South Dakota's Centennial Trail: A Journey Through the Heart of the Black Hills
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- Опубліковано 8 лис 2019
- The South Dakota’s Centennial Trail is an approximately 111-mile continuous footpath that runs north to south through the Black Hills, from Bear Butte to Wind Cave National Park. It was completed in 1989 and commemorates South Dakota 100th anniversary of statehood.
Those who hike the trail’s entirety get to experience:
Bear Butte State Park- gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/bear-...
Fort Meade National Recreation Area- www.blm.gov/visit/fort-meade-...
Black Hills National Forest- www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills
Custer State Park- gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/custe...
Wind Cave National Park- www.nps.gov/wica/index.htm
If you are looking for people to give you a ride from Hot Springs or Wind Cave to Bear Butte or to aid with other transportation or supply needs, email LakotaMade@Gmail.com to discuss terms and logistics. They were a big help to me and made for great, interesting conversation too.
This video is not intended to act as a how-to guide. Always properly plan and prepare before going into the backcountry. Below are some excellent reference points to help with a section or thru hike of the Centennial Trail:
www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_...
www.amazon.com/Hiking-Centenn...
www.southdakotamagazine.com/c...
www.nationalparks.org/connect...
If you would like to see more of Stylo and Slider’s awesome adventures (and my less adventure-y adventures), feel free to check us out our Instagram accounts:
Me - @OhioMike27
Stylo - @ZeusTheGreat7
Slider - TromboneAndHike
All background music by Lobo Loco. You can find more of his awesome work at:
www.musikbrause.de/
freemusicarchive.org/music/Lo...
Here is a list of nearly all the gear, minus food and basic clothes, I brought on the trail, as well as their corresponding weight and costs:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
I am an ardent supporter and practitioner of Leave No Trace principles. Let us maintain nature’s beauty and splendor for ourselves and future generations by packing out everything we pack into the backcountry:
lnt.org/
Public lands are nothing short of sacred to me-and make up the vast majority of South Dakota’s Centennial Trail. Please consider visiting and supporting The Trust for Public Land:
www.tpl.org/
I am far from an expert, but I had a few conversations with local Native Americans about how much deep meaning Bear Butte, Wind Cave and the Black Hills holds with them. Always be respectful to Native beliefs and customs and remember you are traversing land they still hold sacred. Again, not an expert, but this is perhaps a good source to learn some basics:
sites.coloradocollege.edu/indi...
The Black Hills also has a colorful frontier history worth exploring:
www.britannica.com/place/Blac...
I spent a few days in Hot Springs, SD, located just south of Wind Cave National Park. It is one of my favorite small towns in the world and has a fair amount of its own attractions. Best yet, every local I met was incredibly nice. Consider a visit:
• Hot Springs Overview |...
www.hotsprings-sd.com/
While I packed enough food to last me a week, it was awesome eating at restaurants during and after the hike. Here are the establishments I ate at and thoroughly enjoyed, listed in the order they appear in the video:
www.thebrandiniron.com/
/ blackhillssugarshack
rubyhousekeystone.com/
beggingburro...
www.silveradofranklin.com/foo...
Watching the UA-cam channel Darwin On Trail helped immensely in preparing me for a week-long hike, especially in terms of gear. I strongly recommend you peruse his channel to better prepare yourself for hikes and backcountry camping trips of any nature:
/ @darwinonthetrail
Many people do not know of the public lands are right in their own back yards. This is an excellent tool for finding these magical, nearby places:
www.nationalforests.org/our-f...
Enjoy road trips but, like me, want to cut costs where possible? This has helped me on the gasoline front:
www.gasbuddy.com/
I knew I wanted to do an approximately 100-mile trail but did not know of any. I scanned this list and landed on Centennial:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-di...
