South Dakota surprised us. We went for the Badlands and ended up finding some of the most unique landscapes we've ever hiked through. The erosion formations, the wide-open prairies, and the sheer emptiness of it all - it's unlike anything on the East Coast. We're planning to go back for the Black Hills.
Western South Dakota is home to the Badlands and the Black Hills. The landscape is otherworldly — eroded spires, vast grasslands, and trails that feel like they're on another planet. Part of our <a href="/states/south-dakota">South Dakota trail guide</a>.
ModerateThe longest maintained trail in the Badlands, combining the Castle Trail with the Medicine Root Loop for a route through prairie grasslands and alongside towering erosion formations. Flat but exposed - it feels like hiking on Mars.
ModerateA short hike to the base of the Cathedral Spires - massive granite needles jutting out of the Black Hills forest. The trail ends in a boulder field surrounded by towering spires on all sides. One of the most dramatic payoffs for a relatively short hike anywhere in South Dakota.
ModerateA loop that combines the scenic Sylvan Lake shoreline walk with the rugged Sunday Gulch descent through a boulder-choked canyon. Short distance but surprisingly challenging with ladders, rock scrambles, and creek crossings. One of the best hikes in the Black Hills.