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Trail Conditions
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- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
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Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
Trailforks scans users activity logs to determine the most popular direction each trail is ridden. A good flowing trail network will have most trails flowing in a single direction according to their intension.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
Trail Last Used
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine the last time a trail was ridden.
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
Contribute Details
Colors indicate trail is missing specified detail.
- Description
- Photos
- Description & Photos
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Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months.
Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades.
Think of this as a heatmap, more activities = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
- not popular
ATV/ORV/OHV Filter
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Activity Recordings
Trailforks uses anonymized public activity data.
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Activity Recordings
Trailforks uses anonymized public activity data.
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Winter Trails
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A routing network for winter maps does not exist. Selecting trails using the winter trails layer has been disabled.
Missing Trails
Most Popular
Least Popular
Trails are colored based on popularity. The more popular a trail is, the more red. Less popular trails trend towards green.
Jump Magnitude Heatmap
Heatmap of where users jump on trails. Zoom in to see individual jumps, click circles to view jump details.
BC Backroad Status
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Service Road Atlas is a free to use, community-driven service for viewing and creating reports on the numerous back-country service roads around B.C. and Alberta.
Slope Aspect
Direction the slope faces
Trails Deemphasized
Trails are shown in grey.
Only show trails with no bike usage.
Suggested Layers
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SaveCuster trails and routes are listed on Trailforks with interactive trail maps, difficulty ratings, photos, and user-reported trail conditions. The Trailforks community has shared hundreds of photos from this region. Supported activity types include Hiking, Trail Running, Mountain Biking, Winter Fat Biking, Horseback, E-Biking and Adaptive Biking. Trails here are often rail trail, faint trail and rocky. Scenery includes views, lakes and creeks. Common trail features include rock slabs. Many trails are family friendly. Popular destinations include Custer State Park and Jewel Cave National Monument.
This is an auto-generated description of Custer.
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Trail info last updated
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
27 trails
- E-Bike
8 trails
- Adaptive Bike
7 trails
- Winter Fat Bike
11 trails
- Horse
9 trails
- Hike
50 trails
- Trail Running
46 trails
Region Details
- 1
- 2
- 11
- 10
- 2
- 1
Region Status
Open as of Sep 19, 2026Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 54
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 27
- Trails E-Bike
- 8
- Trails Gravel Bike
- 11
- Trails Adaptive Bike
- 7
- Trails Winter Fat Bike
- 11
- Trails Horse
- 9
- Trails Hike
- 50
- Trails Trail Running
- 46
- Trails Snowshoe
- 2
- Total Distance
- 140 miles
- Total Descent
- 16,418 ft
- Total Vertical
- 3,350 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 7,063 ft
- Reports
- 66
- Photos
- 115
- Completed Counter
- 2,637
Articles
Custer State Park, SD: Little Devils Tower
Sep 19, 2013 from backpacker.com
Scramble up Little Devils Tower on this 3-mile out-and-back that climbs 600 feet to otherworldly views of the Cathedral Spires and South...
Sub Regions
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Custer State Park
- 1
- 6
- 5
- 1
- 1
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Jewel Cave National Monument
- 1
- 1
Popular Custer Mountain Biking Trails
• 100 ★ 5.0 • 5 miles • 16 ft • 244 •
This section of the Mickelson Trail is located in a beautiful forested area with great scenery including a series of larger granite formations. There is a per person user fee for the Mickelson Trail with passes available at all trail heads.
• 100 ★ 0.0 • 9 miles • 229 ft • 167 •
This section of the Mickelson Trail follows US-385. You are still in the hills and there is some nice scenery. There is a per person user fee for the Mickelson Trail with passes available at all trail heads.
• 95 ★ 0.0 • 3 miles • 2 ft • 126 •
This short section of the Mickelson Trail follows US-385. You are still in the hills with nice scenery. There is a per person user fee for the Mickelson Trail with passes available at all trail heads.
• 85 ★ 0.0 • 16 miles • 337 ft • 114 •
This section of the Mickelson Trail is one of the longer stretches of the trail and starts the descent down onto the prairie. The alignment roughly follows SD-89 but deviates away from the highway multiple times providing a bit more of...
• 90 ★ 0.0 • 3 miles • 131 ft • 89 •
This spur off the Mickelson Trail connects Custer with Stockade Lake. There are great views into the Harney Range off to the north. There is a per person user fee for the Mickelson Trail with passes available at all trail heads.
