Centennial Trail #89 (Custer State Park Section)

Centennial Trail #89 is Custer State Park’s north-to-south point-to-point route, about 22 miles one way from Iron Creek to Highland Creek at the Wind Cave boundary. It crosses pine and granite country, passes Badger Hole and French Creek, then enters open grassland. This is a hard, full-day hike; arrange transportation between the two ends before setting out. The park publishes an approximate 22 miles, while the connected mapped line used here measures 20.4 miles. Treat both the distance and a 10–12-hour time estimate as approximate; no official time for the full section was found.

The north trailhead is on Camp Remington Road, north of SD 87. The trail crosses that highway, climbs a small hill, then rolls through several small stream crossings. Around six miles in, it crosses US 16A by Legion Lake Lodge and campground. South of the highway it crosses another stream and climbs into the area burned by the 1988 Galena Fire, continuing to Badger Hole. Brown fiberglass posts and gray diamond markers identify the shared route, used by hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers.

Badger Hole was the home of South Dakota’s first Poet Laureate, Badger Clark, and the surrounding woods hold traces of historic logging. Southbound, the trail drops over a rocky slope into Heddy Draw, crosses it and climbs the divide before descending toward French Creek Natural Area. The descent is steep and rocky, with mud near the bottom. At the creek, expect several crossings before reaching French Creek Trailhead. The park describes this as the most strenuous part of the Centennial Trail in Custer State Park.

From French Creek Trailhead, markers lead west through Horse Camp and across French Creek. Before a second crossing, the route turns uphill, then descends and crosses Wildlife Loop Road. The terrain opens into grassland before the self-closing gate at the Wind Cave boundary and Highland Creek Trailhead. Close the gate behind you. Bison use this grassland; they are dangerous year-round, especially during spring calving and the late-summer rut. Give them at least 100 yards.

The 111-mile Centennial Trail runs from Bear Butte State Park to Wind Cave National Park and commemorates South Dakota’s 1889 statehood centennial. Its Custer section links several different landscapes rather than repeating one forest walk: pine hills and granite, the Galena Fire area, a historic cabin, creek-bottom terrain and open southern grassland. The park’s trail map also marks intermediate access at Badger Hole and French Creek, which can help plan a shorter segment instead of the full traverse.

There is no dependable drinking-water supply along this section. Streams may dry by early summer; treat any water collected from them. Food is not readily available along the trail. The route crosses US 16A near Legion Lake Lodge and campground, but confirm services before relying on them. Custer State Park requires a vehicle entrance license; no separate hiking or biking permit is required. Pets are allowed on a leash no longer than 10 feet.