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Black Hills / Centennial Trail Thru Hike

Sunday, June 1, 2025 - Sunday, June 15, 2025 -- $TBD ★★★


It's a thru-hike!


Adjacent to the legendary South Dakota badlands, lies a multi-faceted National Forest known as the Black Hills. The Black Hills are home to an under-the-radar 111 mile long trail known as the Centennial Trail


Although well known for herds of roaming bison, prairie dogs and ubiquitous Ponderosa Pines, the Black Hills also feature elk, mule deer, coyote, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, eagles, hawks, osprey, fox and peregrine falcons.


Our trek begins in Wind Cave National Park. Each day we'll hike Northbound, through Custer State Park and Black Hills National Forest before heading to Dalton Lake, Elk Creek, Alkali Creek and finally culminating on the summit of imposing and sacred Bear Butte.


Why not kick off your summer by visiting the beautiful South Dakota and putting a thru-hike under you belt?



Topographical Map of Proposed Route

See CalTopo map


Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures into the 70s and 80s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s and 50s. However on the 2011 trip, temperatures hit 100 on one day and brought a hailstorm on the next. So be prepared for great fluctuations. Here is the historical weather Bring lots of sun protection and water containers that add up to 8 liters of capacity.



Probable Trip Leaders

Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty


This is a 111 mile thru-hike. We will be hiking almost all day, every day in order to get to the next campsite and must average nearly 10 miles per day. While we feel this is attainable given the not-so-steep terrain and good trail condition, two weeks is a long time to hike without only a 'near-o' day. Plus a rainy day could change the trail into a slick, muddy slog. There is little tree cover in some places and in June the temperatures may swing wildly between freezing and 100 degrees.


Still, we feel this is readily attainable for those who can stay mentally positive and will be an experience you'll always treasure. Be ready to stray from the proposed itinerary depending upon weather, trail conditions and even the participants who may hike longer (or shorter) mileage on any given day.



Cost

$TBD per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the hotel night in Dickinson. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Dickinson, ND (DIK), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 1 lodge night, 13 days of trail meals, ground transportation to/from the trail, National Park permits, National Forest permits, State Fprest Permits, campground fees and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Important Notes


For whatever reason, during the 2022 trip a few of the frontcountry campgrounds didn't have potable water. We can and will treaat water if we have to, but it's inconvenient and not necessarily tasty. At times, be prepared to carry 8 liters (16 pounds) of water in your pack but mostly we'll carry about 4 liters.


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Map
 
 

Itinerary


Sunday, June 1, 2025

Fly into Rapid City Airport (RAP) or drive into Rapid City. The best time to arrive is between 12PM-3PM, although flights may be limited. If you can save a substantial amount on your flight by arriving an hour or two later or earlier, then do so but let us know beforehand.

Call for a ride from guides (or get a discounted hotel shuttle) to our local hotel TBD

We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined

Although you have already had the online equipment shakedown. We will ask questions about your gear and try to economize the weight while making sure you are outfitted properly and prepared for the elements.

Make Your Own Trail mix bar from our selection of nuts, fruits and sweets (as well as jerky and trail bars)

We will place all your off-trail stuff in storage for two weeks. Please keep this to a small amount

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD


Monday, June 2, 2025

Shuttle to the Centennial Trailhead and begin hiking, elevation 4250'.

e 6.2 miles to Highland Creek, elevation 4300'

Dispersed camp Southwest of bison corrals at Highland Creek practicing Leave No Trace Ethic, elevation 4300'

Miles today: 6.2. Total miles: 6.2

Possible bailout: Route 5


Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Hike 10.3 miles on Centennial Trail through Custer State Park to Highland Creek in the French Creek Natural Area.

Some years the French Creek Horse Camp will allow Frontcountry Camping. Otherwise, dispersed Camp at French Creek practicing Leave No Trace ethics, elevation 4750'

If we stay at French Creek Horse Camp there are showers and potable water available.

Mileage Today: 10.3. Total mileage: 16.5

Possible bailout: Route 87, Route 5, Route 4, or Wildlife Loop Road


Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Hike 4.2 miles to Legion Lake Frontcountry Campground, elevation 5200'

About 1.5 miles of this is a long, strenuous uphill

Stop at Legion Lake to fill water and use the restrooms if needed. Note: This will take us off the Centennial Trail for a few miles before we join up with it again later.

Hike 6.3 miles to Iron Creek

Option 1

Some years the Iron Creek Horse Camp will allow Frontcountry Camping. Otherwise, dispersed Camp at Grizzly Bear Creek at elevation 5250’ practicing Leave No Trace ethics

Iron Creek Horse Camp has pit toilets

Option 2

Hike over hill past horse camp to the Black Elk Wilderness

Hike 1.0 miles on Centennial Trail to trail #1

Hike 2.0 miles on the Grizzly Bear Creek Trail (trail #1) to unmarked pond on the left.

