Hiking Trails & Parks in South Dakota
845 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 152 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across South Dakota. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in South Dakota
South Dakota has 845 mapped hiking trails and 152 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 45 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 45 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in South Dakota
A spatially-sampled view of 171 trail and park locations across South Dakota’s counties.
South Dakota Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 45 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in South Dakota
Parks & Campgrounds in South Dakota
Longest Trails in South Dakota
Curated Guides for South Dakota
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in South Dakota?
Yes — we have 845 mapped hiking and walking trails in South Dakota, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in South Dakota?
Old Baldy Summit Trail near Spearfish is rated hard — the toughest classification among South Dakota's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in South Dakota for families?
1 near Caputa is one of the best family picks in South Dakota — easy difficulty, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for South Dakota?
Each of the 845 trails in South Dakota has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in South Dakota?
South Dakota has 152 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (27 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in South Dakota?
Yes — 15 of South Dakota's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is Cedar Pass Campground with 100 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for South Dakota
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in South Dakota, Ranked
South Dakota's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: David MarcuSouth Dakota's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten South Dakota trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Maddi BazzoccoThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in South Dakota
Ten gentle, well-marked South Dakota trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in South Dakota
South Dakota's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in South Dakota
Federal parks and recreation areas in South Dakota ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Joshua EarleBest Waterfall Hikes in South Dakota: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
South Dakota's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.