The Creekside Trail
The Creekside Trail is one of the gentlest trails in the Black Hills. Because it is paved and graded to be handicapped accessible, virtually anyone can enjoy this trail. The trail runs from the Coolidge Store at Custer State Park, along Grace Coolidge Creek, to a campground along Highway 16. The Coolidge Store is about 13 miles east of Custer. Parking is sometimes hard to find during the peak of tourist season. The total length of the trail is about 2 miles, making this an easy "out-and-back" for those who love a mostly shady walk along a mountain stream. There are bighorn sheep in the area, as well as buffalo. The bighorns tend to shy away from people, but the buffalo can be threatening, as we found out on one of our hikes along this trail. On our return, we encountered one big bull that was in the middle of the bridge by the park headquarters, and was determined not to allow anyone to pass by. We did not want to wade through the creek to attempt to safely go around, so we had to walk back along the highway.
The state park has many camping cabins and campsites east of the Coolidge Store, making this a delightful area to explore. There are vehicle fees for Custer State Park. The Lovers Leap Trail is also nearby the store (we cover the Lovers Leap Trail in our "Summits" section). If the Creekside Trail is not enough hiking for you and you would like something a little more challenging to add to your outing, you can cross Highway 16 from the Grace Coolidge Campground at the western end of the Creekside Trail. Off the highway a short ways is the trail to Center Lake and the Grace Coolidge Walk-in Fishing Area. That trail (not paved) is 3 miles long and makes at least a half-dozen crossings over the creek (no bridges). Waterproof hiking boots are a good idea on that trail! It is an easy-to-moderate hike. To download a trail guide and map, click here:
Creekside Trail Guide & Map
The state park has many camping cabins and campsites east of the Coolidge Store, making this a delightful area to explore. There are vehicle fees for Custer State Park. The Lovers Leap Trail is also nearby the store (we cover the Lovers Leap Trail in our "Summits" section). If the Creekside Trail is not enough hiking for you and you would like something a little more challenging to add to your outing, you can cross Highway 16 from the Grace Coolidge Campground at the western end of the Creekside Trail. Off the highway a short ways is the trail to Center Lake and the Grace Coolidge Walk-in Fishing Area. That trail (not paved) is 3 miles long and makes at least a half-dozen crossings over the creek (no bridges). Waterproof hiking boots are a good idea on that trail! It is an easy-to-moderate hike. To download a trail guide and map, click here:
Creekside Trail Guide & Map
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