Heddy Lookout Trail

Heddy Lookout is a short out-and-back from the Highway 87 pullout opposite Mount Coolidge Road, through pines to a covered shelter and several small viewpoints. Plan on about 0.8 mile round trip and 30–45 minutes of mostly gentle walking. The park trail map labels the trail 0.4 mile without saying whether that is one direction or the whole outing; other route descriptions give 0.8–0.9 mile round trips. Treat 0.8 as a planning estimate, since choosing extra viewpoint paths changes the distance. The map line draws the physical route once; return to the pullout along the access path.

A paved approach reaches the open-sided log shelter. Past it, smaller paths continue over gravel, dirt and pine needles toward more overlooks among the pines and granite boulders. The route is generally gentle, with about 46 feet of cumulative rise along the mapped line. This is the short lookout walk, not the longer Heddy Draw Horse Trail.

Pause under the shelter for a view over the draw and wooded hills, then continue to the separate viewpoints if you want a little more walking. Benches and picnic tables are reported near the overlook. For a photo, use the shelter’s timber posts to frame the pine ridge, or put a granite boulder in the foreground from one of the open viewpoints.

The starting pullout is small, and its spaces can be awkward for long vehicles. A Custer State Park entrance license is required before entering or parking. Dogs are allowed on leash no longer than 10 feet; they are not allowed in park buildings or on designated swim beaches.