Hiking

The 111-mile Centennial Trail winds through the Black Hills [1] from Wind Cave [2] in the south to Bear Butte in the north. Locals love hiking and biking the 11-mile stretch between Pactola Reservoir and Sheridan Lake in the Central Hills [3]. It’s a good distance for a day hike; the trail is just moderately difficult.

The scenery is spectacular, with steep canyon walls, thick ponderosa pine forests filled with wildlife, and scenic vistas of the lakes on both ends of the trail. The trail is marked with brown signs with the trail #89 on them.

To get to the Dakota Point Trailhead, take U.S. 385 north about seven miles to Sheridan Lake Road. Take Sheridan Lake Road to Dakota Point Road. Take a right on Dakota Point Road to where it dead ends at the trailhead. The trail winds around the lake before heading north to the Rapid Creek Trailhead at Pactola Reservoir.

Another interesting hike can be accessed from the same trailhead off of Dakota Point. Instead of heading north, head south on the Centennial trail until it joins up with the Flume Trail. The Flume Trail has been designated a National Recreation Trail because of its historical significance. The entire trail runs from Sheridan Lake to the town of Rockerville, a distance of about 11 miles.

The trail is named after a wooden flume that was built in the late 1800s to carry water from Spring Creek to the Rockerville placer mining camp. The trail is relatively easy, and along the trail you’ll see many traces of the old flume. A shorter loop trail is available near where the Centennial Trail joins the Flume Trail. It is well marked and makes for an energizing half-day hike.

The Mickelson Trail runs right through Hill City and is another nice option for an easy walk. Running parallel to Spring Creek in this area, the trail has gentle slopes and a well-groomed surface so that hikers of any age or ability can follow the trail.