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 9 special hikes are part of their "Custer State Park Trail Challenge" which is available from May 1 through Labor Day.  At one point along each trail is a bronze rubbing medallion installed near a post with a Trail Challenge Sign.  To complete the Trail Challenge, participants must hike all the listed trails and collect a copy of the Trail Challenge rubbing medallion on the official form.  Forms can be picked up at any of the Custer State Park Visitor Centers or the Park Office.  Once all rubbings are collected, participants are able to turn the completed forms in at the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center, the Custer State Park Visitor Center, or Park Office and will be given a Custer State Park Centennial 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.

These are the 9 breathtaking hikes that are part of the 2019 Custer State Park Trail Challenge:

1. Badger Clark Historic Trail
2. Prairie Trail
3. Lover’s Leap Trail
4. Centennial Trail (south from Iron Creek Trailhead)
5. Sunday Gulch Trail
6. Legion Lake Shore Trail
7. Stockade Lake Shore Trail
8. Cairn Trail
9. The Lost Trails (The Lost Trails open spring of 2019, the trailhead is located at Center Lake Beach Area)