Location: Custer
Top Things to do in Custer
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The 5 Best Hiking Trails in Custer, South Dakota (SD)
Enveloped in the grandeur of the Black Hills, Custer makes the perfect base for your South Dakota vacation, whether you are visiting Custer State Park to learn about Custer's Last Stand, heading up to see the wonder of Mount Rushmore and the yet-unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial, making a motorcycle pilgrimage to Sturgis or spelunking in Wind Cave. Custer itself has much to offer, from family outings at Flintstones Bedrock City to hoe-down dinners at a chuck wagon cookout.
Restaurants in Custer
1. Country Charm Cabins and Corrals
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
2. Cathedral Spires Hiking Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 208 reviews
Reviewed By Tigerman777
I have to admit this is my favorite trail of all the trails I hiked in the Black Hills!!!!! After driving a considerable distance and stopping to see the Needles Eye and going through the Needles Tunnel, I had a decision to make: Hike the Cathedral Spires Trail late in the day, or hike it along with Black Elk Peak and Little Devil’s Tower starting very early the next day, which would be a looong day. I decided to hike it late in the day since I was near the trailhead already and it was a great decision!!!! I started hiking about two hours before sunset on the trail, which is fairly rugged. There are a couple pretty substantial climbs through and around boulders, but it’s doable. Once you get to the level hiking area, the views are simply PHENOMENAL!!!!! You see granite spires, mountains and cliffs, with beautiful blue skies and gorgeous green meadows and flowers. What really caught me by surprise is there is a needles eye that’s even more beautiful than the Needles Eye on the highway. What’s more, from a distance it looks like there’s a piece of thread going through the eye: It’s a large boulder stuck in the eye. It doesn’t have the same effect when near it though. You will see it on the left side near the end of the Spires trail. It’s REALLY COOL!!! Did I mention unique? The trail round trip is just a little less than three miles and it took me about two hours to hike, taking plenty of time to absorb and photograph the scenery. This trail is a LOT more peaceful than Black Elk Peak. There were about one one hundredth of the people to encounter. I met less than 25 people in my time on the trail. Sweet serenity. Suggestions: 1). I recommend going later in the day when it’s going to be sunny because the light is simply astounding at that time. At least in August is because the sun is so high in the sky. It’s behind you, meaning the best part of the spires is beautifully lit up. 2). Please wear solid hiking shoes or boots. I saw a young lady with soft soled shoes and she had a badly bloodied knee due to a fall. I wore good quality harder soled hiking boots because of the boulder fields you need to traverse and didn’t slip once. It makes things a lot easier. I also used hiking poles. 3). The parking area for the Cathedral Spires trailhead is about one mile after the Needles Eye Tunnel on the right side. You’ll see two areas to park: just before the switchback up above and just after the switchback down below. There are no signs directly pointing to it, so I felt it necessary to mention it. I missed it when traveling through the first time. Had to return to find it. The trailhead is on the left side just before the switchback. In conclusion, due to the very high reward for relatively little effort and the serenity on Cathedral Spires Hiking Trail to anyone who can comfortably hike at least five miles (if you’re in good shape, people in their fifties and sixties can do this trail. I’m over fifty and had no problems), I VERY highly recommend exploring this area. I PROMISE you that you will be heavily rewarded for it!!!! Thank you for reading this review. If you feel this information has helped you, it would be appreciated if you would please tap the ???? button below. Thank you.
3. Little Devil's Tower Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 95 reviews
Reviewed By fsp269 - Saint Louis, United States
We did this hike in March with two kids (6 and 8) and a dog. The trailhead is off Needles highway, which is closed in the winter, so you have to add another chunk to get from the parking area at Sylvan Lake to get to the trailhead. There was snow on the ground throughout most of the trail. The dog and younger kid couldn’t make it to the very top because the climbs were too steep but still got some amazing views. It took us about 4 hours total with a picnic lunch and lots of shorter stops.
4. Hell Canyon Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
5. Lookout Point Trail
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 2 reviews
