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Home › South Dakota › Sunday Gulch Trail
About the Trail
The Sunday Gulch Trail is one of the most scenic trails in South Dakota. It starts next to Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park and descends into a spectacular gulch before ascending back to Sylvan Lake. There are many stunning views of rocky pinnacles on the ascent back to the lake.
Map
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Directions
From Custer, SD, take SD 89 north for about 6 miles and take a right onto SD 87. Pay the entrance fee and take a left onto the Sylvan Day Use Road to get to the trailhead. From Hill City, SD take Hwy 385 south for 3.2 miles and take a left on to the Needles Highway (SD 87). Follow this road 5.8 miles and take a left and then pay the entrance fee for Custer State Park. Soon after, take a left onto the Sylvan Day Use Road to get to the trailhead.
Description
From the parking area, take the trail to the north of the parking area. Almost immediately, take a left towards Sylvan Lake and then a right on the Sylvan Lake Loop. The trail ascends and then descends a small hill by interesting spires along Sylvan Lake. Now the trail climbs steeply up to a rocky area to the north of the lake before descending into gulch below Sylvan Lake. Here a water flows in a chasm from the lake into Sunday Gulch. Th Sunday Gulch Trail begins just past the falls. After the sign, the Sunday Gulch trail goes by a huge cliff to the left before descending numerous slippery rocks and stairs into the gulch. There are many excellent views of towering spires and small cascades in the forested gulch. After the narrow area of the gulch, the trail descends further in a forest before reaching another narrow area in the gulch with more stairs to descend. There is a nice small cascade in this area. The trail descends some more and crosses under power lines at the lowest part of the hike before ascending. Soon excellent views of spires are reached. After this, the trail passes by a marker the rock before curving around and ascending some more near the Needles Highway. Soon the top is reached where more views are found. A stunning view of Black Elk Peak can be found here. Now the trail descends and curves through rocky pinnacles back to a junction with the Sylvan Lake Trail. Take a left and descend below a dam back to the original start of the Sunday Gulch Trail. Take the Sylvan Lake Trail back to the parking area.
| Hike Facts | Trailhead Facts | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥾 Trail Features: | A very scenic lake, a spectacular gulch, a nice falls, excellent views, stunning rock spires and a nice forest. | 🥾 Parking: | A large paved parking area. There is additional park in a large dirt lot next to the paved parking area. | 🥾Nearest Services | The town of Custer, South Dakota has plenty of services like food, gas and lodging. Hill City, South Dakota is also nearby. |
| 🥾 Milage: | 3.9 mi/6.28 km | 🥾 Acccess Road: | Paved | 🥾 Nearest Lodging: | Sylvan Lake Lodge is the closest lodge and is extremely close by. Custer and Hill City has plenty of other accommodations. |
| 🥾 Elevation Gain: | 790 ft/240.79 m | 🥾 Trailhead Features: | Parking, signs, bathroom and picnic tables. | 🥾 Nearest Camping: | Sylvan Lake Campground is the closet campground. Open from Open House Weekend in May to October 1. |
| 🥾 Trail Use/Surface: | 🥾 Trailhead Elevation: | 6185 ft/1885.19 m | |||
| 🥾 Pets: | Yes | 🥾 Park Hours: | 24 | ||
| 🥾 Crowds: | Yes | 🥾 Fee: | $20.00 for a 7 day license per vehicle and $36.00 for an annual pass. | ||
| 🥾 Bugs: | Yes | 🥾 Best Season: | All year. |
Handicap Acccessibility
No
Tips for a Great Hike
🥾 Carry plenty of water and wear footwear with good traction.
🥾 This trail has rough footing throughout the hike.
🥾 This is a top-down hike. The hike could be difficult for those don't care for all the uphill on the way back up to Sylvan Lake.
🥾 The Sunday Gulch Trail begins on the Sylvan Lake Loop Trail.
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Recommended Resources
custer state park info page link
state park trails guide link
custer state park map link