Trails

Photo © Ron Fry

Hiking, Biking, and Horse Trails

Custer State Park's early pioneers, ranchers, and loggers have left behind miles of trails and backcountry roads to explore. Several of these trails are shared by hikers, horse riders, and mountain bikers. Please be polite to all that you meet and pay attention to postings due to natural resource management concerns.

Hiking | Biking

Custer State Park Trail Mix

Black Elk Peak Area Map

Centennial Trail Map

This 111-mile trail spans the length of the Black Hills from Bear Butte State Park in the north to Wind Cave National Park in the South - approximately 22 miles of the trail are located within Custer State Park. This trail offers opportunities to view the natural and cultural resources of the Black Hills.

Three trailheads provide access points to Custer State Park's portion of the trail. The trail is marked with a combination of brown fiberglass posts and gray diamonds fastened to trees. This trail is also used by horse riders and mountain bikers.

Iron Creek Trailhead - Location: North of SD Highway 87, Needles Highway on Camp Remington Road (CSP 345)

The trail leaves the trailhead and leads south, crossing SD Highway 87, and traverses a small hill. It continues to follow the trail markers through this gently rolling section of the park.

There are several small stream crossings. About 6 miles from the trailhead, the trail crosses US Highway 16A near the Legion Lake Lodge and campground. Continuing south from the highway (across a small stream) and following the trail markers up the hill to the right, this section of the trail enters an area burned in the 1988 Galena Fire. The trail then continues to the Badger Hole, home of South Dakota's first Poet Laureate, and the Centennial Trail's Badger Hole Trailhead. Throughout this area is evidence of past logging activity.

Badger Hole Trailhead – Location: 1/2 mile south of Us Highway 16A on Badger Clark Road (CSP 9)

The trail begins at the Badger Hole Trailhead (1 mile off highway 16A on Badger Clark Road) then leads west to the Badger Hole Cabin. The trail later heads south past a cabin 0.3 mi and ties into the Centennial Trail.

Taking the fork to the south (left), you will climb out of the bottom then descend a short rocky slope into Heddy draw, crossing to the south and climbing the divide. From the top of this hill the trail descends into the French Creek Natural Area.

The trail will be very steep and rocky, passing through a muddy area near the bottom. At the bottom of the hill, the trail turns right and follows French Creek, crossing the creek several times before reaching the Centennial Trail's French Creek Trailhead - this is the most strenuous section of the Centennial Trail within Custer State Park.

French Creek Trailhead – Location: 3 miles from Blue Bell Lodge on North Lame Johnny Road (CSP 4)

Follow the trail markers west through Horse Camp and across French Creek. Just before crossing the creek a second time, the trail turns left and goes uphill.

After descending the other side the trail crosses the Wildlife Loop Road and continues to the south - this section of the trail enters the open grasslands and is home to large herds of bison. Bison are dangerous any time of the year, but especially in the spring when there are new calves and in the late summer when the bulls are in rut.

The trail passes through a self-closing gate and continues south to the border of Wind Cave National Park and the Centennial Trail's Highland Creek Trailhead - please ensure that the park gates are closed after passing through the border fence.

Bike Trails

Only the following hiking trails may also be used for biking:

Badger Clark Trail
Barnes Canyon Trail
Bison Trails
Cairn Trail
Creekside Trail
Grace Coolidge Trail
Prairie Trail

French Creek Natural Area

Horse Trails

Horse Trail Map

There are three horse trail trailheads within the park; Fisherman Flats Trailhead, Badger Hole Trailhead, and Horse Camp Trailhead. Custer State Park trails are marked with brown fiberglass posts and blue diamond while Centennial Trail is marked with fiberglass posts and gray diamonds.

Trails to the south include Big Tree Draw, Robber’s Roost, and Lame Johnny Trails. Trails to the east include French Creek Trail and Rimrock Trails. Trails to the north include Heddy Draw, Calkins Draw, Galena Trail and Coolidge Tower Trails.

Marked trails are intended to be a primer for our first time visitors; however, we encourage guests to obtain a topographical map from any of the visitor centers or Blue Bell Resort.

Please note that some trails follow near or on well-traveled roads.

All out-of-state horses are required to have a valid, clean health certificate within the last 30 days, and a negative Coggins or ELISA EIA test within the last 12 months. SDCL 40-14-2. All documents must be on person.

Centennial Trail

The Centennial Trail is 22 miles as it passes through the park. It is not a loop trail but bisects the park from North to South. Three trailheads are located along the trail. Iron Creek Trailhead on the northern boundary, Badger Hole near Legion Lake and the French Creek Trailhead near Horse Camp.

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

Trail 1: French Creek and Mount Coolidge

Directions	Riding Time
Ride out of French Creek Horse Camp (northeast) following French Creek downstream past the Centennial Trail. Approximately 4 miles out, watch for the Calkins Draw sign pointing left out of the canyon. The trail climbs from French Creek and intersects an old logging road. Follow the logging road to Barne's Canyon Road then turn left riding the road to Heddy Draw. Ride Heddy Draw (west) and after climbing a steep hill you will intersect Hwy 87 on the side of Mount Coolidge. To ride to Mount Coolidge, cross the highway, turn right (north) and ride through the trees until the trail intersects the graveled Mount Coolidge road. Ride the road up to the lookout tower and return on the same route. Instead of riding down the steep hill you came up, take the right hand logging road along the ridge and continue south into Sawmill Draw. When you reach Sawmill Draw and French Creek follow the creek downstream to North Lame Johnny Road and the curved bridge. Turn left (east) and follow North Lame Johnny Road back to Horse Camp.	9 hours

