Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United States

South Dakota

Custer County

Sylvan Lake & Sunday Gulch Trails loop — Custer State Park

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United States

South Dakota

Custer County

Sylvan Lake & Sunday Gulch Trails loop — Custer State Park

Intermediate

4.8

(13)

132

hikers

Sylvan Lake & Sunday Gulch Trails loop — Custer State Park

02:00

6.72km

210m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 25, 2025

Download GPX

Save

Move start point

Edit route

Navigate

Send to Phone

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

434 m

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake is a popular destination to enjoy the wilderness. You can take a hike around the picturesque lake with unique smoothly shaped rock formations or climb up to Black Elk Peak – South Dakota's highest point.

Tip by

1.10 km

Sunday Gulch Trailhead

Sunday Gulch Trailhead marks the transition from Sylvan Lake Trail to Sunday Gulch Trail. From here you can choose in which direction you want to hike, as the trail is a loop.

Tip by

1.91 km

Sunday Gulch Trail

Custer State Park rates Sunday Gulch Trail as a strenuous trail, and for good reason. Even though the hike is only about 3 miles long, it's the terrain that makes …

Tip by

6.11 km

Sylvan Lake Dam

Sylvan Lake Dam is located on the northwestern side of the lake and is about 30 feet high. There is a little walkway on top of the dam from where …

Tip by

6.72 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.19 km

511 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

6.16 km

266 m

191 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Highest point (1,910 m)

Lowest point (1,720 m)

Weather

Today

Friday 17 October

11°C

-1°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

This route was planned by komoot.

Sylvan Lake & Sunday Gulch Trails loop — Custer State Park

Sylvan Lake

Sunday Gulch Trailhead

Sunday Gulch Trail

Sylvan Lake Dam

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️