Best Kid Friendly Trails in Custer State Park

Love this hike! So pretty and relaxing! Very dog friendly!

Very fun hike to do! The water crossings are a little intimidating with a toddler in structured carrier, but is definitely doable. There are many beautiful spots to stop and lots of wildlife! We were not able to finish as the crossing towards the end (logs included) were just too much to do.

I love this trail. It is an easy, but beautiful trail with many stream crossings. My dog loves it as well.

Sylvan is my favorite part of the hills. This hike is great to take with kids and get a great view of all the scenery. If you go during a hot day, you can finish the hike with a dip in the lake.

Beautiful hike and not overly difficult. A little work involved but the value of the scenery well outweighs the work to get there.

This is a five star trail simply for the scenery. Sylvan Lake is absolutely gorgeous. Very simple walk/hike. Anyone in relatively decent health can complete this trail.

Great trail with great views. Some areas require using your hands to climb up rocky areas.

Nice quick hike in CSP. The trail was snow covered in most parts but was able to follow it easily using the blue markers.

An easy walk, great for kids. Brought our 2 dogs and they loved it too!

Spectacular views, very steep section of trail climbing over boulders. Saw a family of 4 mountain goats near the trailhead on the way back!

Beautiful trail. Alternates between open grassland and pine or oak wooded areas with a couple of stream crossings. Gorgeous views. Encountered a herd of bison about half way but was able to skirt around them at a safe distance. Note: the park rates this as a moderate trail and I would agree since the inclines are fairly steep and long - just didn’t feel like an ‘easy’ trail.

Beautiful lake, beautiful scenery!!

Very pretty hike!

This hike is easy to moderate, climbing up and down rocks at times. Views of needles rock outcroppings. Good variety of scenery. The Needles Highway is closed in winter.

Absolutely beautiful! Fall colors, babbling brooks, incredible vistas. My kids loved the rock sculptures as well. Highly recommended and we will be back:)

Fun and adventurous out and back. Good amount of climbing and absolutely breathtaking views of amazing rock formations. Would hike this a million times over.

Semi dog friendly. The climbs and descent are dog friendly for bigger dogs only. We have a Sheprador and she made it fine.

Solid 2 miles one way/4 round trip. We only did because we had two small kids who were nearing naptime. I would cut this walk in half by parking at the General Store and walking the 2 miles through the more wooded section.

As a 64 yr old this is a perfect hike for me. Not too hard but not easy either. Last 1/2 mile is definitely more challenging than the rest of the way up. Done this hike twice. Both times was a lot colder & windier at the top. Be prepared for that.

One of the prettiest trails we have taken. We hiked all the way up to Black Elk mountain (formerly Harney Peak). 5.8 miles round trip. It connects to trail #4 and then trail #9 to the top.

Easy and beautiful! Sylvan Lake is gorgeous!

great views and definitely take the trailhead 4 to little devil's tower peak. The views are amazing

Easy yet beautiful walk around the lake. North side of the lake was less groomed and harder for the older group but they made it. Damn 20$ to get in though.

:)

Great hike!

Easy and peaceful. Pretty little streams and dam crossings throughout. It felt like the setting of a Disney movie. We accidentally startled a few white tail deer who were grazing in the middle of the trail. We hiked at dusk.

This was a wonderful hike. Pretty busy but spectacular rock formations and views. Take the spur to Trail 4 and over to Little Devil's Tower, scramble up the bare rock outcroppings at the end and survey the area.

Great hike on a great day. This is a really nice hike especially if you slow down and enjoy it. Great rock formations, some beautiful views, possibility of a mountain goat sighting and we saw a really nice size hornets nest. Mostly moderate but an occasional strenuous portion because of the elevation change and some big steps from rock to rock. With some patience and water it is doable for most and well worth it.

The combination of Cathedral Spires trail and a portion of the Black Elk trail was spectacular. Pine trees, a few aspen, Little Devil's Tower, the ascent to the top of Black Elk Mountain (highest elevation point east of Rockies), beautiful views along the entire trail and a good exercise. Plenty places to stop for a snack and enjoy amazing views. One of the best trails I have experienced.

great scenery at the lake. doable by most.