Black Hills Parks & Forests Association
More than 450 miles of trail, a 109-mile rail trail, two National Scenic Byways, and a summit higher than anything east of the Rockies. Here is how to see the forest on foot, on two wheels, and behind the wheel.
Black Hills National Forest packs a lot of ways to get outside into 1.2 million acres. Over 450 miles of trail run from paved quarter-mile loops to rugged wilderness routes, a converted railroad grade carries bikes and walkers the length of the hills, and two scenic byways thread the granite and limestone country by car.
What sets the forest apart is how close it all sits together. You do not have to drive hours to reach a trailhead. In a single day you can climb to the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains, ride an old rail line past mountain streams, and drive through tunnels blasted in solid granite, and never be more than an hour from a town with gas and a meal.
This guide covers the standout hikes, the biking, and the drives, with the practical details on trailheads, seasons, and staying safe. Keep in mind that this is a national forest run by the USDA Forest Service, managed for many uses at once, so you share the country with hunters, grazing permittees, and timber work, and you find far more room to spread out than the neighboring national parks allow.
Hundreds of miles of trail cover the forest, from short interpretive walks to multi-day backcountry routes. These are the ones worth building a trip around.
The climb to Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak) is the signature Black Hills hike. At 7,244 feet it is the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains, and the stone fire tower on the summit, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, looks out across four states. The most popular route is Trail #9, a moderately strenuous 7-mile round trip from the Sylvan Lake trailhead on the forest’s southern edge, climbing about 1,100 feet through ponderosa pine and granite. Trail #4 from Willow Creek Horse Camp is longer and gentler, and it passes through the Black Elk Wilderness for a quieter walk. Start early to beat the afternoon thunderstorms, and pack a layer, since the summit runs cooler and windier than the trailhead.
Trail #89 runs 111 miles down the length of the forest, from Bear Butte in the north to Wind Cave National Park in the south, crossing prairie, pine forest, and wilderness on the way. Most people hike it in day-length pieces rather than end to end. The Pactola Reservoir to Brush Creek segment traces the reservoir shore and climbs to overlooks, and the Brush Creek to Pilot Knob stretch cuts through the heart of the Black Elk Wilderness. Look for the beige fiberglass posts marked with a bison and the number 89. Water can be scarce between drainages, so carry enough or plan to treat what you find.
Plenty of short, gentle trails suit kids and anyone after a relaxed outing. Roughlock Falls Trail in Spearfish Canyon is a mostly flat 1-mile round trip on pavement and boardwalk to one of the prettiest waterfalls in the hills, wheelchair and stroller friendly the whole way. The Flume Trail near Sheridan Lake follows an 1880s mining water flume, with a popular 3-mile section leading to a rock tunnel the flume once ran through. Veterans Point near Pactola Reservoir is a quarter-mile paved loop to lake overlooks with interpretive panels and benches. Big Hill, in the northern hills, is a 3-mile loop through pine and meadow with little climbing and good early-summer wildflowers.
Experienced hikers can push into rougher, quieter country. Beyond the main summit trail, the Black Elk Wilderness holds routes like the Norbeck Trail (#3) and Grizzly Bear Creek Trail (#7), where no motorized equipment is allowed and the terrain gets rocky and steep. Crow Peak near Spearfish is a demanding 6.4-mile round trip with 1,600 feet of gain to a wide-open summit view, and Bear Mountain in the southern hills offers a strenuous 5-mile loop. Carry water, a map, and real footwear, and watch the sky for building storms.
The forest rides well from late spring into fall, with cool mornings at elevation and a mix of terrain for every kind of cyclist.
The 109-mile Mickelson Trail is the best-known ride in the hills. Built on an old railroad bed, its crushed-limestone surface holds a gentle grade that never tops 4 percent, which puts it within reach of families and casual riders. The route crosses more than 100 converted railroad bridges, passes through four rock tunnels, and links the towns of Deadwood, Lead, Rochford, Hill City, Custer, and Edgemont. With 15 trailheads spaced along the way, you can ride it end to end over a few days or pick off shorter segments. A trail pass is required for riders age 12 and older, sold at trailheads, local shops, and online, and outfitters in the trail towns rent bikes and run shuttles for one-way trips.
For something more technical, the Storm Mountain Trail System near Rapid City packs over 40 miles of single-track for every skill level, from the flowing Dakota Point trail to rockier, tighter lines for advanced riders. Bikes are allowed on most of the Centennial Trail too, except inside the Black Elk Wilderness, and the sections near Dalton Lake are a local favorite. The Spearfish Canyon area adds routes like Rimrock and Old Baldy, and the forest’s wide network of gravel roads is ideal for gravel riding and bikepacking with little traffic.
Mountain bike trails follow the usual color code: green for smooth, gentle beginner routes like the Mickelson and most forest roads, blue for intermediate trails with some climbs and obstacles, and black for steep, technical riding. Distances run from 1 to 2 mile loops up past 20 miles. Visitor centers and the forest website carry maps with the ratings marked.
