Lake Mitchell Trails | Mitchell, SD Map: Lake Mitchell Trails Know Before You Go: These trails can be buggy in the summertime and icy in the winter. Length: There are a total of 13 miles of hiking and biking trails around Lake Mitchell. We hiked 4 miles out and back. Time: 1.5 hours for 4 miles. Terrain: Sand and dirt. Dog-friendly: Yes. Kid-friendly: Yes.
We were killing time when our son had a band event in Mitchell, South Dakota, and decided to look up local hiking trails. We were pleasantly surprised to find the abundance of beautiful trails around Lake Mitchell. They are wonderful for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running. The path never strays far from the beach, offering great views of the water.
We started at the Camp Arroyo trailhead and hiked to the end of the Sandy Beach trail. The trail traverses over cedar and other brush, and is guarded by giant ash and other deciduous trees. You are treated to frequent views of Lake Mitchell from a variety of vantage points.
The trail is operated by the City of Mitchell. It was built by all volunteer labor and is kept up by volunteers as well. It’s very well-maintained.
The City of Mitchell has more than 8 miles of paved bike trails and 8 miles of unpaved trails within city limits, too. You can make a day of it - it’s a pretty area with large deciduous trees and a hometown feel.
Mitchell is also home to the World’s Only Corn Palace. Each year, a different artist gets to choose how to decorate the outside of the Corn Palace with…well, you guessed it - corn. Many varieties and colors of corn. It’s definitely worth a stop if you’ve never visited.