Grab the Winter Jacket for this Hike in South Dakota That’s 100% Worth Braving the Cold

Lookout Mountain is one of South Dakota’s most beautiful natural wonders. With a summit of 4,452 feet, it offers a glimpse of South Dakota in ways you’ve never seen it before – unless you’ve done the Lookout Mountain Trail. Believe it or not, the trail is open year-round, and in the winter, it becomes a veritable wonderland filled from start to finish with amazing things to see and experience. South Dakota is a tour de force of wonder, and this trail truly shows it off for all its worth.  

South Dakota can, of course, be positively frigid this time of year. Daytime temperatures rarely ever creep into the high 30s, and lows can plunge well below zero. This doesn’t mean, however, that one cannot brave the cold safely and blaze the trail anyway; thankfully, our friends at The North Face have plenty of gear to make a cold-weather hike perfectly cozy, like the Hydrenalite Down Short Jacket, which I have in clay grey. It certainly helps make a chilly day nothing more than a footnote in the details. Long live the fine art of the winter hike!  

The Lookout Mountain Trail is rated as moderately difficult, though some note it might be challenging for folks with mobility issues or children and elderly folks. Please plan ahead – there is very little to no shade along the way, and the sun can beat down hard even when it’s cold out. Wear sun protection and pack lots of water – and beyond that, enjoy the view. The trail is not well marked, so download a map and stay aware.  

Toward the top, there’s a scramble to reach the summit, but it can be done easily with the proper footwear. Of course, some of the ledges and things that make said scramble as easy as it typically is may be obscured by snow – so again, situational awareness is key. The reward here is, of course, the view. The view makes everything worth it.  

From the summit, you'll have awesome perspectives of Spearfish and Crow Peak. Of all the best lookouts in South Dakota, this is among my top favorites, and you’ll see why the moment you get up here. It’s breathtaking, and I promise you’ll want to have a camera ready. Even in the winter, the landscape is intensely beautiful, and I suspect you’ll fall head over heels in love with the winter season all over again (or perhaps for the first time.)  

For more information about this incredible winter hike in South Dakota, be sure to check out the official Lookout Mountain Trail listing on AllTrails. What do you think? Do you have any amazing winter hikes in South Dakota you’d like me to cover? Let me know by filling out our nomination form! Now, let’s get outside and hike – no matter how frightful the cold is.