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Hiking is a Custer State park strength. At 71,000 acres, the opportunities
are excellent. Hikers should be aware that much of the park has
rough, rocky terrain. Also remember there's not much water in
the park. You need to bring your own while on the trails.. Camping
is only allowed in designated campgrounds, and open fires are
only permitted at campgrounds and designated picnic areas.
You can download a basic trail map here(PDF).
Download the Centennial trail map here(PDF).
Badger Clark Historic Trail: 1/2 mile south of US 16A,
1 mile. Moderate rating with a 1 hour finish time depending on
personal speed. Pretty trail near Badger Hole.
L. Cathedral Spires Trail: This trails start in Custer
but soon enters the Black Hills National Forest. A Black Hills
National Forest map is essential. 2.5 miles east of Sylvan Lake
on highway 87. Difficult hiking, two hour completion. Rugged,
rocky forest terrain makes up most of the hike.
Prairie Trail: Located on Wildlife Drive. 3 mile length,
ranked as moderately strenuous. This trail takes you across the
prairie grasslands. Great wildflower displays.
Lovers Leap Trail: across road from Peter Norbeck Visitor
Center. Length is 3 miles, ranking is difficult. Complete time
is considered two to three hours. The trail follows the top of
a ridge line for good views. Many creek crossings.
Stockade Lake Trail: 1/3rd mile south of highway 16a on
Stockade Lake drive. Length is 1.5 miles, ranking is moderate.
Time to complete around one to two hours. Trail enters ponderosa
pine forest and up onto a ridge with good views.
Creekside Trail(Handicapped Accessible trail:): Game
Lodge campground, 2 mile length. Paved trail that follows Grace
Coolidge Creek. Trails passes park structures such as Park office
and General Store.
French Creek Natural Area: 12 mile length(one way), ranked
as moderate difficulty. Time to complete varies from six to ten
hours. Located 3 miles from Blue Bell Lodge (west trailhead) and
4 miles south of the State Game Lodge (east Trailhead French Creek
is a beautiful natural area, flush with a mature hardwood and
pine forest as well as towering canyon walls. Camping only permitted
in the canyon bottom and must be 50 feet from all streams. No
open fires allowed. Good spot for bighorn rams, bird watching,
flowers and fishing in French Creek. Camping fee at east or west
trailhead. No marked trails. Hikers make their own way through
the area.
Grace Coolidge Walk-In Fishing Area: Located across from
Grace Coolidge campground. Length is 3 miles(one way). Ranked
as easy to moderate. Complete rates from two to three hours. Count
on wet feet due to trail crossings. Kind of the "wetlands"
area of the park. Good trout fishing and several ponds.
French Creek Trailhead: 3 miles from Blue Bell Lodge. Length
is 10.23 miles, ranked as moderate difficulty. Completion time
around six hours. Neat mix of open grasslands and ridges. Lots
of bison in the area, so be alert.
Badger Hole Trailhead: Located 5 miles south of highway
16A on state park road #9. Length is 3.5 miles. Ranked as strenuous.
Completion time is around five hours. Several big "ups and
downs", steep and rocky on the down trail into French Creek
Natural Area. Eventually becomes the French Creek Trailhead. Considered
apart of the Centennial Trail.
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New! Download the South Dakota Campground
Pack. This Campground Pack features eight campgrounds from the
most popular parks in South Dakota. These universal files play
on iPad, iPhone, iPod, Android, or any home computer. Click the
iPod for more information.
Coming Soon: Parkcamper: South Dakota High Definition
Campground Pack features the camp sites
of Custer State Park, Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National
Park in South Dakota ion DVD.
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