National Parks are often referred to as “America’s Best Idea.” It’s also a good idea for you to look into these national treasures ASAP:
US National Park homepage: www.nps.gov/index.htm
Loved this! I grew up in SD and our family vacations were always to the Hills . . . I've hiked several of the amazing trails out there over the years, but the Centennial is on my bucket list. Slider playing trombone was a highlight for sure, and WOW that ending at Bear Butte - perfection.
Thank you for your video! I am planning on doing this later this year. What an awesome end to a great trail!
I live in the Black Hills. My first camping experience was at Sheridan Lake, I am told, was in 1955, when I was 6 months old. While I have section hiked almost all of the Centennial Trial over the years, this year as a 67-year-old I am planning a 12+ day solo thru-hike of the Trail & some of the side trails! Thanx for your excellent video!!
Wishing you the best of luck on your trek! If you publish your experience, please let me know!
TK- Good luck to you! I too am 67. My mind says heck yea, let's do it. My body says wait a minute. Thinking of riding the Mickelson Trail this summer.
How did the journey go?
I really enjoyed this video! Slider playing the trombone has got to be one of the coolest trail things I have seen yet. You have shared a lot of good info and I greatly appreciate it and will use it when I hike this trail.
Awesome video! I just got back from a backpacking trip in South Dakota. After spending a night in the Wind Cave Southern Terminus of the Centennial Trail. After that hike, I now want to hike the whole trail. Very cool! New follower here. Crow
Thanks!
Awesome! Glad you had an awesome experience. We really appreciate the follow.
Let me know how your Centennial Trail hike goes!
I thoroughly enjoyed your video! Nicely done! This trail is on my list for next year. May I ask a few questions about your trek:
* How many days did it take you?
* What was your average daily mileage?
* How many days of food did you carry and did you resupply anywhere?
Looks like a great hike. Definitely on our list to try out. Thanks for the video!
I just stumbled on this video in my daily UA-cam searches... I have hiked a lot of the Black Elk Peak area (I am from South Dakota) and I go out every year in the early summer to help decompress after school (I am a 53-year old College Senior)
I have thought about doing the entire trail, but it would have to be a 5 or 6-day adventure for me. Seeing this inspires me to do the trek.. Would make a good video for the Vlog/Blog I have just started to keep of my adventures.
Thanks for sharing!!!
"Seeing this inspires me to do the trek." That's 100% why I record and make videos of my hikes; I want people to see the trail and be inspired to hike it.
If you do the trek and document it in some way, please let me know. And FYI, it's usually a much dryer trail than when I hiked it. Bring enough water carrying capacity.
Thanks Im planning a hike across SD this helps a bunch.
Awesome, Travis! If you document and publish your journey, please let me know.
Great video, thank you for sharing!!
Thanks for watching and the kind words!
Good video! We live in the Black hills and enjoyed seeing your experience on the South bound route. . When we hiked the Centennial trail we went from South to North and finished at the top of Bear Butte for our big finish. Thank you for taking the time to video and share it! Hike on........
Thanks! Bet you guys had an amazing time on the CT. If I ever do it again, I'll try northbound!
Wow, what a finish! I loved the music. Editing perfect. I didn't know about Centennial Trail until stumbled upon Badger Black's cabin(love cowboy poetry). Harney Peak....a fav. Forget banjos....paddle faster. A new high! A trombone playing my favorite spiritual song on a gorgeous overlook.....hike faster.
Wow, thanks for the kind words! This was my first attempt at making a video. Glad you liked it so much.
And Slider is a great musician!
Yours was the first thru hike of the Centennial I've seen, thanks.👍👌 Last year was a very wet year for the Black Hills as you found out. Rain and snow falls, broke moisture records. Recognized many of the places, as my husband and I have day hiked a lot of it.
Thank you! It's such a great trail. I hope more people discover and hike it. Glad the trail seems to be in your backyard.
I will be spending some time in SD this summer and am looking for some hikes to do. This looks like a gorgeous and not-too-hard hike that I might be able to do. So green and lush. Thanks for the video.
Very cool video dude! Keep them coming!
