grace Coolidge ce

Campground

where bicyclistsshouldwalktheirbikes. level exceptforasectionneartheparkof bike androllerbladefriendly. The trailisfairly access thetrail.Severalbridgecrossingsare Users mayparkatanyoftheselocationsto General Storeandtheparkof Lodge, PeterNorbeck Visitor Center, Coolidge Coolidge CreekandpassestheStateGame This hard-surfacedtrailfollowsGrace Dif Time: Length: at variouspointsalongHighway16A. Coolidge Campground. Trail maybeaccessed Runs fromGameLodgeCampgroundtoGrace Location of Trailhead: Creekside Trail US HWY 16A HWY US ﬁ culty: 1hour 2miles(oneway)

Easy (handicapaccessible) Lover’s Leap Trail Leap Lover’s Parallel toUS16A. Visitor Center Peter Norbeck fi ce. Lodge Game Area fi ce T plants andwildlifefoundinthisuniquearea. fi The pondsandcreeksidesoffer excellenttrout Lake, thecreekcontainssixlowheaddams. Flowing gentlyfromthespillwayofCenter any timeoftheyear, andyouwillgetwet. through thevalley. Crossingsmaybedif Creek, crossingitmanytimesasmeanders This nearly-leveltrailfollowsGraceCoolidge Dif Time: Length: to swimmingbeachatCenterLake Coolidge Campground;Northend- Adjacent ing areaalongHwy16A,acrossfromGrace Location of Trailhead: Fishing Area Grace Coolidge Walk-In shing andprovidehabitatforthevarietyof Walk-in Fishing Area Grace CoolidgeTrail fi culty:

S Playhouse Rd 2-3hours 3 miles(oneway)

Easytomoderate Center Lake Rd Lake Center T Grace Coolidge Campground Southend-Park- Center Lake Area T ﬁ cult Creekside Trail

5 GRACE COOLIDGE WALK-IN AREA WALK-IN COOLIDGE GRACE LOVER’S LEAP TRAIL 7 Area Game Lodge T d. ea Visitor Center Visitor Peter Norbeck ilh ra t e th o t

ac Lover’s Leap Trail b

Across Highway 16A 16A Highway Across d an l Lookout ape Lover’s Leap h ce ﬁ e c Moderate to strenuous Moderate th

3 miles (loop) t Park Of 2-3 hours nal portion of the trail passes a residential ﬁ s pas culty: ﬁ Creekside Trail d ea l Lover’s Leap Trail Leap Lover’s Trailhead: of Location behind Center, Visitor Norbeck from the Peter the schoolhouse Length: Time: Dif a steep ascent through a This trail begins with pine forest with views of the mature ponderosa and the surrounding area. State Game Lodge At the top of a ridgeline. The trail follows the ridge is a rocky outcrop highest point on this legend, it According to Leap. named Lover’s American two Native is on that outcrop that deaths. Mount Coolidge, lovers leaped to their Cathedral Spires can be Harney Peak and the of the trail West point. viewed from this high Galena is an area that was burned in the 1988 Fire. ridge The trail continues down the side of the in the into the Galena Creek Drainage. Once many creek bottom, the trail crosses the creek times. The the area and follows a gravel road back to footpack Coolidge Store. From there, a paved trailhead. leads past the chapel and back to the Legion Lake Trail Within Legion Lake Legion Within Historic Trail Badger Clark T Legion Lake Campground Legion Lake Shore Trail Legion Lake Moderate to strenuous Moderate

1 mile (loop) Centennial Trail Centennial 1-2 hours culty: ﬁ

Legion Lake Trail Lake Legion Trailhead: of Location Campground Length: Time: Dif ponderosa pine winds through the This trail views of Legion Lake and forest and offers Parking is located at the surrounding area. Hikers must walk across Legion Lake Resort. all the way into Legion and Highway 16A The to access the trail. Lake Campground near campsite 11E. trailhead is located CentennialConnector Trail