Camp at unmarked pond practicing Leave No Trace, elevation 5000'

Mileage Today: 10.5 or 13.5. Total mileage: 27.0 or 30.0

Possible bailout: Route 87, Alt 16


Thursday, June 5, 2025

Hike 2.9 or 4.2 miles on Centennial Trail #89 to the cut off for Mt. Rushmore.

Optional

Hike 0.5 very steep and degraded uphill miles to a parking lot and cross the road. Drop packs near the entrance to Mt. Rushmore and explore for a few hours

Hike 0.5 miles back to the Centennial Trail #89

Hike 2.2 miles on the Centennial Trail #89 to the Horsethief Lake Trailhead

Hike 0.7 miles on the Centennial Trail to Horse Thief Lake Frontcountry Campground

Camp at Horse Thief Lake Frontcountry Campground, Sites TBD, elevation 5500'

Mileage Today: Between 5.8 and 8.1. Total mileage: 36.0 (no, this doesn't add up correctly)'

Possible bailout: Route 87, Alt 16


Friday, June 6, 2025

Hike 0.7 miles back to the Centennial Trail

Hike 12.9 miles to Sheridan Lake Frontcountry Group site

Camp at Sheridan Lake Frontcountry Campground, Site TBD, elevation 4750’

Mileage Today: 13.6. Total mileage: 49.6

Possible bailout: Route 228 or Highway 385


Saturday, June 7, 2025

Hike 11.2 miles on the Centennial Trail #89 to Pactola Reservoir Visitor Center

Hike 2.0 road miles to Pactola Reservoir Campground

Camp at Pactola Reservoir Frontcountry Campground, elevation 4630', site TBD

Mileage Today: 13.2. Total mileage: 62.8

Possible bailout: Pactola Reservoir


Sunday, June 8, 2025

Hike 2.0 miles on the road back to Centennial Trail #89

Hike 4.5 miles to Whispering Pines / Campfire Cabins

Campfire cabins has laundry, showers, cabins and beds. Cost of shared cabin included in trip cost.

There are showers, water and a small general store. We will resupply at the campground store for the remaining portion of the trip.

Stay at Campfire Cabins, elevation 4940'

It's possible that you will be reunited with a 'halfway bag' containing re-supply, including a new food bag

Mileage Today: 6.5. Total mileage: 69.3

Possible bailout: US-385


Monday, June 9, 2025

Hike 12.6 miles on the Centennial Trail to fire road 140

Hike 1.0 miles on fire road 140 to Boxelder Forks Frontcountry Campground

Camp at Boxelder Forks Frontcountry Campground, sites(s) TBD, elevation 4600’

Mileage Today: 13.6. Total mileage: 82.9

Possible bailout: Boxelder CG


Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Hike 7.4 miles on the Centennial Trail #89 to Dalton Lake

Camp at Dalton Lake Frontcountry Campground, site(s) TBD, elevation 4400'.

Mileage Today: 7.4. Total mileage: 90.3/p>

Possible bailout: Dalton Lake


Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Hike 11.4 miles on the Centennial Trail #89 to Bulldog Gulch

Dispersed camp in Elk Creek Canyon near reliable water, elevation 3400'.

Mileage Today: 11.4. Total mileage: 101.7

Possible bailout: There are desultory dirt forest / ATV roads that are many miles away from civilization


Thursday, June 12, 2025

Hike 7.4 miles on the Centennial Trail #89 to Alkali Creek Campground

Frontcountry camp at Alkali Creek Campground, site(s) TBD, elevation 3600'.

Mileage Today: 7.4. Total mileage: 109.1

Possible bailout: Interstate 90


Friday, June 13, 2025

Hike 9.0 miles on the Centennial Trail #89 to Bear Butte Campground on Bear Butte Lake

Camp at Bear Butte Creek Frontcountry Campground, Site(s) TBD, elevation 3200'

Mileage Today: 11.6. Total mileage: 118.1

Possible bailout: Sturgis


Saturday, June 14, 2025

Hike 3.5 miles on the Centennial Trail #89 to the summit of Bear Butte stashing packs at the trailhead and day hiking to the summit, elevation 4426'

Wow, what a view!

Please note: this mountain is sacred to the First Nations people in the area so keep your volume quiet and refrain from photographing prayer flags

Day-hike 1.5 miles to the Bear Butte Trailhead, elevation 3380'

End of Hiking

Mileage Today: 5.0. Total mileage: 121.6

Possible bailout: Route 79

Shuttle back to local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined

Gather your off-trail items from storage

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Sunday, June 15, 2025

Take free or discounted Airport Shuttle or we will drop you at the airport or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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