Where to Hike: Spectacular South Dakota
COVID-19 has drastically changed the way we play and travel . If you’re anything like me, you might have found yourself very thankful over the last few months that hiking is an inherently socially distant pastime.
While I'm sure we will be able to travel again one day, in the meantime perhaps one of the best things we can do to help our economy is to ‘think globally and act locally’. And that includes travelling within our own county, state or country.
I’m pleased to be sharing my latest blog series to help you plan “Where to Hike” in the US. I’ve reached out to local tourism destinations, outfitters, accommodations and more to put these together (as well as used my own experience in some cases), so please consider clicking on the links and checking them out when you plan your next backpacking trip!
South Dakota – it’s one of those places that conjures up images of Mount Rushmore, rolling prairies and… that’s about it.
Or, so I thought.
Foot, meet mouth.
I recently embarked on a road trip from my home state of Arizona to Michigan with my girlfriend. She had some business to attend to in Michigan, so we figured we might as well make the best of it and see some of our country along the way. It was a great trip. In Colorado, we were privy to some of the best damn stargazing I’ve ever seen. Another day, we hiked to a truly spectacular alpine lake and hardly saw another soul.
So, when my well-traveled buddy Ryan told me that South Dakota had big things in store for me, I didn’t quite believe him. He’s lived there for the last few years and swears by how cool it is. Some part of my brain must have been intrigued by how little I knew about South Dakota, so I agreed to the detour. After spending several days with Ryan in his adventure playground, I can’t tell you how very wrong I was about this often-overlooked part of the US.
What’s South Dakota REALLY Like?
The western region of South Dakota offers majestic granite spires, pine covered peaks and unique rock outcroppings. Named “Paha Sapa” by the Native Americans, the Black Hills are full of scenery – and adventure.
The Black Hills are filled with Americana, from Mt. Rushmore National Monument, Crazy Horse Memorial and the wild west town of Deadwood to numerous state and national parks and scenic trails.
South Dakota is also home to six National Parks Service sites and 56 state parks, including the aforementioned Mount Rushmore, Jewel Cave National Monument and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
So, I may have been a bit off-base when I said there was nothing to see here.
Where to Hike
Cathedral Spires in Custer State Park
Custer State Park might have some of the best pure hiking in the state, and is a must see for any traveler or hiker in South Dakota.
On the top of my list for hiking is the Cathedral Spires.
The Cathedral Spires Trail is a 1.5-mile (one way) out-and-back in Custer State Park that is commonly used as an approach to some of the best climbing in the Black Hills. The trail leads to Cathedral Spires, or "The Spires" as locals call them. Wandering amongst these structures, you’ll be amazed by the geology that formed the Black Hills. Look south for awe-inspiring views of the park and the prairie beyond.
Trail Options
Wanna make the hike longer? Add in the trail to Little Devil's Tower. The Little Devil's Tower is located just west of the Needles and offers fantastic views in all directions. The trails intersect. So you can hike either from the Needles Trailhead or the Little Devil's Tower trailhead.
For a longer trail still, check out the trail to Black Elk Peak. It will take you through some of the most interesting terrain in the state. The trail itself is a creative and playful design, incorporating the boulders and massive rocks along the way.
Getting There:
The trail is located within an area of Custer State Park known as the Needles. Likewise, it can be found on Needles Highway.
The easiest route from Hill City, SD is to continue on Hwy 385 until it comes to Hwy 87 (closed during the winter months). Turn east (left) onto 87 for almost 6 miles, then turn left again to stay on 87. From this last turn, at 2.4 miles you will come to a parking area and the trailhead for Cathedral Spires.
Badlands National Park
While not typically one of the most hiking-friendly national parks out there, the strange and beautiful landscape of Badlands National Park is a must-see. It's most commonly explored out of a car, as the hot and arid landscape can be uninviting for hikers depending on the season.
But that doesn't mean there isn't any hiking to be done! There are several official hiking trails in the park. Most of them are quite short. But the Castle Trail will get hikers working up a sweat on its ten-mile out and back option.
Also, Badlands National Park has an Open Hike Policy, which means you can literally hike anywhere you please. Please note, it can be very hot in the summer and there is very limited water. Be prepared.
Badlands National Park is also home to quite a lot of wildlife, including bison, antelope, and bighorn sheep. Please be respectful and keep your distance to these beautiful creatures when hiking here.
Into Climbing?
There is some surprisingly great climbing in South Dakota as well. If you're a trad climber, be sure to hit up the aforementioned Needles for amazing granite spires.
For the sport climbers out there, Rapid City has fantastic options right next to town.
Check out Falling Rock (while the name won't inspire climbers, the views will). Set with stunning views of Rapid Creek, the Falling Rock climbing area is photogenic and full of solid rock climbing routes.
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
Though the trail is not directly on reservation land, the Black Hills are sacred to the Lakota people. Because of this, hikers should maintain the highest level of respect for the lands around them.
COVID Considerations
South Dakota does not currently have any restrictions in place for visitors and asks travelers to exercise good judgement, hygiene and social distancing.
Read the latest guidelines before you head out here: https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/coronavirus-covid-19