Dog-Friendly Activities Near Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer, SD, US

Take a drive to the pet-friendly Needles Highway in Custer, SD. This spectacular trip through ponderosa pine and Black Hills spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen and rugged granite mountains can't be missed if you're visiting South Dakota. The name comes from the needle-like granite formations that sprout out of the ground.

The pet-friendly Sunday Gulch Trail is a popular hike in Custer State Park, located in Custer, SD. At nearly four miles in length, this trail is considered quite difficult as a bit of scrambling is required. The trail will take you near Sylvan Lake. In the beginning, you’ll traverse over large boulders down a valley to some great views of big granite spires and the northern Black Hills all around you. There are handrails to aid you in your journey along the pathway. You'll be pleased they're there on the way back down. Leashed pups are allowed to join, but make sure to clean up after them.

The Sylvan Lake Shore Trailhead is the starting point for a pet-friendly hike around Sylvan Lake in Custer, SD. It's a 1.1-mile easy loop trail that'll take under 30 minutes to complete with Fido. The area offers opportunities for hiking, camping, swimming and fishing.

Leashed pets are allowed to share the Crazy Horse Memorial experience with their human companions, which is located in Crazy Horse, SD. Pets are welcome at the dog-friendly outdoor viewing veranda and outdoor exhibits. Pups small enough to be comfortably carried or contained are allowed in any of the buildings except for the restaurant or the snack bar. Pets are not permitted on the bus rides to the bottom of the mountain.

Bring your pooch to the fenced Custer Bark Park, and make some new canine friends in Custer, SD! The space is divided into separate sections for small and large dogs. It's also the only fenced dog park within a 50-mile radius. Humans can hang out under the gazebo when the weather is sunny. Bring your pooch to play, but don't forget to clean up any mess that they leave behind.

Little Devil's Tower Trailhead is a pet-friendly hike to take on with your pooch in Custer, SD. The trail is 3.6 miles in length and is best used between April to October, ending up at a rocky outcrop. Dogs are welcome on a leash, as long as all mess is cleaned up after them.

Black Elk Peak is a pet-friendly trail in Keystone. If you're visiting nearby attraction the Crazy Horse Memorial, spend an afternoon hiking up one of the greatest lookouts in the state. At just over six miles, the trail is no walk in the park, but the stone fire tower that blends into the rock provides unbelievable views from the top and makes the journey worthwhile. The trail is rated as moderate and can be completed in a few hours.

The George S. Mickelson Trail is one of 1600 rail-trails supported by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that is working to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors. Previously an unused railroad corridor, this "rail-trail" is now a great place to walk Fido in Custer! The map below shows a trailhead where you can pick up the George S. Mickelson Trail. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has generously provided map data for this trail to Bring Fido for informational purposes only. For more detailed trail information, please visit TrailLink.com.