Backpacker Magazine: South Dakota: Backpacking and Camping Trips, Hikes, Adventures, Topo Maps, Aerial Photos.

Rapid City: Harney Peak

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Backpack under tall Ponderosa pines to the highest peak east of the Rockies then continue to a landscape littered with needle-nose spires on this isolated 6.8-mile loop.

Badlands National Park: Castle-Medicine Root Loop

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
Watch thriving bison herds while surveying million-year-old glacial architecture on this 4.2-mile lasso loop through the largest untouched mixed-grass prairie in North America.

Custer State Park, SD: Little Devils Tower

Submitted by: Backpacker Magazine
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 Dakota’s highest peak.

Badlands National Park: Pinnacles Overlook

BACKPACKER Review
Although short, this popular 0.2-mile trail to Pinnacles Overlook offers big views of Badlands National Park's iconic rock formations.

Badlands National Park: Sage Creek Wilderness Area

BACKPACKER Review
This 22-mile backcountry route weaves through pinnacled formations, serpentine washes, and expansive grasslands in Badlands National Park's Sage Creek Wilderness Area.

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The Peak: Harney Peak, SD

BACKPACKER Review
Explore South Dakota's 7,242-foot high point in a weekend or a day.

Trip Finder: Indian Summer Hikes

BACKPACKER Review
Fall camping season seems to go on forever with these fair-weather weekend trips.

Top 3 CCC Trails

BACKPACKER Review
The Civilian Conservation Corps is turning 75—so celebrate right by hiking its classics.

Quick Fix: South Dakota's Black Hills

BACKPACKER Review
Learn where to bag peaks, visit hidden cold water lakes, and trek through the eroded wonder of Badlands National Park in our Black Hills primer.

Backpack, Bike, and Climb in the Dakotas

BACKPACKER Review
You'll never confused Plains with plain after exploring these hard-changing hiking, biking, and climbing routes.

3 Ways to See: The Dakotas

BACKPACKER Review
Think the Dakotas are just endless prairie? Get ready for climbing, backpacking, and biking of the highest order.

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Gear Lab: Boots Torture Test Can any hiking boot survive 15 minutes in a cement mixer filled with rocks, sticks, dirt, and bricks? Gear Lab aims to find out.	Gear Lab: Tents Torture Test Who wants a mountain tent that buckles under pressure? Not us--so we blasted four top tents with a carwash pressure washer to see which one comes out on top.