• 80 ★ 4.5 • 8 miles • 2,129 ft • 82 •
This trail is a section of decommissioned trail #1 which people refuse to let die. The section north of America Center Road to Sylvan Lake is one of the best difficult trails in the Black Hills. The ride follows mainly tight single...
• 70 ★ 4.0 • 5 miles • 1,106 ft • 32 •
Popular black diamond difficulty singletrack. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions and has a hard overall physical rating with a 1,106 ft black diamond climb. It features rock garden. On average it takes 1 hour7 minutes to complete this trail.
• 75 ★ 0.0 • 2 miles • 91 ft • 22 •
Popular white difficulty paved path. This mountain bike primary trail can be used both directions. Trail visibility is always easy to follow. On average it takes 1 hour35 minutes to complete this trail.
Custer Mountain Bike Routes
5 miles • 1,099 ft • 1 • Loop •
This trail ascends a steep incline for about one-half mile, then follows a limestone cliff overlooking...
Photos of Custer Mountain Bike
Videos of Custer Mountain Bike
Recent Trail Reports
Activity Feed
| username | action | type | title | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| thetileman | wishlist | trail | activity #105049646 | Oct 2, 2026 @ 10:39am 1 day |
| thetileman | ridden | trail | activity #105049633 | Oct 2, 2026 @ 10:39am 1 day |
| thetileman | wishlist | trail | activity #105019061 | Oct 1, 2026 @ 9:04pm 2 days |
| BraydenhCPC5L | wishlist | trail | activity #105003147 | Oct 1, 2026 @ 3:12pm 2 days |
| Shadow-fax | comment | trail | activity #104212866 | Sep 20, 2026 @ 7:36am Sep 20, 2026 |
Recent Comments
| username | type | title | comment | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trail | Trail is almost entirely two track, however... | Sep 20, 2026 @ 7:36am Sep 20, 2026 | ||
| trail | Old school, rugged singletrack. Fairly steep... | Sep 19, 2026 @ 7:01pm Sep 19, 2026 | ||
| trail | Tall grass in places but all downed trees... | Jun 30, 2025 @ 9:51am Jun 30, 2025 | ||
| trail | Rode today, trail is clear and ruding very well. | Aug 25, 2024 @ 1:17pm Aug 25, 2024 | ||
| trail | This was cool. Starting in the canyon was... | Jul 3, 2024 @ 11:24am Jul 3, 2024 |
Local Badges
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Epic Ride Climb 2k12 awarded -
Climbing 10k Badge3 awarded -
Climbing 100k Badge0 awarded -
Epic Ride Descent 2k11 awarded -
Descent 10k Badge2 awarded -
Descent 100k Badge0 awarded
Local Products
Activity Type Stats
| activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | activity logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Bike | 27 | 97 miles | 10,177 ft | 53 miles | 2,425 ft | #2,971 | #5 | 62 | 65 | 1 | 1,211 | |
| E-Bike | 8 | 49 miles | 4,081 ft | 30 miles | 1,568 ft | #3,908 | #15 | 52 | 74 | |||
| Gravel Bike | 14 | 53 miles | 4,088 ft | 34 miles | 1,841 ft | #5,704 | #1,844 | 17 | 30 | |||
| Adaptive Bike | 7 | 49 miles | 3,875 ft | 32 miles | 1,568 ft | #2,001 | #1 | 17 | ||||
| Winter Fat Bike | 11 | 72 miles | 7,769 ft | 41 miles | 2,238 ft | #1,007 | #2 | 35 | 1 | |||
| Horse | 9 | 28 miles | 2,799 ft | 9 miles | 1,765 ft | #1,571 | #6 | 4 | 1 | 9 | ||
| Hike | 50 | 140 miles | 16,417 ft | 69 miles | 3,350 ft | #494 | #1 | 53 | 66 | 4 | 1,202 | |
| Trail Running | 46 | 137 miles | 15,820 ft | 68 miles | 3,350 ft | #1,681 | #2 | 66 | 1 | 139 | ||
| Snowshoe | 2 | 4 miles | 528 ft | 2 miles | 1,555 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the best places to ride in Custer?
Custer has 2 areas to explore for mountain biking. The top rated areas are:
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What are the highest rated mountain biking trails in Custer?