Trail LEGION LAKE TRAIL LAKE LEGION

Centennial 6 HARNEY PEAK TRAILS 9 Trail Trail 2.5 miles east of Sylvan Sylvan Lake Day Use Sylvan Lake 1 mile east of Sylvan begins across the begins across Trail 9 Trail Moderate Strenuous Strenuous Moderate 1.5 miles to Cathedral Spires (one way) To Harney Peak, 3.5 miles (one way) Harney Peak, 3.5 To 1.25 miles (one way) To Harney Peak, 3.3 miles (one way) Harney Peak, 3.3 To Watch for the intersections with Norbeck Watch culty: culty: culty: culty: fi fi fi fi begins at the southeast corner of the day use begins at the southeast footbridge leading to the swimming beach. leading to the swimming footbridge 4 area. Lake on Needles Hwy (Hwy 87) Length: Dif Cathedral Spires Trail #4A Trail Spires Cathedral Trailhead: Location of Area north of Needles Highway (Hwy 87) of Needles Highway Area north the Sylvan Lake are located at trailheads Two Area. Day Use #4 Trail Length: Dif #4 Trail Tower Little Devil’s Trailhead: Location of Lake on Needles Highway (Hwy 87) Length: Dif Sylvan Lake Trailheads to Trailheads Lake Sylvan Peak Harney Trailhead: of Location #9 Trail Harney Peak Length: Dif Features the Cathedral Spires/Limber Pine Area, a Registered National Natural #4 and Trail intersects with Trail Landmark. can provide access to Harney Peak; however, itself is a one-way trail. Trail Cathedral Spires This trail connects to the Little Devil’s Tower Tower This trail connects to the Little Devil’s Peak. trailhead, and continues on to Harney Trail of Norbeck 4 ends at the intersection Trail 3 continues past Grizzly Creek Trail 3. Norbeck 9. Trail Harney Peak 7 and intersects with Trail 9 will take hikers to Harney Trail Harney Peak Peak. 7 and Harney Peak Trail 3, Grizzly Creek Trail These are 9 in the Black Elk Wilderness. Trail trip. easy to miss especially on the return 4 and ascends Trail spur trail branches off A Little to the unique rock formation known as of the Cathedral Spires, Views Tower. Devil’s Hills can Harney Peak and the southern Black The spur ends at be seen from this summit. Tower. Little Devil’s This trail is the most traveled and shortest route This trail is the most to Harney Peak. re grates in established camp- re fi res in Custer State Park and Black Hills in Custer State Park and Black Hills res fi

at intersections otherwise noted 9, Trail within ¼ mile of Harney Peak and and at least 100 feet from water sources trailhead portals into the wilderness and carry registration form with them (stock, pets and hikers combined) - groups of 10 or less are recommended transportation; no bikes, strollers, etc. trails within the park campgrounds cooler at Harney Peak; be prepared for rain

Black Elk Wilderness Regulations Wilderness Black Elk • with tree blazes and signs are marked Trails • unless Stock are allowed on trails, • EXCEPT Camping is allowed anywhere • strict control Pets must be leashed or under • must register at any of the major Visitors • hearts Groups are limited to 25 beating • Only non-mechanized, non-motorized Open only allowed in Service are National Forest designated and day use areas. ground State Park Regulations Custer • are marked with blue diamonds Trails • on the Harney Range Stock is prohibited • designated Camping is allowed only in • Pets must be leashed Two of the most popular trailheads to Harney most popular trailheads of the Two State Park ft) start within Custer Peak (7,242 to the across the boundary and continue and Black Elk National Forest Black Hills regulations There are different Wilderness. and within the state park system within the wilderness areas. national forest and • shoes suitable for rugged terrain Wear • be windy and extra clothes; it will likely Take • per person at least one quart of water Take • NO RESTROOMS located along the trails Tips for Hiking in the Harney Range Hiking in the Harney Tips for Harney Peak Trails Peak Harney

HARNEY PEAK TRAILS PEAK HARNEY 8 011 10 HARNEYHARNEY PEAK TRAILTRAILSS

Willow Creek

T T 244 5 Horsethief Lake 8 T T 2 Stock 9 Prohibited Mount Palmer Creek Road Rushmore 14 Centennial Trail * T Black Elk Wilderness 87 Harney Peak Bicycles prohibited (El. 7242) Blackberry T * 2 Little 9 Devil’s 3 7 Tower 89 7 89B 9 * 4 9 T * 1 6 4 Cathedral Spires 2 4A 3 1 * T 4 Needles 3 3455 4A Eye Centennial Trail7 5 T 6 7 Sylvan Lake Area T Iron Creek T 8 CusterCuCustusus erer (EL. 6145) Horse Camp 3 mimmilesillesess Stock prohibited 9 14 T

