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Published on November 23, 2021. Last Updated on August 31, 2025.
Nestled within the breathtaking landscape of Custer State Park in South Dakota’s Black Hills, the Cathedral Spires Trail beckons adventurers to immerse themselves in its stunning natural beauty. As you set off on this remarkable hike, the towering granite spires rise majestically against the sky, their rugged silhouettes captivating every gaze. After an incredible hiking adventure, Buddy and I are sharing our Top 5 Tips for a fun hike on Cathedral Spires Trail.
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It was Day 5 of our South Dakota road trip. Dedicating our entire day to exploring Custer State Park, we spent the morning hiking Sunday Gulch Trail and Sylvan Lake Shore Trail. After canoeing in Sylvan Lake and enjoying a sack lunch, we headed down Needles Highway to hike Cathedral Spires Trail.
The details
Cathedral Spires Trail is a 2.3-mile out & back trail that is listed as strenuous because of a quick elevation gain of 488 feet. The Custer State Park Trail Mix guidebook lists the trail says the trail will take 1-2 hours. We completed the trail in 46 minutes, slightly under an hour. We spent a lot of time at the trail end, enjoying the views and exploring the Black Hills.
Top 5 Tips for a fun hike Cathedral Spires Trail
1. Enjoy the ride!
Driving to the Cathedral Spires trailhead from Sylvan Lake you will take Needles Highway. This path will lead you through the famous one way Needles Eye Tunnel. Keep a look out for the rock formation that looks like a Needles Eye as you drive through. If you are heading east on Needles Highway, the rock formation appears right after you exit the tunnel.
2. Where to Park
There is a small parking lot near the Cathedral Spires trailhead. It is located on a hair pin turn. The area can fill up and become quite busy rather easily. Be careful when parking and crossing the highway to access Cathedral Spires trailhead.
We were very lucky to have found a space to park in the parking lot the afternoon of our visit. It was very busy at that time. Arriving earlier than we did to secure a parking spot is recommended.
3. Be prepare to climb
The most difficult part of the trail is at the beginning. Be prepared to scramble and scale large boulders at the start of the hike. Hang in there! The demanding section of the trail is only for a small stretch. The views on the other side are worth it!
Regarding the boulders, Buddy says “Just be aware the boulders you have to climb over are not as big as you think.”
4. Look for Mountain Goats
There are some beautiful views at the end of the trail and a lot of different areas to explore. A fellow hiker pointed out mountain goats on the rocks above. Look up and keep your eye out for wildlife!
The spires are lovely! We had a great time exploring the different views and climbing up several rock formations at the end of the trail.
5. What to bring
These are just a few recommended items. Please personalize this list, adding to it what you see fit.
The basics: Sunscreen, a water bottle, and a first aid kit like the HART Outdoor Day Hike First Aid Kit available at REI.
When hiking, we also always carry a whistle that also has a compass and thermometer, hand sanitizer, a pocketknife, and bear spray.
I want to note that the bear spray was not necessary on any of our hikes in South Dakota. We have, however, needed it for hikes in Arizona. Luckily, we have never had to use it.
“The scenery was very beautiful.”
Buddy
Bonus Tip: What to wear
Some hiking shoes with ankle support. My go to hiking shoes are the Merrell Women’s Siren Spork Hiking Shoe. This is my third Merrell Siren shoe. I highly recommend them. Buddy wore his Kid’s Hydro H2O Hiker Sandal by Merrell and they worked just fine.
If you are opting for leggings on your hike, leggings with pockets are a must! This is especially true if you want easy access to your phone or the trail map. It is much easier to access these items from a pocket in your leggings than having to shift through your backpack.
I purchased a few of high-quality leggings with pockets from Stitch Fix prior to my hike. Fun fact, you can see the Custer State Park Trail Mix guidebook sticking out of my legging pocket in all of the Movement Postcards we filmed in Custer State Park!
A light jacket. The temperature changes quickly in the mountains and I regretted not bringing a light jacket on this hike.
Final Thoughts
All in all, we had a lot of fun on this hike. The views of the Black Hills were spectacular! We had so much fun that we were inspired to film not one, but three Movement Postcards on the trail.
Have you hiked Custer State Park? What is your favorite trail? Let us know in the comments!
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Hello! We are Yvonne & Buddy and we create family travel blogs based on firsthand knowledge and experiences of a destination. Our goal is to inspire teens, parents, and families to share time together engaging in new experiences whether the destination is near or far from home. Come join us on our travels!
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Wow! Those are some beautiful pictures! Sounds like great fun and gorgeous scenery. I looked for the goat but never found it!
I hope to go there someday before I get too old. 😊
Buddy and I hope you get a chance to visit Custer State Park too! It is really beautiful. We are sure you will love it!
We loved Custer State Park, although we didn’t go on any hikes on our visit. Back then our son was 2 years old. We loved the bisons and the Needles Highway.
We are happy to hear that you had such a great time.