Description
What is Best Easy Day Hikes Black Hills Country?
This is FalconGuides’ dedicated easy-hikes guide for the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. The second edition covers 22 trails, chosen for their accessibility to hikers of varying fitness levels, and includes full-color maps, GPS coordinates, and per-hike profiles covering distance, estimated time, elevation gain, and difficulty. The book is small enough to carry in a cargo pocket or the front pouch of a daypack.
The original edition was written by Bert Gildart and Jane Gildart. The 2022 revision was handled by Marcus Heerdt, a Hot Springs, South Dakota resident and author who has completed hikes in all 50 states. Heerdt also wrote “Hiking the Black Hills Country,” the full-length companion guide covering 50-plus trails in the same region.
The Black Hills area includes trails inside Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, and the Black Hills National Forest, along with state parks and forest roads. This guide pulls together the most accessible options from across the region in one pocket-sized reference.
What is inside
Each hike entry follows a consistent format that covers the key information without padding: trail name and location, distance (round trip or loop), estimated hiking time, difficulty rating, elevation change, and surface type. Maps are included for each trail. The guide covers trails across the Black Hills region of South Dakota and Wyoming, spanning both NPS and USFS public lands.
At 120 pages, the book is thorough enough to be useful without being heavy. The 4.25″ x 7″ trim size fits the standard shirt pocket or daypack compartment used by other FalconGuides field references.
Specifications
- Publisher: FalconGuides (Globe Pequot)
- Authors: Bert Gildart and Jane Gildart; revised by Marcus Heerdt
- ISBN-13: 9781493062058
- Edition: Second (2022)
- Pages: 120
- Binding: Paperback
- Dimensions: 4.25″ x 7″ x 0.25″
- Weight: 3.4 oz
- Number of hikes covered: 22
Who is this for?
If you are visiting the Black Hills for the first time and want to get on a trail without spending an hour researching AllTrails, this is the format that works. The hikes are pre-filtered for accessibility and the profiles tell you what to expect before you start the drive to the trailhead.
For visitors who have been to the Black Hills before and want to push a bit further, there is a companion volume: “Hiking the Black Hills Country” by Marcus Heerdt covers 50-plus trails, including longer and more challenging routes. The two books are designed to work together as you gain familiarity with the region.
At $12.95, this is also one of the more practical gifts for a hiker heading out to South Dakota or Wyoming.
Frequently asked questions
Does this book cover trails inside Wind Cave National Park?
Yes. Wind Cave National Park has several above-ground hiking trails across its mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest. The park’s cave tour system is separate from its surface trail network. This guide focuses on the above-ground hiking in the Black Hills region, which includes Wind Cave NP trails.
Does this book cover trails near Jewel Cave National Monument?
Yes. Jewel Cave National Monument sits on US-16 in the southern Black Hills. The Roof Trail and other accessible routes near the monument are in the Black Hills region covered by this guide.
What is the difference between this book and the full “Hiking the Black Hills Country” guide?
This book covers 22 hikes selected for being straightforward and accessible. “Hiking the Black Hills Country” covers 50-plus hikes across the same region, including more challenging routes. Marcus Heerdt wrote the revision of this guide and authored the longer one, so the trail selections are complementary.
Is this edition current?
The second edition was published in June 2022. Trail conditions, access roads, and regulations do change over time. For the most current closures or reroutes, check with the managing agency (NPS or USFS) before heading out.
What does “best easy” mean in this series?
FalconGuides’ “Best Easy Day Hikes” series focuses on shorter, lower-elevation trails with manageable terrain. The intent is accessible hikes for families, casual hikers, and visitors who want to spend a few hours on a trail without committing to a full-day effort. All 22 hikes in this book fit that description.
Does buying this support the parks?
Yes. BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
Is this book available as an ebook?
Yes, a Kindle edition is available from Amazon. The print edition sold here is the paperback. It is worth noting that a printed field guide is more practical on trail than a phone or tablet in most conditions.
Can I get my Passport stamp at parks in this book?
The Passport to Your National Parks cancellation stamp program covers NPS sites only. BHPFA partner sites with Passport stamps: Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Trails inside Black Hills National Forest are on USFS land, which does not participate in the Passport program.
Related items
Planning a hike? A few other useful items from the BHPFA store:
- Black Hills trail maps from National Geographic Trails Illustrated
- Hiking medallions for Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Black Elk Peak, and other Black Hills landmarks
- Other Black Hills field guides and natural history books
