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 8 special hikes are part of their "Custer State Park Trail Challenge" which is available from May 1, 2020 through September 7, 2020.  Along each of the 8 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 outside of the Park Office.  Once all rubbings have been collected, contact Custer State Park to find out where to turn in the form, and you will be given a Custer State Park Trail Challenge Pin.  All forms must be turned in by September 14, 2020.

*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 8 breathtaking hikes that are part of the 2020 Custer State Park Trail Challenge:

1. Barnes Canyon Trail (The Barnes Canyon Trail is new this year.  The trailheads are located on the Wildlife Loop Road near the airport or on Badger Clark Road)
2. Stockade Lake Trail
3. Cairn Trail
4. Centennial Trail (north from Highland Trailhead- located on Hwy 87S)
5. Lover’s Leap Trail
6. Badger Clark Historic Trail
7. Prairie Trail
8. The Lost Trails (The Lost Trails opened in spring of 2019, the trailhead is located at Center Lake Beach Area.)