When hikers ask which trails in South Dakota are worth a full day — or several — the conversation always circles back to the same handful of routes. Below we've ranked the ten longest hiking trails in South Dakota by total mapped distance, drawing from the 847 trails OutsideAtlas currently tracks in the state. Each entry includes the distance, what makes the route distinctive, and an honest note on who should actually attempt it.
South Dakota's Black Hills in the west (with Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Wind Cave) and the Badlands provide quietly serious hiking terrain. The Centennial Trail provides South Dakota's long-distance backbone; Badlands NP backcountry routes add multi-day mileage. May-October is the practical window; winters bring serious cold and blizzards; afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 847 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in South Dakota — but the data has limits worth being honest about. OpenStreetMap distance tags are crowd-sourced and inconsistent. A route may appear longer or shorter than the official measurement, especially when long-distance trails (like state and national scenic trails) are tagged in segments rather than as a single relation.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Big Stone Lake State Park Hiking Club Trail
Big Stone Lake State Park Hiking Club Trail earns the #1 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Big Stone Lake State Park Hiking Club Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. French Creek and Mt. Coolidge Trail
French Creek and Mt. Coolidge Trail earns the #2 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect dirt surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the French Creek and Mt. Coolidge Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Trail No. 4 (Little Devil's Tower)
Trail No. 4 (Little Devil's Tower) earns the #3 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect compacted surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Trail No. 4 (Little Devil's Tower) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Trail No. 9 North (Black Elk Peak)
Trail No. 9 North (Black Elk Peak) earns the #4 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect compacted surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in South Dakota, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Trail No. 9 North (Black Elk Peak) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Trail No. 9 South (Black Elk Peak)
Trail No. 9 South (Black Elk Peak) earns the #5 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect compacted surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Trail No. 9 South (Black Elk Peak) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Stairstep Quarry Primitive Trail
Stairstep Quarry Primitive Trail earns the #6 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Stairstep Quarry Primitive Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Trail No. 8 (Willow Creek Loop)
Trail No. 8 (Willow Creek Loop) earns the #7 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect compacted surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Trail No. 8 (Willow Creek Loop) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Turtle Creek Park Walking Trail
Turtle Creek Park Walking Trail earns the #8 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect asphalt surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Turtle Creek Park Walking Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Centennial Trail (Badger Hole)
Centennial Trail (Badger Hole) earns the #9 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in South Dakota, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Centennial Trail (Badger Hole) trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. National Memorial Amphitheater
National Memorial Amphitheater earns the #10 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect paved surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the National Memorial Amphitheater trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your South Dakota trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for South Dakota. May-October is the practical window; winters bring serious cold and blizzards; afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. Lightning on exposed peaks, bison in Custer SP and Wind Cave NP, and rattlesnakes in the lower Badlands.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More South Dakota hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our South Dakota coverage continues below.
- Steepest trails in South Dakota — Hikes with the most elevation gain in the state.
- Best beginner hikes in South Dakota — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in South Dakota — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in South Dakota — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in South Dakota — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in South Dakota — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in South Dakota — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in South Dakota last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
