Wind Cave National Park guide · 1 min read
Lookout Point and Centennial Trail Loop
The Lookout Point Trail and Centennial Trail Loop links two trails into a single 4.8-mile circuit.
The route is rated easy to moderate, with about 550 feet of total climb, and most hikers should plan on two to three hours. It offers a good look at the park above ground, which many visitors overlook in favor of the cave tours.
Much of the loop crosses fields of prairie grass and stands of ponderosa pine. Above ground, the park holds a large area of mixed-grass prairie, and this hike takes you through it. Prairie dog towns are a regular feature along the way, and the animals make plenty of noise as you pass. Bison are common here, and elk and pronghorn are also possible.
The Lookout Point Trail is the section many hikers remember most. From its views you look out over wide prairies and across an area that burned in a wildfire in 1999. The trail ends at Beaver Creek.
The Centennial Trail is part of a much longer route, a 111-mile trail that runs through the Black Hills. On this loop you walk a section of it, so you can get a taste of the trail without committing to its full length.
Wildlife viewing is a highlight of the hike. Because the trail keeps you away from roads and cars, watching bison from the grass can feel very different from seeing them out a car window.