The highest rated mountain biking trails in Custer are:
- Paha Sapa Trail (4.3/5)
- Mickelson Trail - Mountain TH (49.6) to Custer TH (44.5) (4.1/5)
- Lovers' Leap Trail (4.1/5)
- Centennial Trail - (French Creek TH - Highland Creek TH) (4/5)
- Hell Canyon Trail (4/5)
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Where can I park to ride in Custer?
There are 10 parking locations listed in Custer. The most popular parking spots are: View all parking and trailhead locations on the map to plan your visit.
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What is the longest trail in Custer?
The longest trail in Custer is Mickelson Trail - Pringle TH (32.1) to Minnekahta TH (16.2) at 16.3 miles. View all trails sorted by distance.
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What are the best & highest rated hiking trails in Custer?
The best hiking trails in Custer are:
- South Stockade Lake Loop
- Legion Lake Trail
- North Stockade Lake Loop Trail
- Black Elk Peak (South)
- Little Devils Tower (Tower Spur)
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What are the best & highest rated trail running trails in Custer?
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How many trails are in Custer?
Custer has a total of 54 trails. Of those, 27 are designated for mountain biking. Browse top mountain biking trails in Custer to find detailed information including difficulty ratings, distances, and trail conditions.
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Which trail has the most elevation gain in Custer?
The trail with the most elevation gain in Custer is Paha Sapa Trail with 2,129 ft of elevation gain. View all trails sorted by elevation gain.
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Which trail has the most elevation descent in Custer?
The trail with the most elevation descent in Custer is Centennial Trail - (French Creek TH - Highland Creek TH) with 1,355 ft of elevation descent. View all trails sorted by elevation descent.
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What activities are most popular in Custer?
Custer supports the following activities: Mountain Biking, E-Biking, Adaptive Biking, Winter Fat Biking, Horseback, Hiking, Trail Running.
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What are the steepest mountain biking trails in Custer?
The steepest mountain biking trail in Custer is Mt. Coolidge Road / Trail with an average grade of 5.1%. View all trails sorted by grade.
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Are there any trails with scenic viewpoints in Custer?
Yes, there are 1 scenic viewpoints marked along trails in Custer. Some popular viewpoints include: Explore more points of interest to find trails with the best views.
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Are the trails open in Custer?
The overall region status for Custer is Clear / Green. Out of 21 trails:
- Clear / Green: 20
- Significant Issue / Amber: 1
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Can I ride an ebike in Custer?
Yes, Custer supports e-bike riding. There are 8 trails in Custer that allow e-bikes. Check the e-bike trails listing for specific trail access details and any local regulations.
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What are the most popular mountain biking routes in Custer?
The most popular mountain biking routes in Custer are: View all mountain biking routes in Custer.
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What is the highest summit in Custer?
The highest summit in Custer is Little Devil's Tower at 6,808 ft elevation.
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What are the most popular Strava Segments in Custer?
The most popular Strava segments in Custer are:
- Down to Custer (4,564 athletes)
- Mt. Trailhead Sprint (3,527 athletes)
- start of gravel to old sawmill rd. (3,326 athletes)
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Are there accessible or adaptive trails in Custer?
Yes, there are 7 accessible/adaptive trails in Custer. View all adaptive trails in Custer for specific accessibility information.
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What are the most popular mountain biking trails in Custer?
The most popular mountain biking trails in Custer are:
- Paha Sapa Trail
- Mickelson Trail - Mountain TH (49.6) to Custer TH (44.5)
- Hell Canyon Trail
- Centennial Trail - (French Creek TH - Highland Creek TH)
- Centennial Trail (Iron Creek TH - Badger Hole TH)
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What are the best beginner ride trails in Custer?
The best beginner mountain biking trails in Custer are:
- Mickelson Trail - Mountain TH (49.6) to Custer TH (44.5) (5/5)
- Mickelson Trail - Custer TH (44.5) to White Elephant TH (35.7) (0/5)
- Mickelson Trail - White Elephant TH (35.7) to Pringle TH (32.1) (0/5)
Activities
Trails
Points of Interest
- By nadacaring & contributors
- Admins: BHT
- #12517 - 7,226 views
- custer activity log | embed map of Custer mountain bike trails | custer mountain biking points of interest
Downloading of trail gps tracks in kml & gpx formats is enabled for Custer.
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