Blue Ribbon - Alkali Creek Trailhead
This trailhead connects to rugged Centrennial Trail and leads
into the backcountry of Fort Mead Recreation Area where there
is plenty of running for your dog on the rolling grounds of the
one-time cavalry post. You can choose from rambles through wooded
lowlands or hill climbing through Ponderosa pine forests.
#2 - Mirror Lakes and Cox Lake
A great place for canine hikers who chaff at the confinement of
formal trails. Wide open fields and meadows are playgrounds for
your dog and there is superb dog paddling in the spring-fed lakes.
#3 - Rapid City Off-Leash Parks
The biggest city in the Black Hills maintains 1500 acres of parkland
and several locations - Wilderness Park, the Braeburn Addition,
and Robbinsdale Park - permit dogs to run off-leash.
#4 - Harney Range Trails
Harney Peak is the highest point in America between the Rocky
Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean and dogs can make the climb to
the summit. Dogs aren't allowed on Mount Rushmore but you can
the see the back of national monument from here.
#5 - Flume Trail
This National Recreation Trail has a bit of everything for the
canine hiker: scenic views, a variety of routes, a bit of history
and lots of swimming available (at Sheridan Lake and Spring Creek).
Dogs are allowed to hike the Flume Trail off-leash on National
Forest lands.
#6 - Swede Gulch Non-Motorized Use Area
This is a timber production area in the Black hills National Forest
where the canine hiking is easy along the old dirt roads. Dogs
can get out and run these trails where vehicle use is banned and
few people come.
#7 - Rapid City Recreation Path
This serpentice cement path connects five separate city parks
in the course of its 13.5 miles. Several trail loops and spurs
radiate away from the main trail stem providing a variety of cnaine
hiking opportunities. As the route hugs Rapid Creek, your dog
may spend as much water time as trail time here.
#8 - Deerfield Lake Loop
Four trailheads provide access around the 10-mile Lake Loop Trail.
A circumnavigation of Deerfield Lake serves up a rich variety
of Black Hills habitat. The mile-high hiking at Deerfield Lake
is gently rolling and suitable for any level of athletic dog.
#9 - Black Hills Experimental Forest
Any length of outing with your dog can be conjured up from spider-web
of easy-to-travel gravel roads and dirt logging trails in the
Black Hills Experimental Forest. This is also a good place to
bring your dog in the winter when taking to the trails on cross-country
skis or snowshoes.
#10 - Carson Draw and Sundance Trail System
There is something for all level of canine hiker on the 17 footpaths
that cover 47.3 miles in the Sundance Trail System. The routes
dip into densely forested, rugged canyons and explore scenic ridgetops.
Some of the routes will test even the most energetic of trail
dogs.