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United States
South Dakota
Custer County

Black Elk Peak loop — Custer State Park

Routes
Hiking trails & Routes
United States
South Dakota
Custer County

Black Elk Peak loop — Custer State Park

Intermediate

4.8

(37)

294

hikers

Black Elk Peak loop — Custer State Park

03:31

11.7km

390m

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

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Waypoints

A

Start point

Parking

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1

193 m

Sylvan Lake

Highlight • 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

2

2.81 km

Harney Peak Lookout Tower (Black Elk Wilderness)

Highlight • Summit

The Black Elk Wilderness is home to the highest peak in South Dakota and to the famous Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It is a sacred area to Native Americans and …

Tip by

3

5.56 km

Black Elk Peak

Highlight • Summit

Until August 2016, the peak was still called Harney Peak, named after General William S. Harney, who fought against the Brulé-Lakota. To honor Black Elk, for whom the Black Hills …

Tip by

B

11.7 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.24 km

5.09 km

201 m

104 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

8.88 km

2.27 km

201 m

185 m

116 m

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Elevation

Elevation

Highest point (2,170 m)

Lowest point (1,880 m)

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Weather

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Wednesday 22 October

12°C

-1°C

0 %

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This route was planned by komoot.

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Nearby routes

How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Intermediate

4.8

294

Black Elk Peak loop — Custer State Park

03:31h

11.7km

390m

How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Intermediate

4.8

132

Sylvan Lake & Sunday Gulch Trails loop — Custer State Park

02:00h

6.72km

210m

How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

4.5

77

Lover's Leap Trail loop — Custer State Park

01:54h

6.53km

160m

How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

5.0

46

Prairie Trail Loop — Custer State Park

00:59h

3.30km

100m

How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

36

Little Devil's Tower Trail — Custer State Park

01:20h

4.37km

150m

How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

21

Cathedral Spires Trail — Custer State Park

00:52h

2.34km

150m

How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

24

Stockade Lake Trail loop — Custer State Park

00:46h

2.43km

100m

How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Intermediate

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

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2.75km

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
Easy

6

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