Plan with
Confidence
Please stay on the trail and respect those participating in religious activities. Do not disturb or photograph prayer cloths and tobacco ties. A buffalo herd roams the base of the butte. Buffalo are dangerous, please do not approach. Possession or consumption of alcohol at Bear Butte State Park east of Highway 79 is prohibited. Bear Butte is a sacred site for many people and will be respected as such.
Path Type
There and Back
Start from the parking lot and head through pine trees and prairie up switchbacks. Go through several rock outcroppings before heading up towards the summit. This section passes through some scree and talus and continues to switchback up the mountain. The trail reaches the summit with a viewing platform and information about the surrounding view. Take a few minutes to look at the vast expanse of prairie, the northern Black Hills and the town of Sturgis.
For history on this trail visit the Bear Butte State Park website, provided by South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks.
No Condition Reports
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