Black Hills National Forest

Black Hills National Forest covers approximately 1.25 million acres across western South Dakota and a portion of northeastern Wyoming, encompassing the forested mountain terrain surrounding many of the region's landmark attractions. The forest's core runs through the Black Hills uplift — a mountainous island of ponderosa pine, spruce, aspen, and granite rising dramatically from the surrounding Great Plains. Custer serves as the location of the Supervisor's Office, but the forest is experienced through its 13 developed campgrounds, 353 miles of hiking trails, 111 miles of designated biking trails, and hundreds of miles of forest roads open to vehicle access. The George S. Mickelson Trail (109 miles, converted rail corridor) is the most prominent recreational corridor and bisects the forest between Deadwood in the north and Edgemont in the south. Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Canyon, and Black Elk Peak (the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains at 7,244 feet) are all located within or adjacent to the forest boundary. Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, and Jewel Cave National Monument are surrounded by Black Hills National Forest land and together form a contiguous protected landscape. The Centennial Trail (111 miles) traverses the forest from Bear Butte State Park in the north to Wind Cave National Park in the south, making it one of the longest backcountry trails in the Great Plains region. Pronghorn, white-tailed deer, mountain goats, wild turkeys, bald eagles, and black bears are common forest inhabitants. A Black Hills National Forest Recreation Area Pass ($25/year) grants access to developed day-use areas separate from national park entry passes.