Black Hills Hiking Trails, Backpacking

For the avid backpacker or the person who just wants a leisurely day hike, you can find a number of hiking options in the Black Hills region of South Dakota.

The available trails are numerous. Some of the trails are shared or multi-use trails where you might come upon a mountain bike or even a horse, but others are designated only for hiking or backpacking.

Stretching 111 miles in total length, the Centennial Trail runs across the north-south border of the Black Hills, from Bear Butte Mountain in the north to Wind Cave National Park in the south. If you are up for a several day backpacking trip, this is the trail for you. You can also just do individual sections of the Centennial Trail is you chose. The Centennial Trail is a mixed use trail.

From a strenuous uphill climb, toa gentle hike, to a peaceful, serene walk through the woods, you can find it all in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Some of the more popular trials, their lengths and the type of use allowed on each are listed below.

• Centennial Trail - 111 miles - mixed use
• George S. Mickelson Trail - 114 miles - mixed use
• Cook Lake Trail & Cliff Swallow Trail - 4.5 miles - hiking, biking
• Bearlodge Trails - 50.3 miles - hiking, biking, horses, cross country skiing
• Crow Peak Trail - 3.5 miles - hiking and horses only
• Big Hills Trails - 16.5 miles - cross country skiing, hiking and biking
• Baldy Trail, Rimrock Trail and Little Spearfish Trail - 18 miles - hiking, biking and horse
• Eagle Cliff Trails - 14 miles - cross country skiing, hiking and biking
• Veterans Point - 1 mile - very accessible hiking trail
• Deerfield and Lake Loop Trail - 28 miles - hiking, biking, horses, and cross country skiing
• Bear Mountain Trails - 16.1 miles - cross country skiing, hiking, and biking
• Flume Trail - 14 miles - only hiking
• Harney Range Trail System - 50 miles with numerous trailheads - hiking, biking and horses
• Hells Canyon Trail - 6 miles - hiking, horses and biking