Fall is a beautiful time to visit the Black Hills! Read on for my collection of great, fall hikes in the Black Hills (and one extra! 😉)
South Dakota
(The Black Hills are found in both South Dakota and Wyoming!)
Old Baldy: A beautiful trail near Spearfish
Empire Mine: A great hike to a Black Hills “Secret Site”, an old mine found in the Central Black Hills
Willow Creek Trail: A short, family-friendly hike near Mt. Rushmore
Grizzly Bear Creek Trail: this lovely hike is found in the Harney Range and will take you to some of the more secluded parts of the Black Elk Wilderness
Lover’s Leap Trail, Custer State Park: this trail is fun any time of the year but is especially beautiful in Fall. It’s found within Custer State Park!
Dakota Point/Centennial Trail Loop Hike: for a shorter hike, you can easily do just portions of this trail (or the entire loop makes a great day hike!) It’s found off Sheridan Lake Road in the central Black Hills
Centennial Trail: Badger Clark Trailhead to French Creek: this trail offers some history along with it’s views. It’s also located in Custer State Park
Deerfield Trail (Trail #40): this quieter, more secluded trail is found not far from Deerfield Lake!
Samelius Trail: North on the Black Hills Centennial Trail: this trail is another great option in the central Black Hills (and if you know where to look, you can find a Black Hills “Secret Site” near here too!)
Little Elk Creek Trail: this very popular trail offers beautiful views any time of the year! It’s one of the few places in the Black Hills where you can easily spot red leaves in Fall!
Rimrock Trail: this is another beautiful hike in Spearfish Canyon!
Spokane, South Dakota (ghost town): this Black Hills “Secret Spot”, found very near Custer State Park, is great any time of the year but is especially pretty in the fall!
Wyoming
Wyoming’s Bear Lodge Mountains: These trail options are found in the Wyoming Black Hills! They’re located about 30 miles from the South Dakota border, near Sundance, Wyoming
Cement Ridge Lookout Tower: This site is reached via several forest roads and sits less than two miles from the South Dakota border not far from Spearfish Canyon!
Hiking Devil’s Tower: Devil’s Tower is beautiful any time of the year but it’s a great hike in the fall as the weather is cooler. While it isn’t “technically” in the Black Hills, it’s very close! You’ll find this iconic spot near Hulett, Wyoming, only about an hour’s drive from Spearfish!
**Palisades State Park & Good Earth State Park at Blood Run: OK, I cheated with these two as they aren’t in the Black Hills. 😇 They are in South Dakota though and they are beautiful in the fall! You will find these two hiking locales on the other side of the state near Sioux Falls!**