Custer State Park Trail Guide
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NATURE FRESH SEAL CUSTER STATE PARK A Hiker’s Guide to Custer State Park’s Greatest Places www.CusterStatePark.com CUSTER STATE PARK BLACK HILLS • SD Welcome to unique landscapes where Made with humans rarely set foot. Our staff works hard to keep the park pristine, so please tread lightly and pack out what Natural Ingredients you pack in. Happy trails! TRAIL RATINGS Easy / The trail mainly follows level ground with very little elevation change. Moderate / Parts of the trail include more inclines, hills or elevation changes. It may have more technical terrain such as rocky or root-covered trail, loose gravel on inclines, or narrow paths. Strenuous / Much of the trail includes very steep slopes and rocky areas. It may include a long steady climb, many steps or stairs and roots. Slippery rocks or other difficult terrain is also present. Cautionary tips • There are no restrooms located along trails. • Pack out your trash. • Thunderstorms containing hail, strong • Buffalo are common in this area. winds, lightning and rain are frequent during Please remain at least 100 yards away. the summer months. • Leave what you find: Removing plants, • Wear shoes suitable for rugged terrain. rocks and other items from the park • Take at least one quart of water per person. is prohibited. Badger Clark Road Clark Badger Lovers Leap Trail Wildlife Loop Road Centennial Trail Spur 16A LEGION LAKE BADGER HOLE Legion Lake HISTORIC SITE Shore Trail TRAILHEAD Centennial Trail Airport Road BADGER HOLE TRAILHEAD HISTORIC SITE TRAILHEAD PARK AIRPORT French Creek Trail French Creek Trail Centennial Trail FRENCH CREEK NATURAL AREA Centennial Trail Spur BADGER CLARK TRAIl Barnes Canyon TRAIl Length: 1 mile (Loop) Fun Facts Length: 4.7 miles (One-Way) Fun Facts Time: 2-4 hours Difficulty: Moderate • Charles “Badger” Clark was South • There is evidence of old mines and Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Dakota’s first poet laureate. Follow the well-worn trail of homesteaders, lumber camps along this trail. Starting behind the historic Badger Hole, this • He lived in Custer State Park for the final loggers, and miners along Dry Creek, which • The Canyon is named after a homestead trail winds through mixed pine and hardwood 30 years of his life. may experience intermittent seasonal in the area. forest and along rocky hillsides. A portion of • You’ll find his poetry on numerous signs flow. Keep your eyes peeled for elk, deer, the rock-lined trail was built by the famous while hiking this trail. bighorn sheep and buffalo. cowboy poet Badger Clark himself. 16A Creekside Trail TO BLACK ELK PEAK TO BLACK ELK PEAK LITTLE DEVILS TOWER Lovers Leap Trail CATHEDRAL SPIRES PETER NORBECK OUTDOOR ED CENTER SUNDAY GULCH TRAILHEAD BLACK ELK TRAIL #4, #9 AND SYLVAN SYLVAN LAKE SHORE TRAILHEADS LAKE TRAILHEAD 87 SYLVAN LAKE LOVERS LEAP TRAILHEAD GENERAL STORE LITTLE DEVILS GRACE COOLIDGE 87 TOWER TRAILHEAD GENERAL STORE TRAILHEAD 87 SYLVAN LAKE CAMPGROUND STATE GAME LODGE Lovers Leap Trail LOVERS LEAP Creekside Trail 89 LOOKOUT CREEKSIDE LODGE 16A 87 Cairn TRAIl Cathedral spires TRAIl Length: .3 mile (Loop) Fun Facts Length: 2.3 (Out & Back) Fun Facts Lovers Leap Trail Time: 1 hour • The trail’s name comes from stacked Time: 1–2 hours • The Spires are a registered National Difficulty: Moderate Difficulty: Strenuous rocks, called Cairns, which have Natural Landmark as a unique Climb: 500 feet One of the park’s newest hikes, Cairn been used since prehistoric times as geological formation. landmarks, burial monuments, and Trail, climbs the ridge behind the Peter Beautiful and mystifying, the rock • The Cathedral Spires are named for their astronomical markers. Norbeck Outdoor Education Center and formations along Needles Highway were resemblance to organ pipes in the back loops through scars left by the Galena Fire. • Some of the bark on the old shaped millions of years ago, eventually of a cathedral. ponderosa pines in the area smell Highlights include a bird’s eye view eroding into granite pillars known as the • Before choosing Mount Rushmore, like vanilla or butterscotch. of the State Game Lodge and Grace Cathedral Spires. A steep section over Gutzon Borglum first considered carving Coolidge General Store. There is limited boulders earns this trail a strenuous rating, the presidents into the spires. The Spires’ granite was deemed unsuitable. shade along this route. although the grind is worth it for views that constitute a near-religious experience. Staff Notes: This trail connects with Black Elk Trail #4 and Little Devil’s Tower Trail. Look for signs and be aware of trail markings. CENTER LAKE CAMPGROUND TRAILHEAD 87 Centennial Trail Playhouse Road CENTER FRENCH LAKE CREEK HORSE CAMP TRAILHEAD Wildlife Loop Road Fisherman Flats Horse Trail 87 Centennial Trail TRAILHEAD Wildlife Loop Road Fisherman Flats Road TRAILHEAD Creekside Trail