more stats
3,172 ft
Distance
151 ft
Climb
-187 ft
Descent
00:05:50
Avg time
-35 ft
Altitude change
4,717 ft
Altitude min
4,816 ft
Altitude max
4,789 ft
Altitude start
4,753 ft
Altitude end
-1.117%
Grade
-28.622%
Grade max
31.728%
Grade min
1,241 ft
Distance climb
1,778 ft
Distance down
154 ft
Distance flat
00:05:50
Avg time

Turkey Feather Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Winter Fat Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Shanks Trail System
    Rapid City, South Dakota
  • Difficulty Rating
    Double Black Diamond Rate
  • Local Popularity
    30 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 45 in Trail Running
    • 40 in Hiking
    • 5 in Winter Fat Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #134332 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #30624 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Fat
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Rock Garden
  • Land Owner
    USFS

Turkey Feather is a very technical, marginally benched narrow trail that is not for the faint of heart and can be included in a number of loops.

This trail is unsanctioned.

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 1 rides
  • 21 miles average
6 Months
  • 5 rides
  • 14 miles avg distance
All
  • 24 rides
  • Last: Sep 14, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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update trails status or condition

Turkey Feather Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
May 16, 2026 @ 9:49am (America/North_Dakota/New_Salem)
May 16, 2026
Jul 3, 2023 @ 6:35pm
Jul 3, 2023
 Great views! Don’t recommend it when wet, there is some significant exposure.
Nov 18, 2019 @ 12:34pm
Nov 18, 2019
 Mostly clear, little bit of snow on the northern expose in the trees. Still rideable
Jun 6, 2019 @ 6:12pm
Jun 6, 2019
 Large tree down across trail, blocking trail
Jul 29, 2018 @ 8:38am
Jul 29, 2018
 Slightly damp from recent rain
more »
Status:
on May 16, 2026
Ideal
no votes yet
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to turkey-feather trailhead (44.081320, -103.414000)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      4 more »
      mtb
      58 |
      May 18, 2026 @ 8:09am
      May 18, 2026
      mtb
      43 |
      May 18, 2026 @ 8:09am
      May 18, 2026
      mtb
      122 |
      Jul 3, 2023 @ 6:33pm
      Jul 3, 2023
      mtb
      155 |
      Jul 3, 2023 @ 6:33pm
      Jul 3, 2023

      Videos

      no videos have been added for Turkey Feather yet, add a video.

      Routes with this trail

      38
      Black Hills Ride?
      11 miles • 1,369 ft • 8 •
      could be fun for our ride

      3 Reviews & Comments

      superacingurl superacingurl
      Looks like more motos are using than MTN bikes but it would be great to see more MTB use this, cool trail!!!

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      Nearby Trails

      Shanks Trail System

      • #114930 - 1,117 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Turkey Feather located?
      Turkey Feather is located in Shanks Trail System, Rapid City, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Shanks Trail System trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 44.08132, -103.414.
      ▼ How hard is Turkey Feather?
      Turkey Feather is rated as Double Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 1.117%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Turkey Feather?
      Turkey Feather has 151 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 187 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 4,717 ft to 4,816 ft.
      ▼ Is Turkey Feather a point to point trail?
      Turkey Feather is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Turkey Feather?
      Turkey Feather is 3,172 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Turkey Feather?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Turkey Feather. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Turkey Feather?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Turkey Feather are:
      • June (3 activities)
      • May (2 activities)
      • April (1 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Turkey Feather? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Turkey Feather are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Turkey Feather?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 13 minutes to ride Turkey Feather. The trail is 3,172 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Turkey Feather?
      Turkey Feather is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 170 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 171 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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