87 89

89B

S TRAIL PEAK EY N HAR 11 TRAILS PEAK HARNEY 12 SUNDAYSUNDAY GULCHGULCH TRAILTRAIL hardwoods linethetrail. granite walls.Spruce,pineandamixtureof winter season) over large bouldersandnearmagni crosses astreamseveraltimeswhilepassing Descending intoSundayGulch,thetrail scenery ofallthepark’s hikingtrails. This trailoffers perhapsthemostunique along trailintoearlyJune) Dif Time: Length: dam toSundayGulch by followingtheSylvanLake Trail behindthe Location of Trailhead: Sunday Gulch Trail

Sunday Gulch Trail ﬁ culty: 2-3hours 2.8miles(loop) Strenuous (icemaybepresent Reachthetrailhead (Closed during T Sylvan Lake Shore Trail Sylvan Lake ﬁ cent

While mostofthistrailisrelatively Dif Time: Length: lakeshore. may beaccessedatvariouspointsalongthe Location of Trailhead: Sylvan LakeShore Trail Granite formationsGranite line portions of the lake. makes acomplete loop around Sylvan Lake. one trail, This of the easiest inthe park, suitable forstrollers. rocky areas.Sectionsofthetrailmaynotbe portion containsstepsandcrossesexposed Sunday Gulch Trail Gulch Sunday ﬁ culty: 1 hour 1mile(loop) Easy Sylvan Lake Sylvan Lake Shore Trail Sylvan Lake. The trail ﬂ at, a

Trail #9 to Harney Peak Little Devil’s Tower (Trail #4) (Trail Tower Devil’s Little Day Use Area

13 SYLVAN LAKE SHORE TRAIL SHORE LAKE SYLVAN L L L L L L L L L L L L I I I I I I I I I A A A A A A A A A A A A A R R R R R R R R R R R R TRAIL T T T T T T T T T T T E E E E E E E E E E E E R R R R R R R R R R R R O O O O O O O O O O O O O H H H H H H H H H H H H H SHORE S S S S S S S S S S S S E E E E E E E E E E E E K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K A A A A A A A A A A A A A LAKE L L L L L L L L L L L N N N N N N N N N N N N N A A A A A A A A A A A A A V V V V V V V V V V V V V L L L L L L L L L L Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y SYLVAN S S S S S S S S S S S STOCKADE LAKE TRIAL Prairie Trail Stockade Lake Trail Location of Trailhead: Along Wildlife Loop Location of Trailhead: 0.3 mile south of US Road, 13 miles from the State Game Lodge Highway 16A on Stockade Lake Drive OR 5 miles from the Blue Bell Entrance Length: 1.5 miles (loop) Station Time: 1-2 hours Length: 3 miles (loop) Diffi culty: Moderate Time: 2-3 hours Beginning at the trailhead located on the PRAIRIE TRAIL Diffi culty: Moderate southeast side of Stockade Lake, the trail This trail explores a portion of the park’s ascends through a ponderosa pine forest to a rolling prairie grasslands and hosts one of ridgeline. the most spectacular summer wildfl ower From the ridge top, excellent views of displays in the area. This trail has a few Stockade Lake, Harney Peak and the stream crossings, which are usually dry in surrounding area can be seen. Near the end, late summer. Near the end, a portion of the this trail crosses over Stockade Lake Drive trail follows a small stream through stands of and follows the gravel road past the boat ramp mixed hardwoods. The trail is marked with and back to the trailhead. brown fi berglass posts and rock cairns. Buffalo are often near this trail and are dangerous; keep your distance!