"it's all good to me".. Love your stoke. Refreshing to see a hiking video that keeps tales of suffering and such at a minimum.. we already know, or will find out 😁 ! I did 20 days on and around the Centennial in spring of '88 in the opposite direction, came back to base out of Hot Springs one May -July in 90's. I hope to do the Mickelson and some more time in the Black Elk. Thanks for capturing some of the magic.
Thanks! Glad you like the style.
Sounds like you had an amazing adventure too. If you document your future ones, I'd love to check it out. Hard to get my Black Hills fix from Ohio!
Did you have to reserve any campsites?
Thanks for posting your adventure. Our family went to the Black Hills in July 2019. I am hoping to hike the Centennial Trail in 2021.
Thanks for the kind words. Hope you go. It's an amazing experience.
Thanks for the video memories. I hiked the Centennial Trail (as the first part of the Great Plains Trail pilot trail, which continues on to Scottsbluff, Nebraska) in late August 2019, same year as you. I loved it, too. ~Pony
I was SOBO, too. Shuttled from Rapid City to Bear Butte, climbed it the first evening, then set out next day.
I wasn't familiar with the Great Plains Trail. Really enjoyed reading about it. Thank you.
And glad you enjoyed your SDCT experience!
@@2fargonebackpacking132 It's a nascent trail, let's say. At this point, more of a route, though the pilot trail that I walked (some dirt roads, but a good chunk on trails, for about 300 miles) as well as most of SD north of Bear Butte and most of ND are coming into their own!
Great and fun to watch Cannon :)
Thanks, our dearest Dutch friend. Best is yet to come!
Although my husband and I would not attempt more than a day hike, we really enjoyed your Centennial Trail journey. Thanks for documenting
Thank you! Glad you guys liked it. Also, I appreciate the subscription.
Great video, love the low key vibe.
Thanks a ton!
@@2fargonebackpacking132 How many ticks did you pick up? :)
At least 8 latched. It was brutal. In case you didn't know, treat your clothes with permethrin.
Thanks for posting. I am planning to thru hike it this June. I live in the Black Hills and have section hiked most of it already. That was a very wet year. How many days did it take you? Sorry if you have already answered this question and I missed it.
I did find it further down in the comments. 6.5 days. That is where I am at mentally but I am comfortable with it taking 8. Thanks again for the video. I am sitting at home on a minus 10 degree day thinking about the trail. Your video and adventure got me pumped up for summer to get here.
Awesome! Doesn't matter how long it takes you. It's all about the experience and soaking it up.
Hang in there! Those -10 days will be gone soon! If you post your trail experience anywhere, let us know! Good luck!
Wonderful journey! Amazing nature impressions!
Sunny Greetings Lobo
Just glad there was music out there to help encapsulate the experience!
You have a good feeling to combine all.
I also like to see the live played part with the trombe on the hill.
Thanks. And yeah, she's talented. Her impromptu concert on the hill is my favorite memory from the trail.
Beautiful filming of this doc. you did a good job on this one. Just be careful with the snakes.
Tyvm! Always on the lookout for anything that slithers.
Hey sir!! Im doing this trail next spring. Im curious, did you catch a ride from Hot Springs to Bear Butte to start?
You're in for a treat. Bring a high water carrying capacity though. It can be a pretty dry trail.
I sure did. Reach out to WhiteStarStudioSD@gmail.com. They'll give you a ride for a fair price if their schedule allows. They've helped multiple CT hikers.
Hope to see video of you on the trail soon!
9:16, I think it's a kissing booth! lol!
19:36 love the cows attraction to the trombone!
Congrats!!
Hey! I realize that this video is a year old but can you park your car for an extended amount of time at Bear Butte State Park? Also, how did you manage to get back to your car after you reached the southern part?
I scrounged up a ride in Hot Springs. My car was left at Wind Cave NP’s Norbeck trailhead without incident. To my knowledge, there’s no shuttle system in place. I would call around town ahead of time and offer to pay for a ride. If not, you can try hitchhiking like we currently do all the time on our Pacific Crest Trail thru hike.
