Beginner Hiking Trails in South Dakota
New to hiking in this state? We filtered the 845 mapped trails in South Dakota down to those rated easy — capped at six miles for the routes with a mapped distance — 838 trails that prioritize a good first experience over mileage or elevation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best beginner hiking trail in South Dakota?
1 is our top beginner pick in South Dakota — easy difficulty, short and gentle enough for a first hike. 837 more beginner-friendly options are listed below.
What makes a trail beginner-friendly?
Easy OpenStreetMap difficulty classification (gentle terrain, well-marked, no technical sections) combined with a shorter distance — long enough to feel like a real hike, short enough to finish comfortably without prior conditioning.
Is hiking in South Dakota good for beginners?
Yes — with 838 mapped easy, short trails, South Dakota has more beginner-friendly options than a lot of areas get credit for.
How many beginner-friendly trails are there in South Dakota?
838 of South Dakota's 845 mapped trails are rated easy difficulty and six miles or under — see the full list below.