Custer State Park Trail Guide - South Dakota

Custer State ParkTrail Guidewww.custerstatepark.com

To ensure you have a safe and pleasant hike, please reviewthe following etiquette and safety tips:Location of Trailhead: 0.5 miles south of US16A on Badger Clark Road (CSP 9)Length: 1 mile (loop)Time: 1 hourDifficulty: ModerateLocated behind the historic Badger Hole,this trail winds through a mixed pine andhardwood forest and along rocky hillsides. Aportion of the rock-lined trail was built by poetlaureate Badger Clark.LegionLakeLegion LakeShore TrailalnienntaTrBadger ClarkHistoric Trailil2Badger Clark Historic TrailCe Trails within Custer State Park are marked with bluediamonds. The Centennial Trail is marked with graydiamonds and brown fiberglass posts. Trails in theBlack Hills National Forest are marked with tree blazes. Water is not available along the trails. Always carrywater with you. Camping within Custer State Park is only allowedin designated campgrounds and in the French CreekNatural Area. Open fires in Custer State Park are only allowed inestablished campgrounds and day use areas. Leave what you find: Removing plants, rocks, antlersand other items from Custer State Park is prohibited. Pets must be leashed. Trail courtesy: Bikers yield to hikers, and both yield tohorses. Stay on the trail, do not cut switchbacks. Pack out what you pack in. Collect litter along trailsand dispose of it when you return to camp. Let someone know where you are going, what trails youare hiking, and an estimated time of return. Always be aware of weather conditions. Afternoonthunderstorms are common. Dress appropriately. Poison ivy is often found along trails near streams andis abundant in the French Creek Natural Area. Custer State Park is home to one of the largest publiclyowned bison herds in the world. These are wild animalsand are dangerous. Keep your distance. Rattlesnakes are sometimes seen in Custer State Park.Be aware of your surroundings. Horseback riding is allowed except in those areas postedclosed. Closed areas include the Sylvan Lake watershedand the Grace Coolidge Walk-In Fishing Area. In addition to the designated trails, hiking is allowedanywhere in Custer State Park. Some areas may be posted closed to recreationalactivities due to resource management concerns. Black Hills National Forest maps and other sources ofinformation about hiking, mountain biking and horsetrails may be obtained at either of the park’svisitor centers and at local bookstores.BADGER CLARK TRAILRULES, ETIQUETTE & SAFETYTBadgerHoleTRAIL RATINGSEASY: The trail mainly follows level ground.MODERATE: Parts of the trail follow steep slopes androcky areas.STRENUOUS: Much of the trail followsvery steep slopes and rocky areas.3

CREEKSIDE TRAILLocation of Trailhead: Parallel to US 16A.Runs from Game Lodge Campground to GraceCoolidge Campground. Trail may be accessedat various points along Highway 16A.Length: 2 miles (one way)Time: 1 hourDifficulty: Easy (handicap accessible)This hard-surfaced trail follows GraceCoolidge Creek and passes the State GameLodge, Peter Norbeck Visitor Center, CoolidgeGeneral Store and the park office.Users may park at any of these locations toaccess the trail. Several bridge crossings arebike and rollerblade friendly. The trail is fairlylevel except for a section near the park officewhere bicyclists should walk their bikes.TGrace Coolidge Walk-InFishing AreaLocation of Trailhead: South end - Parking area along Hwy 16A, across from GraceCoolidge Campground; North end - Adjacentto swimming beach at Center LakeLength: 3 miles (one way)Time: 2-3 hoursDifficulty: Easy to moderateThis nearly-level trail follows Grace CoolidgeCreek, crossing it many times as it meandersthrough the valley. Crossings may be difficultany time of the year, and you will get wet.Flowing gently from the spillway of CenterLake, the creek contains six lowhead dams.The ponds and creeksides offer excellent troutfishing and provide habitat for the variety ofplants and wildlife found in this unique area.Grace CoolidgeCampgroundseayuhoUSSPlGRACE COOLIDGE WALK-IN AREACreekside TrailRdCenterLakeR6AY1HWdTCenterLakeAreaPark OfficePeter NorbeckVisitor CenterCreekside TrailGrace Coolidge TrailWalk-in Fishing AreaGameLodgeAreaLover’s LeapTTrail4Grace CoolidgeCampgroundTCreeksideTrail5

LEGION LAKE TRAILLover’s Leap TrailLocation of Trailhead: Within Legion LakeCampgroundLength: 1 mile (loop)Time: 1-2 hoursDifficulty: Moderate to strenuousLocation of Trailhead: Across Highway 16Afrom the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center, behindthe schoolhouseLength: 3 miles (loop)Time: 2-3 hoursDifficulty: Moderate to strenuousThis trail winds through the ponderosa pineforest and offers views of Legion Lake andthe surrounding area. Parking is located atLegion Lake Resort. Hikers must walk acrossHighway 16A and all the way into LegionLake Campground to access the trail. Thetrailhead is located near campsite 11E.CenCo tennn niaec l Tto rairlLegion Lake TrailCentennialTrailLOVER’S LEAP TRAILLegion Lake TrailThis trail begins with a steep ascent through amature ponderosa pine forest with views of theState Game Lodge and the surrounding area.The trail follows the top of a ridgeline. At thehighest point on this ridge is a rocky outcropnamed Lover’s Leap. According to legend, itis on that outcrop that two Native Americanlovers leaped to their deaths. Mount Coolidge,Harney Peak and the Cathedral Spires can beviewed from this high point. West of the trailis an area that was burned in the 1988 GalenaFire.The trail continues down the side of the ridgeinto the Galena Creek Drainage. Once in thecreek bottom, the trail crosses the creek manytimes.The final portion of the trail passes a residentialarea and follows a gravel road back to theCoolidge Store. From there, a paved footpackleads past the chapel and back to the trailhead.TLegion LakeCampgroundLegion LakePark OfficeCreekside TrailLegion LakeShore TrailBadger ClarkHistoric TrailailCentennial TrPeter NorbeckVisitor CenterLover’s LeapLookoutTGameLodgeAreaLover’s LeapTrail67