When you want to cover ground between hikes, or just take in the country from the road, the forest has some of the finest driving in the region.
This National Scenic Byway loops through the central hills on a route laid out in the 1920s by former South Dakota governor Peter Norbeck to reach the best of the high granite country. Its centerpiece is Iron Mountain Road, which runs largely through the forest and is known for narrow one-lane tunnels cut through solid rock and “pigtail” bridges that spiral over themselves to gain elevation in tight terrain. Pullouts along the way reach short trails and overlooks. The drive is best in early morning or late afternoon, when low sun brings out the color in the pine and granite.
In the northern hills, US Highway 14A follows Spearfish Creek for 19 miles through a limestone gorge with walls rising a thousand feet above the road. Unlike the granite farther south, these are sedimentary layers, and the rock holds fossils of sea creatures from when the area lay under a shallow ocean. Short pullouts and trails reach three waterfalls: Bridal Veil Falls, visible from a roadside pullout; Spearfish Falls, a short walk down; and Roughlock Falls, the most photographed, with an accessible boardwalk to the viewing platforms. The canyon peaks for color in late September and early October, when birch, aspen, and oak turn gold against the pines.
Away from the byways, several roads make fine, low-traffic drives. Vanocker Canyon Road between Sturgis and Nemo winds through pine and rock with sweeping views off the north end. Deerfield Road crosses the central high plateau past Deerfield Reservoir, a well-kept gravel road good for wildlife at dawn and dusk. Rochford Road connects Hill City to Rochford and Deadwood through old mining corridors, with trailheads and dispersed campsites along the way. Grab a free Motor Vehicle Use Map from any forest office before you leave the pavement, and note that riding the forest’s motorized trails needs a separate permit, covered in the OHV and ATV permits guide.
Getting to the trails is usually simple, with marked trailheads across the forest. What you find when you arrive varies. Major access points, like the Mickelson Trail trailheads and the areas at Sheridan Lake and Pactola Reservoir, have paved parking, vault or flush toilets, drinking water, and map kiosks. Popular hiking lots offer gravel parking for 10 to 20 cars and can fill on summer weekend mornings. Smaller access points may be a sign and a pull-off with room for a few vehicles, so arrive early in peak season. Drinking water is not available at many trailheads, so carry your own, and download offline maps ahead of time because cell service is thin across much of the forest.
Accessible parking and restrooms with a paved quarter-mile loop to lake overlooks.
A boardwalk trail system that carries wheelchairs and strollers to the falls.
Accessible parking and restrooms at Deadwood, Hill City, and Custer, with a firm, near-level grade for adaptive cycles.
The hills change hard with the seasons, and so do the trails.
Weather here moves fast in any month. Elevations run from about 3,000 to over 7,000 feet, so a warm afternoon can turn cold at night. Carry layers and rain gear whatever the forecast, at least a liter of water for a short hike and more for a long one, and sun protection, since the thinner air at altitude burns faster. Many forest roads close to vehicles from about December through April, and fire restrictions can limit or ban campfires in late summer, so check before you count on either.
A little preparation keeps a good day from turning into a hard one, and a few courtesies keep the trails pleasant for everyone.
Tell someone which trail you are on and when you expect to be back, especially on remote routes.
Water, snacks, a map, a first aid kit, a light, and layers for the season, even on short hikes.
It protects the ground and keeps you from getting lost. Cutting switchbacks causes erosion.
Be off high ridges and peaks before afternoon storms build, common in July and August.
Cell service is limited or absent in much of the forest, so do not rely on a phone alone.
Hiking at 5,000 to 7,000 feet is harder than it looks. Pick trails that match your fitness.
Mountain lions keep a healthy population in the hills but are rarely seen. If you do meet one, make yourself look large, make noise, and back away slowly rather than running. Rattlesnakes turn up in rocky, south-facing spots, so watch where you put your hands and feet and listen for the warning rattle. Give deer, elk, and any large animal a wide berth, keep your food secured, and never feed wildlife. Watching from a distance is safer for you and better for them.
Pack out everything you pack in, stay on durable surfaces, leave rocks and wildflowers where they are, and keep campfires legal and dead out. On shared trails, hikers yield to horses, cyclists yield to both hikers and horses, and downhill traffic yields to uphill. A friendly hello goes a long way.
The full visitor guide to the island in the plains, start to finish.
Black Elk Peak, Spearfish Canyon, and the mountain lakes up close.
Campgrounds, dispersed sites, and historic Forest Service cabins.
Seasonal adventures, from elk in the meadows to trout in the creeks.
The people and events that shaped the forest, from Paha Sapa to Case No. 1.
How the forest stays wild: partnerships, stewardship, and forest health.
Riding the forest’s motorized trails? Start with the OHV and ATV permits guide. Every map, guidebook, and trail pin in the Black Hills National Forest park store helps fund the programs here.
Black Hills Parks & Forests Association is the nonprofit cooperating association at Black Hills National Forest. The visitor center bookstores, the online park store, and memberships fund the interpretation, education, and volunteer trail work that keep these routes in shape.
You can also donate or volunteer.
