Centennial Trail #89

Centennial Trail #89 is a 121.3-mile, point-to-point route from Bear Butte Summit to Norbeck Trailhead in Wind Cave National Park. Expect several days of hiking and backpacking: it links open prairie, pine-covered hills, granite uplands, canyons, lakes and stream valleys across several public-land units. The current connected map line measures 121.3 miles, while official overview pages still give 111 miles. The reason for the difference is not clear, so plan for the longer distance and confirm your stage map before setting out.

A route estimate puts walking time at about 53 hours; calendar days depend on your pace and where you can legally camp. The north end is on Bear Butte Summit. Reaching it from the state park parking area adds a separate 1.85-mile Summit Trail climb, which is not included in the Centennial distance. The south end is Norbeck Trailhead. Arrange a shuttle and confirm overnight parking at both ends and at any intermediate trailheads you plan to use. There is no food service along the route, and water access varies by section; plan resupply and treat natural water. Some campground taps are seasonal.

The route begins on Bear Butte, a 4,422-foot igneous intrusion exposed as softer surrounding rock wore away. It is sacred to several Indigenous tribes, so give ceremonies and religious practices room. The Fort Meade section rolls through pine-covered hills and native prairie, with views back toward Bear Butte. Interpretive signs and the Old Fort Meade Museum tell the story of the 1878 military post.

The central and southern forest sections cover roughly 29 and 38 miles. Pine forest gives way to granite highlands, limestone canyons, creeks, lakes and reservoirs. Trail use, camping, parking and permits change across this long route, so build each stage around the land manager and access point, not just mileage. A free self-issued permit is required in Black Elk Wilderness.

Near Mount Rushmore, the one-mile gravel Blackberry Trail is a separate connection between the Centennial route and the Memorial's parking area; it is not part of the through-route or a Mount Rushmore loop. Farther south, the Centennial passes the Needles and Badger Hole, the cabin of Charles Badger Clark, South Dakota's first poet laureate. It then reaches open Custer State Park grassland used by free-roaming bison. Keep well back: they can be dangerous and unpredictable.

The final six miles in Wind Cave National Park pass through mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa forest and follow Beaver Creek to Norbeck Trailhead. Overnight backcountry camping requires a park permit, and dogs are not allowed on this segment. If you want a day walk instead, a separate 4.5-mile loop combines part of the Centennial with Highland Creek. The full through-hike earns its time by carrying you from Bear Butte prairie to creek-bottom forest, but the shuttle, resupply and changing overnight rules make it a serious trip.