PIERRE, S.D. – Angostura Recreation Area near Hot Springs and Custer State Park near Custer will be hosting several trail events to celebrate National Trails Day on June 4.
Make plans to participate in National Trails Day at one or more of the following events:
 | Wading Through a Mixed-Grass Prairie. Custer at 9 a.m. at the Wildlife Station Visitor Center on Wildlife Loop Road. At one time, the grassland habitats of North America were considered a waste of precious space. Today, outdoor enthusiasts have discovered the benefits and beauty of the prairie, as a home for a diversity of life, including wildflowers, grasses, mammals, reptiles and birds. Following an easy to moderated hiking trail, participants should be prepared to discover the uniqueness of the park’s mixed-grass prairie. |
| Explore the Prairie Hike. Angostura at 9:30 a.m. at the trailhead in the north unit of the park. The guided nature hike will take participants into a mixed-grass prairie habitat to explore for animals and the often-unseen beauty on the ground. The morning hours are an excellent time to observe wildlife – particularly birds – and participants are encouraged to bring binoculars and bird identification books. |
| Angostura Breaks Nature Trail Work Project. Angostura, beginning at 1 p.m. at the trailhead in the north unit of the park. Groups and individuals are being sought to help maintain and improve the condition of much-enjoyed and heavily-used trail. Tools will be provided by the park, and volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own if possible. Full details of the projects can be found on the state parks website. |
| Lover’s Leap Trek. Custer at 1 p.m. at the Peter Norbeck Visitor Center. This trek will lead visitors through the forest and riparian habitats along Galena Creek on the Lover’s Leap Trail in the central portion of Custer State Park. On the hike, participants will observe habitats of all kinds, from snags (dead trees) to rocky outcroppings, and from a burned forest landscape to a mountainous stream. The hike is considered moderate to strenuous, and participants are encouraged to bring binoculars. |
| Trekking Through a Geologic Wonderland Walk in the Park: Little Devil’s Tower. Custer at 1 p.m, at the Little Devil’s Tower trailhead. The approximate three-mile hike will take visitors on a journey to one of the highest peaks in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Little Devil's Tower Trail follows a rocky path through a mixed, spruce-pine forest and meanders through a geological wonderland. Participants will learn about the geology of the region and how the rocks and minerals dictate the type of plants and animals living within the central Black Hills. The guided walk is part of a series of educational, guided hikes held throughout the year in South Dakota state parks, recreation areas and nature preserves. Park staff and volunteers lead the Walk in the Park programs, which are co-sponsored by the SD Department of Health. |
| Discovering Nature Walk in the Park. Angostura at 6:30 p.m., at the trailhead in the north unit of the park. Participants will learn about the variety of plants and animals that live on the prairie landscape in southwestern South Dakota. The guided walk is part of a series of educational, guided hikes held throughout the year in South Dakota state parks, recreation areas and nature preserves. Park staff and volunteers lead the Walk in the Park programs, which are co-sponsored by the SD Department of Health. |
There is no cost to participate in the walks, although a park entrance license is required. Visitors are encouraged to dress according to the weather and to wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes. Binoculars are welcome. Concessionaires are located in both parks and offer snacks and drinks.
In addition to these guided events, visitors are encouraged to use the day to get out and explore the 664 miles of trails in the South Dakota state parks on their own. For more information, contact Custer State Park at (605) 255-4464 and Angostura Recreation Area at (605) 745-6996. A list of events at South Dakota state parks can be found at www.sdgfp.info/Parks.
National Trails Day is a nationwide trails celebration, bringing together thousands of outdoor enthusiasts annually on the first Saturday of June. This year’s theme is "Take the path to the healthier you," reminding everyone that trails provide a fun and healthy way to explore the outdoors at all times of the year.
For more information on National Trails Day and other events, visit www.AmericanHiking.org.
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