HARNEY PEAK TRAILSTwo of the most popular trailheads to HarneyPeak (7,242 ft) start within Custer State Parkand continue across the boundary to theBlack Hills National Forest and Black ElkWilderness. There are different regulationswithin the state park system and within thenational forest and wilderness areas.Open fires in Custer State Park and Black HillsNational Forest Service are only allowed indesignated fire grates in established campground and day use areas.Custer State Park Regulations Trails are marked with blue diamonds Stock is prohibited on the Harney Rangetrails within the park Camping is allowed only in designatedcampgrounds Pets must be leashedBlack Elk Wilderness Regulations Trails are marked with tree blazes and signsat intersections Stock are allowed on trails, unlessotherwise noted Camping is allowed anywhere EXCEPTwithin ¼ mile of Harney Peak and Trail 9,and at least 100 feet from water sources Pets must be leashed or under strict control Visitors must register at any of the majortrailhead portals into the wilderness andcarry registration form with them Groups are limited to 25 beating hearts(stock, pets and hikers combined) - groupsof 10 or less are recommended Only non-mechanized, non-motorizedtransportation; no bikes, strollers, etc.Tips for Hiking in the Harney Range8 Wear shoes suitable for rugged terrain Take extra clothes; it will likely be windy andcooler at Harney Peak; be prepared for rain Take at least one quart of water per person NO RESTROOMS located along the trailsSylvan Lake Trailheads toHarney PeakLocation of Trailhead: Sylvan Lake Day UseArea north of Needles Highway (Hwy 87)Two trailheads are located at the Sylvan LakeDay Use Area. Trail 9 begins across thefootbridge leading to the swimming beach. Trail4 begins at the southeast corner of the day usearea.Harney Peak Trail #9Length: To Harney Peak, 3.3 miles (one way)Difficulty: ModerateThis trail is the most traveled and shortest routeto Harney Peak.HARNEY PEAK TRAILSHarney Peak TrailsTrail #4Length: To Harney Peak, 3.5 miles (one way)Difficulty: ModerateThis trail connects to the Little Devil’s Towertrailhead, and continues on to Harney Peak.Trail 4 ends at the intersection of Norbeck Trail3. Norbeck Trail 3 continues past Grizzly CreekTrail 7 and intersects with Harney Peak Trail 9.Harney Peak Trail 9 will take hikers to HarneyPeak. Watch for the intersections with NorbeckTrail 3, Grizzly Creek Trail 7 and Harney PeakTrail 9 in the Black Elk Wilderness. These areeasy to miss especially on the return trip.Little Devil’s Tower Trail #4Location of Trailhead: 1 mile east of SylvanLake on Needles Highway (Hwy 87)Length: 1.25 miles (one way)Difficulty: StrenuousA spur trail branches off Trail 4 and ascendsto the unique rock formation known as LittleDevil’s Tower. Views of the Cathedral Spires,Harney Peak and the southern Black Hills canbe seen from this summit. The spur ends atLittle Devil’s Tower.Cathedral Spires Trail #4ALocation of Trailhead: 2.5 miles east of SylvanLake on Needles Hwy (Hwy 87)Length: 1.5 miles to Cathedral Spires (one way)Difficulty: StrenuousFeatures the Cathedral Spires/Limber PineArea, a Registered National NaturalLandmark. Trail intersects with Trail #4 andcan provide access to Harney Peak; however,Cathedral Spires Trail itself is a one-way trail.9

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SUNDAYSU ND AY GULCHG ULCH TRAILTRAILSylvan Lake Shore Trailwinter season)Location of Trailhead: Reach the trailheadby following the Sylvan Lake Trail behind thedam to Sunday GulchLength: 2.8 miles (loop)Time: 2-3 hoursDifficulty: Strenuous (ice may be presentalong trail into early June)Location of Trailhead: Sylvan Lake. The trailmay be accessed at various points along thelakeshore.Length: 1 mile (loop)Time: 1 hourDifficulty: EasyThis trail offers perhaps the most uniquescenery of all the park’s hiking trails.Descending into Sunday Gulch, the trailcrosses a stream several times while passingover large boulders and near magnificentgranite walls. Spruce, pine and a mixture ofhardwoods line the trail.SSYLVANYLVAN LLAKEAKE SSHOREHO RE TTRAILRAILSunday Gulch Trail (Closed duringWhile most of this trail is relatively flat, aportion contains steps and crosses exposedrocky areas. Sections of the trail may not besuitable for strollers.This trail, one of the easiest in the park,makes a complete loop around Sylvan Lake.Granite formations line portions of the lake.GuakayndSuSylvanLakePeDay UseAreaettlLiSylvan LakeShore TrailTrail#9tloHarniTraeylchSylvan LakeShore oilhulc13