Trail to Poet's Table | Custer, SD
Know Before You Go: The Poet’s Table has been kept a secret for years, and is extremely hard to find. The path is sometimes little more than a sense of direction – less than a deer path in places. We got turned around several times before finding the spot.
Length: Half mile.
Time: 30 minutes.
Difficulty level: Strenuous because of the scrambling required.
Terrain: Large rock, thicket, grass, dirt.
Dog-friendly: Yes, if your dog likes to scramble.
Kid-friendly: Yes, if your kids can take the uncertainty of whether you will find your destination.
Know Before You Go: The Poet’s Table has been kept a secret for years, and is extremely hard to find. The path is sometimes little more than a sense of direction – less than a deer path in places. We got turned around several times before finding the spot.
Length: Half mile.
Time: 30 minutes.
Difficulty level: Strenuous because of the scrambling required.
Terrain: Large rock, thicket, grass, dirt.
Dog-friendly: Yes, if your dog likes to scramble.
Kid-friendly: Yes, if your kids can take the uncertainty of whether you will find your destination.
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The Poet’s Table is a local legend that has gradually become a sought-out mythical destination for many hikers from near and far. It was kept a secret for years - in fact, my husband, a local, didn't want me to publish this information about how to find it. I do, because I believe that those who appreciate this blog will appreciate the sacredness of the idea of a place where one could sit and ruminate on the wonders of nature – and record one’s thoughts in the notebooks stored in the cabinet nearby. As a writer at heart, I longed to find the Poet's Table for years - and finally did in 2020. If you find it, please treat it with respect - and understand the gift you've been given.
It’s a challenge to find as there are no maps and no marked trails. Start at the Little Devil’s Tower Trailhead and follow the main trail for around 300 yards. You will come to an unmarked path off to the left. The trail is very difficult to find at times, but if you stick to the draw between the two large stone outcroppings. Keep your eyes to the left stone outcropping, and you will come to a relatively flat spot. There is a green table and some chairs, as well as a cabinet full of notebooks and writings to which you can add. In 2018, the Poet’s Table was vandalized and stolen by two women protesting that it wasn’t part of the original landscape. The table was found by Custer State Park officials recovered the table, but the original was not able to be restored. A local citizen created a second table to install in its place, recreating a writer’s refuge in one of the most beautiful spots on earth. 
CABINET CONTAINING WRITINGS AT THE POET'S TABLE
VIEW OF POET'S TABLE LOOKING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH
TRAIL TO POET'S TABLE FROM LITTLE DEVIL'S TOWER TRAIL #4
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THE POET'S TABLE
VIEW FROM POET'S TABLE LOOKING SOUTH
MAP TO POET'S TABLE
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