Custer State Park

Custer State Park, SD

Trails in Custer

All 40 trails, ranked by Parkwolf, with length, time, and difficulty.

Trails
40
Easy
10
Moderate
19
Hard
11

Hear the audio tour

Sylvan Lake: Rocks and Water

All Custer trails

40 trails

1Challenging6.6 mi · 4 hrAudioBlack Elk Peak Trail #9 SouthA rugged climb to South Dakota’s high point and stone lookout.2Challenging1.2 mi · 1.5 hrAudioCathedral Spires TrailWalk into a granite basin after a short, steep climb.3Challenging3 mi · 3 hrAudioSunday Gulch TrailA strenuous boulder scramble through a cool, wet granite gulch.4Challenging3 mi · 3 hrAudioLittle Devils Tower TrailGranite chimneys lead to a summit view that earns the scramble.5Moderate1 mi · 1 hrAudioSylvan Lake Shore TrailA one-mile lake loop shifts from boardwalk to rocky granite passages.6Challenging7.1 mi · 4 hrAudioBlack Elk Peak LoopA 7.1-mile summit loop climbs Trail #4 and returns on #9.7Challenging6.5 mi · 5 hrAudioBlack Elk Peak Trail #4A rougher approach to South Dakota’s historic fire tower.8Moderate4 mi · 3 hrAudioLovers Leap TrailA steep ridge, a rocky perch, then Galena Creek crossings.9Moderate13 mi · 8 hrBlack Elk Peak via Horsethief LakeA long climb to the Black Hills’ stone summit lookout.10Moderate4.6 mi · 3 hrAudioGrace Coolidge TrailA nearly level creek walk past trout pools and repeated crossings.11Challenging12.6 mi · 7.5 hrNorbeck Trail #3Creekside miles turn into a steep, rocky wilderness climb.12Moderate2 mi · 2.5 hrAudioPrairie TrailA rolling prairie loop with creek shade and summer wildflowers.13Challenging12.6 mi · 7.5 hrGrizzly Bear Creek Trail #7A remote creek trail with beaver ponds and a steep upper climb.14Challenging22 mi · 11 hrAudioCentennial Trail #89 (Custer State Park Section)Follow the park’s north–south trail from pine hills to bison grassland.15Challenging13.6 mi · 8.5 hrBlack Elk Peak Loop via Lost Cabin and Trail #9 NorthA rugged full-day loop to Black Elk Peak’s stone fire lookout.16Challenging12.9 mi · 8.5 hrGrizzly Bear Creek Trail #7 and Norbeck Trail #3 LoopA rugged 12.9-mile loop links beaver ponds and granite on two trails.17Moderate1 mi · 45 minAudioLost Trails: Upper Loop and OverlookA short, steep loop climbs old stone paths to a lake overlook.18Moderate1.5 mi · 1 hrAudioLost Trails: Lower LoopA rocky lake loop with waterfall views and CCC stonework19Easy2 mi · 1.5 hrAudioCreekside TrailA paved creekside stroll with bridges and easy campground access.20Easy0.7 mi · 30 minAudioLegion Lakeshore TrailAn easy lakeside loop beneath granite cliffs and pines.21Moderate1.5 mi · 1.3 hrAudioStockade Lake TrailA short rocky climb opens a view toward the Needles.22Easy0.6 mi · 45 minAudioBadger Clark TrailRock-lined tread, poetry signs, and a loop beside Badger Hole.23Moderate4.9 mi · 4.5 hrAudioBarnes Canyon TrailA 4.9-mile one-way walk through Dry Creek backcountry.24Moderate4.4 mi · 2 hrAudioParker Canyon LoopA moderate loop links Parker Canyon with a meadow and Centennial Trail.25Moderate8 mi · 4.5 hrAudioFrench Creek via Centennial TrailA steep Centennial descent to rocky, crossing-filled French Creek.26Easy0.8 mi · 30 minAudioHeddy Lookout TrailA short wooded walk to a covered overlook above Heddy Draw27Easy3.2 mi · 1.6 hrCuster Connector TrailA gentle paved link from Custer to Gordon Stockade.28Easy2.3 mi · 1.5 hrAudioDoran TrailCCC stone paths lead to pine-framed Stockade Lake views29Moderate6.4 mi · 2.5 hrAudioGalena TrailA 6.4-mile out-and-back on a marked, shared-use Custer trail.30Moderate3.3 mi · 1.8 hrAudioMount Coolidge TrailClimb the fire tower road for Black Hills views and CCC history.31Moderate4.4 mi · 2.8 hrAudioCalkins Draw TrailA backcountry trail from Barnes Canyon down to French Creek.32Moderate3.1 mi · 2 hrAudioRimrock TrailA 3.1-mile one-way multi-use route on French Creek’s south rim.33Moderate2.2 mi · 1.3 hrSaw Mill TrailA forested ridge traverse links two mapped Saw Mill sections.34Easy1.6 mi · 1 hrAudioRobber's Roost TrailA short fire-road walk through open hills and scorched pines.35Moderate1 mi · 1 hrAudioLegion Lake TrailA rocky ridge loop with blue markers and a Mount Coolidge glimpse.36Easy0.2 mi · 18 minAudioRed Dog TrailA quarter-mile prairie climb ends at a 360-degree view.37Easy2.1 mi · 1.5 hrAudio2 Hour Trail LoopA compact circuit tucked among the French Creek routes.38Moderate7.1 mi · 4 hrHeddy Draw Horse TrailSteep Black Hills horse trail with a long descent into Heddy Draw.39Easy0.2 mi · 18 minAudioDevil Dog TrailA short stair climb opens onto prairie and a wide view.40Moderate1.2 mi · 54 minAudioFisherman Flats TrailA short, steep drop to a rocky perch above French Creek.
A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Custer Tour Guide

Custer, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Custer State Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this place

Sylvan Lake: Rocks and Water
0:00 / 0:34
“You're coming up on Sylvan Lake, where tall granite outcrops rise straight beside the water. I'd stop here for the one-mile shore loop; allow about an hour to see the rocks and little coves up close.”

Plays as you drive up to Sylvan Lake in the Parkwolf Custer Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Sylvan Lake Lodge: A Meal Above the Lake
  • Little Devils Tower: The Summit Scramble
  • Needle’s Eye: The Rock and the Tunnel
  • Why It’s Called Black Elk Peak
  • 82 audio storiesacross Custer’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
  • Wildlife heatmapsfor Bison, Wapiti, Bighorn Sheep, and 13 more
  • Works offlinemaps, 40 trails, 49 places, and audio download before you lose signal
  • CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
★★★★★
“We recently toured Badlands, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore and more! We learned so much from this app as we toured each of these sites. The audio tours are worth the money.”
milesdavis11App Store review
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4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Take Parkwolf to Custer.

The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.

4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

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