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Western S. Dakota

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Gems in Western S. Dakota - 9

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gem Favorite Yellow mounds overlook.

Yellow Mounds

(24) Kadoka, SD
gem Favorite Looking over the elevator building and other park buildings in Wind Cave National Park.

Wind Cave Guided Tours

(16) Hot Spr…, SD
gem Favorite The walk to Mount Rushmore.

Mount Rushmore

(12) Custer, SD
gem Favorite The Cathedral Spires seen from the summit of Little Devils Tower

Little Devils Tower

(6) Custer, SD
gem Favorite Badlands National Park - Rim Road Overlook.

Roberts Prairie Dog Town

(16) Philip, SD
gem Favorite Some nice climbing on the rocks around Sylvan Lake.

Sylvan Lake

(11) Custer, SD
gem Favorite Spire 2 and the Khayyam Spire towering above the trail

The Cathedral Spires

(8) Custer, SD
gem Favorite A large storm blows into the park over Harney Peak.

Black Elk Peak

(2) Custer, SD
gem Favorite A bison nibbles at roadside greenery near the prairie dog town.

Blacktail Prairie Dog Town

(7) Hot Spr…, SD

Recommended Routes in Western S. Dakota - 17

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RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View from Black Elk Peak
Intermediate/Difficult

Black Elk Peak Loop

7.9 mi 12.7 km • 1,357' Up 413.68 m Up • 1,357' Down 413.67 m Down

Custer, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Badlands formations strike awe in the hearts of their visitors.
Difficult

Sage Creek Wilderness Area Loop

22.2 mi 35.7 km • 639' Up 194.73 m Up • 639' Down 194.75 m Down

Kadoka, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Prairie Dog and Shadow, Badlands National Park
Intermediate

Badlands: Medicine Root/Castle/Saddle Pass Loop

7.0 mi 11.2 km • 189' Up 57.51 m Up • 189' Down 57.51 m Down

Kadoka, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Looking Northeast across the canyon from the Hell Canyon Trail.
Intermediate/Difficult

Hell Canyon Trail

5.4 mi 8.7 km • 606' Up 184.71 m Up • 629' Down 191.69 m Down

Custer, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Scree field on the west side.
Intermediate

Crow Peak Trail (#64)

6.3 mi 10.2 km • 1,521' Up 463.73 m Up • 1,521' Down 463.64 m Down

North S…, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View from Black Elk Peak
Intermediate/Difficult

Black Elk Peak Loop

15.7 mi 25.3 km • 3,476' Up 1059.4 m Up • 3,527' Down 1074.92 m Down

Custer, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Near the turn back point, looking back to the city.
Intermediate/Difficult

Far East / Founders Valley Loop

2.9 mi 4.7 km • 327' Up 99.58 m Up • 327' Down 99.79 m Down

Rapid City, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite It gets a little rocky and steep.
Intermediate/Difficult

Sanctuary/ Centennial/ Highland Creek Loop

11.2 mi 18.0 km • 839' Up 255.58 m Up • 839' Down 255.78 m Down

Hot Spr…, SD
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Mount Rushmore from The Centennial Trail.
Difficult

Horsethief Lake Loop

11.1 mi 17.9 km • 1,672' Up 509.77 m Up • 1,672' Down 509.72 m Down

Custer, SD

Western S. Dakota Hiking

  • 513 Miles 826 Kilometers of Trail
  • 17 Recommended Routes
  • 9 Gems Gems
  • 33 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 75 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 11 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
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Trails in Western S. Dakota - 102

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0.6 mi 1.0 km #1Notch Trail
Intermediate/Difficult
Kadoka, SD
Intermediate/Difficult
Kadoka, SD 73 
3.0 mi 4.9 km #2Sunday Gulch Trail
Difficult
Custer, SD
Difficult
Custer, SD 36 
0.3 mi 0.5 km #3Saddle Pass Trail
Difficult
Kadoka, SD
Difficult
Kadoka, SD 30 
0.1 mi 0.2 km #4Door Trail
Easy
Kadoka, SD
Easy
Kadoka, SD 35 
3.3 mi 5.4 km #5Harney Peak #9 (South)
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD 20 
0.9 mi 1.4 km #6Cathedral Spires Trail
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD
Intermediate/Difficult
Custer, SD 22 
5.3 mi 8.5 km #7Castle Trail
Easy/Intermediate
Kadoka, SD
Easy/Intermediate
Kadoka, SD 22 
1.0 mi 1.6 km #8Sylvan Lake Shore Trail
Easy/Intermediate
Custer, SD
Easy/Intermediate
Custer, SD 17 
3.0 mi 4.9 km #9Lover's Leap Trail
Intermediate
Custer, SD
Intermediate
Custer, SD 16 
0.4 mi 0.6 km #10Little Devils Tower Trail
Difficult
Custer, SD
Difficult
Custer, SD 7 

Photos of Western S. Dakota - 268

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Sunset at Conata Basin Overlook.
Dec 16, 2015 near Kadoka, SD
Badlands Sunset.
Mar 24, 2016 near Kadoka, SD
The layers and textures of the Badlands
Nov 15, 2017 near Kadoka, SD
Badlands National Park.
Mar 24, 2016 near Kadoka, SD
Bisons in Black Hills National Forest
Sep 27, 2017 near Hot Spr…, SD
Badlands formations strike awe in the hearts of their visitors.
Jun 4, 2017 near Kadoka, SD
Buffalo herd at dusk in Sage Creek Basin again a colorful formation.
Dec 6, 2019 near Kadoka, SD
Big Horn in Badlands
Sep 25, 2016 near Kadoka, SD