StockadeStStocockkaadede LakeLakake TrailTTrraiail

Wildlife Loop Rd

Bismarck Lake Rd US Hwy 16A

Stockade Lake Trail T T

Wildlife Loop Rd

Prairie Trail

Stockade Lake Drive

14 15 16 FRENCH CREEK NATURAL AREA Blue Bell Area crosses thecreekmanytimes.Indrymonths, creek orfollowpathsofprevioususers. The trail natural area,hikersmaketheirownwayalongthe Although thereisnomarkedtrailthroughthe hardwood forestandlushnativevegetation. canyon walls,pastmixedstandsofpineand stream The Natural Area. State Parkandintothe2,200-acreFrenchCreek French CreekgentlymeandersthroughCuster Dif Time: Length: State GameLodgeon Wildlife LoopRoad Road (CSP 4);Eastend-4milessouthofthe from BlueBellLodgeonNorthLameJohnny Locations of Trailheads: French Creek Natural Area Horse Trail 87 ﬁ culty: 10-12hoursforleisurelyhike 12miles(oneway)

Moderate Wildlife Loop Rd Loop Wildlife Centennial Trail T * ﬂ West end-3miles ows beneathsheer

French Creek

Horse Camp Custer State Park 4 Park State Custer Horse Trail

Area. Area. more informationontheFrenchCreekNatural Stop bythePeterNorbeck Visitor Centerfor either endofthearea. Campers mustself-registeratthetrailheadsign outstanding trout wild This areaisknownfortheabundanceof feet) throughthecreek. steep embankmentof60feet)orswimming(100 and accessislimitedtoclimbingoverthecliff (a The Narrowsiswherethecreekpinchestogether underground leavingadrystreambed. ﬁ the trail.Open Primitive, overnightcampingisallowedalong all alongthetrail.

rst mileofcreekfromtheeasttrailhead CSP 4 CSP The Narrows ﬂ

owers, wildlife-watchingopportunitiesand CSP 5 CSP

ﬁ French CreekTrail CSP 2 CSP res areprohibitedinthearea. ﬁ

shing. Poisonivyisabundant

CSP 2 CSP Barnes Canyon Rd Canyon Barnes ﬂ ows

T Wildlife Loop Rd Loop Wildlife

17 FRENCH CREEK NATURAL AREA NATURAL CREEK FRENCH 18 CENTENNIAL TRAIL SD Centennial Trail Dif Trailhead Length: 345) Needles HwyonCampRemingtonRoad(CSP Location of Trailhead: Iron Creek Trailhead The Centennial Trail wasof National ParkorCusterState Park Length: CSP and Wind CaveNationalPark Location of Trailhead: Highland Creek Trailhead Dif Length: (CSP 4) Bell LodgeonNorthLameJohnnyRoad Location of Trailhead: French Creek Trailhead Dif Length: Hwy 16A onBadgerClarkRoad(CSP 9) Location of Trailhead: Badger Clark Trailhead brown The trailismarkedwithacombinationof the trail. provide accesspointstothepark’s portionof within CusterStatePark. Three trailheads Approximately 22milesofthetrailarelocated Park inthesouth. State Parkinthenorthto Wind CaveNational the lengthofBlackHillsfromBearButte 100-year statehood. The 111-mile trailspans June 1989tocommemorateSouthDakota’s Please beawareofandrespectallusers. used byhorsebackridersandmountainbikes. diamonds fastenedtotrees. This trailisalso fi fi fi culty: culty: culty: fi berglass postsmarked“89”andgray Providesaccesstoeither Wind Cave 10.3miles 4.2milestoFrenchCreek Trailhead 7.3 milestoBadgerClarkHole Moderate Moderate Moderatetostrenuous NorthofSDHwy87, Southboundaryof 3milesfromBlue 1/2milesouthofUS fi cially openedin Centennial Trail Blue Bell Area T T Badger Hole T T Iron Creek Trailhead Highland Creek Trailhead Legion Lake French Creek Trailhead Trailhead Area

16A

19 CENTENNIAL TRAIL CENTENNIAL FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CUSTER STATE PARK’S TRAILS, CONTACT THE PARK OFFICE AT 605.255.4515

HarneyHarney PeakPeak *

Sunday Harney Area Trails Gulch Trail (Page 10) (Page 12)

Little Devil’s Tower

Sylvan Lake Trail Needle’s Eye (Page 13) *

T Grace Coolidge Walk-in Fishing Area (Page 5) Legion Lake Trail (Page 6) T

Creekside Trail (Page 4) T Game Lodge Area Stockade Lake Trail Badger Clark Lover’s Leap Trail (Page 15) Historic Trail (Page 7) (Page 3)

French Creek T Blue Bell Natural Area Trail Area (Page 16) T

Centennial Trail #89 (Page 18) Wildlife Loop Road

T T

Prairie Trail (Page 14)