The Black Hills of South Dakota have hundreds of beautiful hikes for people of any fitness level, ranging from easy to strenuous.  Locals and visitors alike can enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of the forest from any part of the Black Hills, but the Southern Black Hills is lucky enough to have the incredible hikes located within Custer State Park.

Custer State Park has dozens of great hikes, but these 7 special hikes are part of their "Custer State Park Trail Challenge" which is available from May 1, 2021 through September 13, 2021.  Along each of the 7 trails, a bronze medallion can be found near a post with a Trail Challenge sign.  To complete the Trail Challenge, participants must hike all the listed trails and collect a rubbing of each of the Trail Challenge medallions on the official form.  The official forms can be picked up at any of the Custer State Park Visitor Centers or the Park Office.  Once all rubbings have been collected, participants are able to turn the completed forms in at the Custer State Park Visitor Center and will be given a Custer State Park Trail Challenge Pin. 

*For those of you who have done the Trail Challenge before, please note that no pictures will be allowed as proof of trail completion this year.

The trails on this summer's challenge are:

 - Legion Lake Trail
 - Cairn Trail
 - Creekside Trail
 - Barnes Canyon Trail
 - Centennial Trail (South from Iron Creek Trailhead located on HWY 87N)
 - Grace Coolidge Walk-in Fish Area Trail Cathedral Spires Trail
 - Prairie Trail