Directions

Riding Time

Ride out of French Creek Horse Camp (northeast) following French Creek downstream past the Centennial Trail. Approximately 4 miles out, watch for the Calkins Draw sign pointing left out of the canyon. The trail climbs from French Creek and intersects an old logging road.
Follow the logging road to Barne's Canyon Road then turn left riding the road to Heddy Draw.
Ride Heddy Draw (west) and after climbing a steep hill you will intersect Hwy 87 on the side of Mount Coolidge.
To ride to Mount Coolidge, cross the highway, turn right (north) and ride through the trees until the trail intersects the graveled Mount Coolidge road.
Ride the road up to the lookout tower and return on the same route. Instead of riding down the steep hill you came up, take the right hand logging road along the ridge and continue south into Sawmill Draw.
When you reach Sawmill Draw and French Creek follow the creek downstream to North Lame Johnny Road and the curved bridge.
Turn left (east) and follow North Lame Johnny Road back to Horse Camp.

9 hours

Alternative Trail to ride up Calkins Draw:

Directions	Riding Time
Continue down French Creek to the trail leading south out of French Creek to Fisherman's Flat. Once out of the canyon take the road Fisherman Flats Road past the green gate back to North Lame Johnny Road. Turn right on North Lame Johnny Road and head back to French Creek Horse Camp.	9 hours

Trail 2: Big Tree and Robber's Roost Draw

Directions	Riding Time
Ride out of French Creek Horse Camp to the south and follow the Centennial Trail to the Wildlife Loop Road. Turn left (east) and follow the road for about 2 miles until you reach a sign pointing left (north) up a draw. Follow the fire trail up this draw about 1/4 mile to the Big Tree. Continue to follow the trail markers north to an intersection where the trail turns right (east) and climbs a rocky hill. At the top of the hill turn right again (south) and follow the ridge to the next intersection. Ride the left fork (to the east) and down Robber's Roost draw. Follow the draw south to Oak Draw Road. Ride left (northeast) on 3 until the road intersects North Lame Johnny Road. Turn left (northwest) and ride 4 back to the horse camp.	4 hours

Directions

Riding Time

Ride out of French Creek Horse Camp to the south and follow the Centennial Trail to the Wildlife Loop Road. Turn left (east) and follow the road for about 2 miles until you reach a sign pointing left (north) up a draw.
Follow the fire trail up this draw about 1/4 mile to the Big Tree.
Continue to follow the trail markers north to an intersection where the trail turns right (east) and climbs a rocky hill.
At the top of the hill turn right again (south) and follow the ridge to the next intersection.
Ride the left fork (to the east) and down Robber's Roost draw.
Follow the draw south to Oak Draw Road.
Ride left (northeast) on 3 until the road intersects North Lame Johnny Road.
Turn left (northwest) and ride 4 back to the horse camp.

4 hours

Trail 3: Parker Canyon

Directions	Riding Time
Ride south out of the horse camp on the Centennial Trail. When you reach the Wildlife Loop Road, cross the road and turn right (west) and follow the trail up the hill. From the crest you will be able to see the Blue Bell entrance station. Ride along the Loop Road towards the station, angling southeast as you near the highway (SD Hwy 87). The best place to cross Hwy 87 is approximately 100 yards south of the station, where Lower French Creek Road intersects the blacktop. Trail markers will direct you south into Parker Canyon. As you ride south through the canyon, you will again intersect Hwy 87. Cross the road and ride east up the hill to a large meadow. Trail markers will bring you to the Centennial Trail. Follow it left (north) to the horse camp.	4 hours

Directions

Riding Time

Ride south out of the horse camp on the Centennial Trail.
When you reach the Wildlife Loop Road, cross the road and turn right (west) and follow the trail up the hill. From the crest you will be able to see the Blue Bell entrance station.
Ride along the Loop Road towards the station, angling southeast as you near the highway (SD Hwy 87).
The best place to cross Hwy 87 is approximately 100 yards south of the station, where Lower French Creek Road intersects the blacktop. Trail markers will direct you south into Parker Canyon.
As you ride south through the canyon, you will again intersect Hwy 87. Cross the road and ride east up the hill to a large meadow. Trail markers will bring you to the Centennial Trail.
Follow it left (north) to the horse camp.

4 hours

Racetrack Butte and Buffalo Corrals

Directions	Riding Time
Ride out of the horse camp to the southeast on North Lame Johnny Road. At the intersection with Fisherman Flats Road, turn left and follow Fisherman Flats Road across the ridge and down to Racetrack Butte (about 4 1/2 miles). From the top of the butte, you can see the buffalo corrals to the south (these corrals are used in the fall round-up and the November buffalo auction). Ride off the butte towards the corrals and intersect Oak Draw. Ride right (west) along Oak Draw Road to North Lame Johnny Road. Take North Lame Johnny Road back to the horse camp.	5 hours

Directions

Riding Time

Ride out of the horse camp to the southeast on North Lame Johnny Road.
At the intersection with Fisherman Flats Road, turn left and follow Fisherman Flats Road across the ridge and down to Racetrack Butte (about 4 1/2 miles).
From the top of the butte, you can see the buffalo corrals to the south (these corrals are used in the fall round-up and the November buffalo auction).
Ride off the butte towards the corrals and intersect Oak Draw.
Ride right (west) along Oak Draw Road to North Lame Johnny Road.
Take North Lame Johnny Road back to the horse camp.

5 hours