From easy lakeside loops to rugged summit climbs, the hills offer hundreds of miles of trail. For South Dakotans, the outdoors is less a pastime than a birthright.

The Centennial Trail runs 111 miles across the length of the Black Hills.

What sets it apart

Trailheads near Custer and Hill City access peaks, canyons and old rail grades. Small as it sounds, it is exactly the sort of thing that defines the experience on the ground.

Rangers advise carrying water, as high trails can be dry and exposed.

Why it matters

What ties it all together is a distinctly South Dakota balance between the wild and the worked-over. Come prepared, respect the land, and South Dakota's wild country will give back in kind.