If you hike it, please let me know how it goes!
Awesome awesome video, just moved to SD and looking for places to get outside.
Thanks!
Black Hills have some incredible recreational opportunities. I bet you have a ton of fun. Hope you check out the Centennial Trail!
Absolutely stunning, Ive got a true appreciation for this video after have hiking the trail for myself. The first 8 or so river crossings you had were all dry when i went through, i had a 26 mile stretch with not a drop of water on the trail all the way from Dalton lake to the horse camp outside of Sturgis. The ATV section sure was hell wasn't it? Nemo sure was a sight for sore eyes, i was pretty much out of battery for my camera by that point so i was extremely thrilled to see it (all other camp grounds with electricity were closed for the season) Glad to see i wasn't the only one to walk the road and skip the section of trail when i got to Pactola. All in all an amazing video and amazing hike my man. My most favorite part of the trail was most defiantly the hilly prairie area at 22:00, the sun setting behind those hills was the single most beautiful thing i have seen in my entire life. Its too bad you missed out on the summit of bear butte at the beginning and had to go back to finish it, but its also a good thing cause you wouldn't of met stylo and slider otherwise. Thanks again Mike!
Thanks for the kind words, man. I'm glad you liked the video and even happier you got to experience the trail, even witch such a brutal dry stretch.
The ATV stretch was tough. The Canyon early on was the toughest part for me. Nemo was a true oasis and the bartender was super helpful.
It's an awesome trial, one I just might attempt again sometime.
Looking forward to seeing more of your videos!
This is a great video, keep it up!
Thanks! More to come!
Excellent video man, well done. Can tell you put a lot of work into it. I really want to get up to the Black Hills one summer, looks like a great time.
Thanks a ton! Really appreciate it.
I did work long and hard on it, with janky, free, open-source software too. But it got done in the end!
Black Hills is a really great time for everyone. Great summer destination. So much to see and do.
Thanks a ton for watching the channel's first video! My wife and I will try to post new travel and wilderness experiences every 3-4 months. To make sure you don't miss out, click the SUBSCRIBE button.
And if the amazing Centennial Trail impressed you, be sure to check out our hike in the Crown of the Continent," Glacier National Park: ua-cam.com/video/V2Lv9xHupy4/v-deo.html
Excellent documentation and adventure video of the Centennial Trail! A buddy and I are considering backpacking this trail soon. Have any other trails planned for later this year? Great content, keep it up! Looking forward to seeing more.
Thanks a ton.
I hope you and your bud check it out. It's a really fun trail.
Yeah, I plan on hiking out west for a few weeks if this pandemic situation lets up by August.
I'll be sure to make vids about them. Hope you enjoy!
Nice Video
what an ending.
Really lucked out with that one.
Hello!
Did you create your thru route by piecing the smaller Centennial trails together, or is there a thru map on AllTrails, etc showing the entirety of your hike?
Oops. I thought I posted this link in the descriptions: www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5194547.pdf
I also carried a topographical map, though the trail is mostly well blazed.
Stylo and Slider had this book and said it served them well: www.amazon.com/Hiking-Centennial-Trail-Guide-Dakotas/dp/1984954741
Two Far Gone -thank you. This is great. Sorry if I missed that!
That wasn't The Pogues, Dirty Old Town, on trombone, was it?
If you're talking about when she was playing above the lake, I believe that was "I Am a Poor Wayfarer Stranger."
Thanks for watching, man!
Awesome! You are the first person I have seen that posted the whole trail. I have hiked Bear Butte, All over Black Elk, and Custer but have not done the whole CT. I Love the Blackhills!
Was the trail marked pretty good through the whole thing? Also, is there info on all water stops. And finally, did you basically carry all of your food or is there resupply places?
I appreciate the kind words. Black Hills are simply amazing.
I'd say 80-90% of the trail was well blazed. The blazes near roads and trailheads were sparse, thanks to some sticky fingers over the years.
