Custer State Park Mountain Biking Guide 

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Mountain Biking Guide with Map printable PDF 281.83KB

Custer State Park’s early pioneers, ranchers and loggers have left behind miles of trails and backcountry roads to explore. Several of the trails in this guide are shared by hikers, horse riders and motor vehicles. Please be polite to all that you meet. Our intent with this guide is to give bicyclists several places to ride and jumping off points for exploring the many miles of roads and trails. Nearly all of Custer State Park is open to mountain biking, but some areas may be posted closed due to natural resource management concerns.

Important tips:

• Wearing a helmet is recommended along with carrying a patch kit or spare tubes.

• Carry plenty of water with you as none is available along the trail.

• Custer State Park is home to one of the nation’s largest bison herds. Please give these animals a wide berth, you can NOT ride faster than they can run.

• Rattlesnakes are sometimes seen in Custer State Park.

• Poison ivy is often found along streambanks.

• Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer.

• Please do not feed the wildlife.
   

Centennial Trail Trailheads
Orange trail
This 111-mile trail spans the length of the Black Hills from Bear Butte State Park in the north to Wind Cave National Park in the south. Approximately 22 miles of the trail are located within Custer State Park. Three trailheads provide access points to Custer State Park’s portion of the trail. The entire trail offers opportunities to view the natural and cultural resources of the Black Hills. The Centennial Trail was officially opened in June 1989, in commemoration of the South Dakota centennial. The trail is marked with a combination of brown fiberglass posts and gray diamonds fastened to trees.

Iron Creek to Badger Hole
Orange trail
7.3 miles one way
Moderately difficult
The trail begins at the Iron Creek Trailhead, north of SD Highway 87 (Needles Highway), on gravel road CSP #345. The trail leaves the trailhead and leads south, crossing SD Highway 87, and continues across a short, wet section and up a small hill. It continues to follow the trail markers through this gently rolling section of the park. Throughout this area is evidence of past logging activity. There are several small stream crossings. Around the 6-mile mark, the trail crosses US Highway 16A near Legion Lake Resort and campground. Continue south from the highway across a small stream and follow the trail markers up the hill to the right. This section of the trail enters an area burned in the 1988 Galena Fire. The trail continues to the Badger Hole, home of Badger Clark, South Dakota’s first Poet Laureate, and the Centennial Trail’s Badger Hole Trailhead.
 

Badger Hole to French Creek
Orange trail
3.5 miles one way
Difficult
The trail begins at the Centennial Trail’s Badger Hole Trailhead, 1 mile off highway 16A on CSP Road #9 then west to the Badger Hole Cabin. The trail heads south past a cabin 0.3 mi and ties into the Centennial Trail. Take the fork to the south (left). You will climb out of the bottom then descend a short rocky slope into Heddy draw, crossing to the south and climbing the divide. From the top of this hill the trail descends into the French Creek Natural Area. The trail will be very steep and rocky, passing through a muddy area near the bottom. At the bottom of the hill, the trail turns right and follows French Creek, crossing the creek several times before reaching the Centennial Trail’s French Creek Trailhead. This is the most strenuous section of the Centennial Trail within Custer State Park.

French Creek to the Wind Cave Border
Orange trail
10.3 miles one way
Moderately difficult
From the Centennial Trail’s French Creek Trailhead located 3 miles from the Blue Bell Stables on CSP Road #4, follow the trail markers west through Horse Camp and across French Creek. Just before crossing the creek a second time, the trail turns left and goes uphill. After descending the other side, the trail intersects with the Wildlife Loop Road and continues across the road to the south. This section of trail enters the open grasslands and is home to large herds of bison. Bison are dangerous any time during the year but especially in the spring when there are new calves and in late summer when the bulls are in rut. The trail passes through a gate and continues south to the border of Wind Cave National Park. Wind Cave National Park regulations prohibit bicycles on hiking trails.

Other Trailheads

Big Tree Robbers Roost Draw
Blue trail
15.5 mile loop
Moderately difficult
This trail is shared by horse trail #2 and is marked with brown fiberglass posts. From the Centennial Trail’s French Creek Trailhead, located 3 miles from the Blue Bell Stables on CSP Road #4, follow the trail markers through Horse Camp and across French Creek. Just before crossing the creek a second time the trail turns left and goes uphill. After descending the other side, the trail meets the Wildlife Loop Road and turns left to parallel the Wildlife Loop Road for approximately 2 miles. The trail turns left again and continues up a draw. Approximately 1/4 mile up this draw, the trail passes the Big Tree (the second largest Ponderosa Pine tree in the U.S.). The trail continues up a hill that gets steeper and rockier as it nears the summit. At the top of the hill, the trail turns right and follows the ridgeline to an intersection. At the intersection, the trail turns left and goes down the Robbers Roost Draw. The trail follows this draw to the south and meets with gravel road CSP #3. The trail turns left on CSP #3 and follows the road to CSP #4 where the trail turns left again. The trail follows CSP #4 back to the Centennial Trail’s French Creek Trailhead.

Grace Coolidge Walk-in Fishing Area
Red trail
3 miles one way
Moderately difficult
This trail may be started at either the north end, located adjacent to the swimming beach at Center Lake, or the south end, on the north side of US Highway 16A across from the Grace Coolidge Campground. The trail is described from the north to the south. From the parking area near the swimming beach at Center Lake the trail goes south up a short steep hill. From the top of this hill the trail continues south downhill where it meets Grace Coolidge Creek. The trail follows the creek for its entire length crossing it many times. Several of the creek crossings can be challenging even when the water is low. Watch for poison ivy along this trail, especially near the streambanks. The trail ends at the Grace Coolidge Campground.
 

Additional places to ride
(not included on the map)
Custer State Park has many miles of trails and logging roads that are open to biking. Remember all roads are open unless otherwise posted.

The Black Hills National Forest has nearly 1.2 million acres of public land available for you to ride on. The Black Elk Wilderness, including most of the Harney Range Trails, are closed to biking. Some areas may be closed seasonally to protect wildlife and other resources.

The George S. Mickelson Trail, a rails to trails program spanning the Black Hills from north to south.

George S. Mickelson Trail

For more information ... 

Black Hills Trail Office
11361 Nevada Gulch Rd
Lead, SD 57754
(605) 584-3896
Email: MickelsonTrail@state.sd.us 

Other sources of information about mountain biking may be found at local book stores, bicycle shops and park visitor centers.

Bicycle rentals are available through the Custer State Park Resort Company. For more information during the summer months call 1-800-658-3530

Important phone numbers
Custer State Park
Park Headquarters (605) 255-4515
Visitor Center (605) 255-4464

Custer Resort Company 1-888-875-0001

Black Hills National Forest
Forest Supervisor Office (605) 673-9200
Hell Canyon Ranger Dist. (605) 673-4853
 

George S. Mickelson Trail (605) 584-3896