GRACE COOLIDGE CAMPGROUND 16A French Creek TRAIl Grace Coolidge TRAIl Length: 12 miles (One-Way) This trail pinches together in an area Length: 3 miles (One-Way) Fun Facts Difficulty: Moderate–Strenuous known as the Narrows, where hikers Time: 2–4 hours • The creek’s name honors First Lady, Climb: 935 feet Difficulty: Easy–Moderate must either climb a 60-foot cliff or swim Grace Coolidge who visited Custer State There is no marked trail through this the Narrows, a swim of about 100 feet This nearly-level trail follows Grace Park with her husband, President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. natural area. Hikers must blaze their way depending on water levels. Watch for Coolidge Creek, crossing it many times as it along the creek or follow paths of previous bighorn sheep, buffalo, and elk. meanders through the valley. You’ll happen • The creek’s six man-made dams make users, who are sometimes animals. upon six low head dams, built in the 1930s for excellent fishing. Staff Notes: by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The • There are four types of trout in the park: For a primitive outdoor experience, • Numerous streams crossings along ponds and creekside offer excellent trout Rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat. backpackers can dry camp in the French this trail. You will get wet. fishing and provide habitat for a variety of Creek Natural Area. Hikers using this area • Buffalo are common in this area. plants and wildlife. can camp anywhere along the canyon Staff Notes: Please remain at least 100 yards away. bottom but must be 50 feet away from the • Poison ivy is commonly found along creek. Open fires are prohibited. Campers • Poison ivy is commonly found along this trail. Long pants and boots are this trail. Long pants and boots are recommended. must self-register at the stations located recommended. on each end of the natural area. The fee is • No horses are allowed in the Grace $7 per person, per night. Coolidge watershed. TO BLACK ELK PEAK TO BLACK ELK PEAK LITTLE DEVILS TOWER CATHEDRAL SPIRES 16A SUNDAY GULCH BLACK ELK TRAIL #4, #9 AND TRAILHEAD SYLVAN LEGION LAKE LAKE SYLVAN LAKE SHORE TRAILHEADS CAMPGROUND 87 SYLVAN LAKE TRAILHEAD LEGION LAKE LODGE GENERAL STORE GENERAL STORE 87 TRAILHEAD 87 SYLVAN LAKE CATHEDRAL CAMPGROUND SPIRES TRAILHEAD LEGION LAKE Centennial Trail 89 Centennial Trail — Badger Hole Spur 87 Legion Lake TRAIl Little Devils tower TRAIl Length: 1 mile (Loop) Fun Facts Length: 1.5 miles (One-Way) Fun Facts Time: 1 hour • Legion Lake is named for the American Time: 2–4 hours • The rock formation gets its name from Difficulty: Easy–Moderate Difficulty: Moderate—Strenuous Legion Post that once leased the land. a resemblance to Devils Tower National Climb: 700 feet Monument from a distance. With excellent views of the lake and rock • The Legion Lake fire of 2017 started outcroppings, this centrally located trail in this area. This spur trail branches off Black Elk Peak • At the summit you can see Black Elk makes for a fun foray into the woods. The Trail #4 and ascends to the unique rock Peak and the back of Mount Rushmore trail merges with Centennial Trail, which formation known as Little Devils Tower. National Memorial. takes the difficulty up a notch in many Highlights include views of the Cathedral rocky and steep places. Spires and Black Elk Peak. Staff Note: This trail connects with Black Elk Peak Trail #4. Look for signs and be aware of trail markings. 16A Creekside Trail TRAILHEAD Wildlife Loop Road PETER NORBECK OUTDOOR ED CENTER GRACE COOLIDGE TRAILHEAD GENERAL STORE LOVERS STATE GAME LEAP LODGE LOOKOUT Creekside Trail 16A CREEKSIDE LODGE Galena Horse Trail Lovers Leap TRAIl Prairie TRAIl Length: 4 miles (Loop) Fun Facts Length: 3 miles (Loop) Fun Facts Time: 2–4 hours • This area is an excellent habitat for Time: 2–3 hours • This habitat is home to bison, prairie Difficulty: Moderate Difficulty: Moderate Bighorn Sheep. dogs, and numerous wildflowers. Climb: 416 feet One of the park’s most popular trails, • Along this trail you can see evidence and • In the springtime, keep an eye out for the Lovers Leap begins with a steep ascent regrowth of the fires from 1988 (Galena Prairie Trail explores the park’s rolling bell-shaped, lavender Pasque wildflower, through ponderosa pine and oak forest. Fire) and 2017 (Legion Lake Fire). prairie grasslands and hosts a spectacular the state flower of South Dakota. The trail follows the ridgeline, the highest summer wildflower display. Part of the point being Lovers Leap. Highlights path follows a small stream through Staff Note: Poison ivy is commonly Staff Notes: include views of Mount Coolidge, Black Elk stands of mixed hardwoods. found along this trail. Long pants and • Poison ivy and snakes are commonly Peak and the Cathedral Spires. The trail boots are recommended. found along this trail. Long pants and descends quickly to Galena Creek, which boots are recommended.