11 Easy Hikes To Add To Your Outdoor Bucket List In South Dakota
Getting out in South Dakota’s natural surroundings and basking in the sunshine doesn’t need to be a strenuous affair. Here are 11 easy hikes that you should definitely try this summer.
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
This quick, easy trail is just a half mile long and it's popular with tourists and locals alike. You'll find Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It takes you through pretty pines and offers up some stunning views of the memorial along the way.
This fun trail at Badlands National Park has a ladder to climb, but it's not as steep as it looks. The 1.5-mile trail takes you through a canyon, up the ladder to a plateau. We recently featured this hike - take a look at our full article here.
This super easy stroll takes you 2.1 miles out and back. Along the way, the beauty of the Black Hills National Forest surrounds you. The overlook deck to the falls provides a great close-up view. Don't forget your camera for this one!
If you're looking for a short, fun trail to take with your dogs, Buzzard Trail and Loop is a good choice. The 1.6-mile trail is very scenic, and offers some incredible views.
This super easy, 3.8-mile trail at Wind Cave National Park follows a two-track dirt road and is pretty easy for just about anyone. Watch for bison, which are plentiful, and also elk.
The next time you're in Custer, you should definitely spend an afternoon at Sylvan Lake. The trail is just 1.1 miles out and back, and it features plenty of wildflowers and lake views. You can bring your dog, as long as you keep him on leash.
Take a deep breath of that fresh mountain air when you hike the 4.2 mile Spring Creek Loop Trail. You'll find the trail near Rapid City, and it's a popular spot for bird watching.
Willow Creek Trail is a 2.5-mile loop that takes you to a pretty little waterfall! The loop is easy to navigate and you'll likely see plenty of wildlife along the way.
Medicine Root Loop Trail takes you on a four-mile loop through part of Badlands National Park. You'll walk through prairie and and enjoy some pretty views of the rock formations here.
The George S. Mickelson State Trail is a rail trail that stretches 109 miles from Deadwood to Edgemont. Choose your favorite section of this pretty trail and enjoy some of the Black Hills' most gorgeous scenery.
This pretty little trail is one of the best in Spearfish Canyon. It's almost five miles out and back, but once you're surrounded by all this beauty, the miles will just slip away. The trail ends at Iron Creek, which is a picturesque spot worthy of photographs.
What other easy hikes can you recommend? Let our readers know in the comments!
Here’s another South Dakota hike that some say is haunted…check it out!
