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Bike the Centennial Trail This 111-mile multi-use trail runs the length of the Black Hills, from Bear Butte State Park in the north to Wind Cave National Park in the south. The Centennial Trail passes through prairie grasslands and then climbs into the Black Hills high country, skirting lakes and streams along the way. You'll come within one mile of Mount Rushmore, and maybe even closer to the buffalo that roam freely in the area. Other wildlife includes bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, and mountain goats. Bikers share the Centennial Trail with hikers and horses most of the way, but must use an alternate route around Black Elk Wilderness, which is closed to bikes.
Fish 400 Miles of Trout Streams The Black Hills are home to over 400 miles of trout streams and 14 lakes. Sportsmen can cast fly lines in year-round solitude surrounded only by ponderosa pine forests. Brook trout populate the headwaters of the streams, while wild brown trout and stocked rainbow trout inhabit the main stems of the Black Hills waters. This is a dry-fly fishing haven, one where anglers can catch lots of 10- to 14-inch wild brown trout or search for one of the 25-inch browns lurking in the water's darkness.
Hike the Harney Range The Harney Range trail network boasts 50 miles of trail and 14 trailheads. With 12 trails to choose from, you can plan a trip of an hour, a day or several days. The Harney Peak Loop is a combination of four trails starting at the Iron Creek Horse Camp that will take you to the top of 7242-foot Harney Peak, the highest point east of the Rockies. This is a challenging trip, but from the summit, you'll enjoy panoramic views of South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana.
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