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Welcome to the largest mixed grass prairie in the U.S. At Wind
Cave you will experience a surreal mix of prairie lands and ponderosa
pine forest. Hiking is generally easy and open. Seventy percent
of Wind Cave is prairie, with the balance being ponderosa pine
forest. There are 30 miles of trails to explore, not to mention
that off trail hiking is also allowed.
There are several key trails at Wind Cave which offer a varied
experience. They are:
Cold Brook Canyon Trail: 1.4 miles, medium difficulty,
two miles south of the visitor center.
Wind Cave Canyon Trail: 1.8 miles, 1 mile north of southern
visitor center road, easy rating. Good bird watching hike.
East Bison Flats Trail: 3.7 miles. Out onto the open prairie,
medium difficulty.
Lookout Point Trail: 1.9 miles. 0.7 miles north of the
87/385 junction. Medium difficulty.
Sanctuary Trail: 3.6 miles. One mile north of Rankin Ridge
fire road. Easy rating. Cross big prairie dog town in rolling
hills.
Centennial Trail: 6.0 miles. 0.7 miles north of 385/87
junction. Moderate difficulty. Really neat hike along ponderosa
pine forest, prairie and a creek. This trail is part of a longer
111 mile Black Hills trail.
Highland Creek Trail: 8.6 miles. One mile east of 385 at
Wind Canyon Cave Trail. Considered most diverse and lengthy trail
in the park. Good variety of park habitats.
Boland Ridge Trail: 2.7 miles. One mile north of NPS6 and
NPS 5 junction. Hard hike climbs a ridge for sweeping views of
Wind Cave National Park and the Black Hills.
Elk Mountain Nature Trail: 1.0 miles, starts in the Elk
Mountain Campground. Check out the Elk
Mountain Trail Guide if you have Adobe Reader.
Rankin Ridge Nature Trail: 1.0 miles. Parking lot at Rankin
Ridge. Easy hike. Download the Rankin
Ridge Nature Trail Guide.
Prairie Vista Trail: 1.0 miles. Picnic area near the visitor
center. Easy hike.
Please remember that pets must be kept on a leash in Wind Cave
National Park.
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