Centennial 89: Horsethief Lake to Mount Rushmore
Custer, SD
Know Before You Go: This trail has some steep, rocky up and down parts and plenty of poison ivy.
Length: 8.65 miles out and back.
Time: 4 hours with stops.
Difficulty Level: Strenuous in parts. It’s hilly.
Terrain: Rocky in some places, very dusty, sand/aggregate.
Dog-friendly: Yes, as long as your dog can handle the mileage. There were plenty of places for our dog to access water.
Kid-friendly: Yes, as long as your child can handle the mileage.
Custer, SD
Know Before You Go: This trail has some steep, rocky up and down parts and plenty of poison ivy.
Length: 8.65 miles out and back.
Time: 4 hours with stops.
Difficulty Level: Strenuous in parts. It’s hilly.
Terrain: Rocky in some places, very dusty, sand/aggregate.
Dog-friendly: Yes, as long as your dog can handle the mileage. There were plenty of places for our dog to access water.
Kid-friendly: Yes, as long as your child can handle the mileage.
|
This trail has two payoffs no matter how you hike it: the beginning and the end. You get a lot of bang for your buck on this 8.5-mile out and back hike, including lake views and a national monument.
We hiked it starting at Horsethief Lake, a beautiful body of water surrounded by pines and deciduous trees in the Central Black Hills of South Dakota. We had a picnic by the water before hitting the trail. When you step past the trailhead sign, you are immediately enveloped by aspen trees, pine trees and lush understory. The trail follows a small creek for a while, dipping near enough to the water for our dog to have several wallows before we were halfway up the first hill. Keep an eye out for impressive granite formations playing peek-a-boo with you as you make your way up a steep, rocky mountainside. At times the underbrush encroaches on the trail, so long pants might be a blessing. At the top of the first incline, you walk in a sort of saddle between two mountains, treated to spectacular views along the way. You will also see some of the largest, oldest remaining pine trees in the Hills on this trail. After a steep decline, you hook up with a spur that takes you up to Mount Rushmore National Monument – the second payoff for your efforts. Not only do you get a great view of the monument after exiting the trail; you also save $10 on parking! On our way back, the granite glowed with late afternoon sun, making for a gorgeous treat. If you’re so inclined, be sure to bring along towels and swimsuits so you can take a dip in a cold mountain lake. 
THE HIKING DOGGIE AND HER FRIEND
|
CREEK CROSSING
|