South Dakota's Long Trail
The Centennial Trail was completed in 1989 to mark South Dakota's centennial of statehood. At 111 miles, it traverses the full length of the Black Hills from Wind Cave National Park in the south to Bear Butte State Park in the north, passing through dense ponderosa pine forest, granite pinnacle country, alpine meadows, and the bison range of Custer State Park. It's designated a National Recreation Trail and is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horses. Foot traffic is light enough that you'll have long stretches completely alone.
This 6-day itinerary covers the central 60 miles — the most scenic and varied section — starting near Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park and finishing at Bear Butte, a sacred Lakota and Cheyenne site that forms the dramatic northern terminus of the trail. The section through Custer State Park requires a park entry permit ($20/vehicle); the Black Hills National Forest sections are permit-free.
Trip Overview
- Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
- Distance: ~60 miles
- Start: Sylvan Lake Campground, Custer State Park
- End: Bear Butte State Park (Sturgis, SD area)
- Permit: Custer State Park entry fee ($20/vehicle) covers backcountry; BHNF sections permit-free
- Water: Generally reliable — springs and seasonal creeks throughout, treat all sources
- Best months: June–September; avoid April–May (wet, trail muddy)
Day 1 — Sylvan Lake to Grizzly Bear Creek (~10 miles)
Begin at Sylvan Lake, where the iconic granite domes and blue water make for a memorable launch point. The trail climbs immediately onto the ridgeline above the lake with views back across the Needles formations. This first section passes through the most dramatic granite country on the entire route — Cathedral Spires visible to the south, Needles Highway visible below. The Black Elk Peak summit (7,242 ft) is a 1-mile side trail from the main route — add it on day 1 or return for it. The fire lookout tower at the summit has been operational since 1911 and staffed by fire watchers during peak season. AllTrails: 4.7★ (3,241 reviews)
Camp at Grizzly Bear Creek — a designated backcountry campsite with a bear box. The ponderosa pine forest here is particularly beautiful in evening light.
Day 2 — Grizzly Bear Creek Through Wildlife Loop Country (~10 miles)
The trail exits Custer State Park's core backcountry and traverses the grassland sections where the park's bison herd roams freely. Bison right-of-way is absolute — yield completely and wait. The Centennial Trail intersects the Wildlife Loop Road twice in this section; it's possible to resupply from a cooler left at road crossings. Camp near French Creek, which flows through a natural canyon lined with ponderosa and granite outcrops.
Day 3 — French Creek to Norbeck Wildlife Preserve (~10 miles)
Enter the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, a 35,000-acre roadless area managed for wilderness character within the national forest. Trail maintenance is minimal here — you may need to navigate over several blowdowns. The reward is complete solitude through a landscape of mixed granite and forest. Elk populations are high in this section; early morning departures often produce sightings at the forest edge.
Day 4 — Norbeck Preserve to Dalton Lake (~10 miles)
Exit the Norbeck Preserve and enter the main Black Hills National Forest. Dalton Lake is a small reservoir with a developed campground — last reliable resupply point before the northern terminus. The lake has decent fishing (rainbow trout) if you carry a license. The ponderosa pine becomes increasingly dense in this section, with occasional open meadows that provide mountain views.
Day 5 — Dalton Lake to Alkali Creek (~10 miles)
The northern Black Hills transition from dense pine forest to more open terrain as the elevation drops toward the plains. This section is heavily used by horses — trail surface can be churned up in wet conditions. Prairie views begin to open to the east. The Alkali Creek area has dispersed camping on a grassy bench above the creek — a comfortable final camp before Bear Butte.
Day 6 — Alkali Creek to Bear Butte (~10 miles)
The final day descends from the Black Hills onto the high plains and approaches Bear Butte, a solitary volcanic laccolith rising 1,200 feet above the surrounding prairie. The Lakota call it Mato Paha (Bear Mountain) and it is among the most sacred sites in Plains Indian religion — vision quests and ceremonies are conducted here regularly. The summit trail (1.85 miles one way, 1,100 ft gain) is open to hikers; treat the prayer ties on trees and rocks with respect and do not touch them. The summit view encompasses the entire Black Hills to the west and the South Dakota plains stretching to the horizon in every other direction. AllTrails: 4.6★ (1,847 reviews)