I never did find a solid source for water. I'd reach out to some Black Hills Hiking FB groups right before your hike to get a decent gauge. I went during a strange high-water week. It can be a pretty dry trail. I'd bring a 4-liter water capacity during normal summer months.
I carried ALL my food, 10 days worth. Ended up hiking it in 6.5-7 days. Whoops. Rookie-ish mistake. The Pactola Lake marina or visitor center would likely hold on to your food. I'd call make arrangements to be sure. If I ever do the trail again, I'd definitely try to resupply.
If you attempt the whole trail, please let me know!
@@2fargonebackpacking132 I section hike the AT (I live in Tennessee) so we get spoiled having every bit of info laid out in a guide book or phone app. Thanks for the response!
Great video! Done sections twice and planning a solo north bound early this May. Question about walking over the pactola road. Does it link back up with the centennial trail on that side? Did you take the road to eat at the marina? Just wondering!! Thanks again...numi
Nice! Best of luck on your next trek.
We grabbed a meal at the marina and got a taxi into Keystone to avoid the storm. The next day we linked up with where we stepped off the trail, which takes you to the base of the dam, essentially. As I recall, the trail follows the dam's runoff stream for a while rather than immediately to the other side of the dam.
@@2fargonebackpacking132 hey thanks that clears it up for me. Definitely bailed on hikes for various reasons. Really liked all the shots you included. Reminded me if many of my favorite parts I have seen. All the best!!
Any reason you went southbound and not north?
I had briefly passed through Hot Springs years before. Wanted to spend more time exploring it by starting and ending my journey there. Something about that town just grabs me. Super nice people.
Heading northbound and ending the trek on top of Bear Butte would be incredible. Either direction will give one an amazing experience.
How many days were you on the trail? I'm thinking about a late-April or early-May trip with my son before he graduates.
I was on trail for about 6.5 days.
Early May might be best. May 2019 saw a surprisingly large amount of snowfall in the Black Hills. Made for less dry stretches though.
@@2fargonebackpacking132 thanks for the info. We are planning on cooler weather. Anything is warmer than the last few weeks here in Iowa. We are planning on always carrying 2-3 liters plus a backup bladder in spots where we may need it. I reached out to Roam n Around in Rapid City and he said he’d give me a water update closer to the trip.
Sounds like you are taking all the right pre-hike precautions. Good on ya. Will help you enjoy the trek all the more!
@@tonybabcock655 another Iowan here. thinking about doing this late spring too and concerned about water levels. Any planning and water level info you come across would be awesome. I saw a few videos of people that had to turn back at some of the fording spots.
@@2fargonebackpacking132 Thanks for all the reference info! I've watched a few Centennial hike videos but yours has all the extras. One guy called that metal thing the tiniest outhouse.
What time of year was this?
Nvm, Got it, June. Wow... thats awesome how you got to see that thunderstorm at the end. Nice video, im adding this to my thru hiking list.
@@HeadNorthMikeMcKay, I think it's definitely worth the trip. Stylo and Slider hiked the Appalachian Trail and complimented the Centennial Trail's diversity of terrain, views, etc. That's pretty telling.
Have fun on your hikes! I'll be keeping an eye out for more of your videos!
For sure, I am aiming for the Appalachian 2021 if finances line up. Looking for a trail to thru hike in the meantime to hold me over, this looks perfect! Also thanks for watching my videos, I always appreciate the support!
@@HeadNorthMikeMcKay no problem! Keep 'em coming. Hope you can take on the AT. Stylo and Slider gushed about it. Sounds like the experience of a lifetime.
If you go, be sure to document the journey!
How many days total?
7.5 days averaging around 15-miles-per day. The trail is "officially" 111 miles, but according to Slider and her guidebook, with closures and subsequent reroutes over the years, the Centennial Trail is more like 124-ish miles now.
Thanks for watching!
when is this?
mid june
Of 2019, to be more precise. Done parts or the whole trail? Planning to?
Thanks for watching!