Bear Mountain

BEAR MOUNTAIN ABILITY RATING AND TERRAIN TYPE: Easy to More Difficult

LENGTH: Approximately 16.1 miles

With all the wonderful trails in the Black Hills , this is another area that I haven't had a chance to explore fully yet. This trail gives you a high mountain ride as it offers a wide range of difficulties as it takes you up draws, along ridges and out to spectacular overlooks with some of the best views in the Southern Black Hills . Starting at the Medicine Mountain Boy Scout Camp, which has overnight parking and restroom facilities, the Southern route climbs about 1000 feet in little over a mile to Bear Mountain . Bear Mountain itself is one of the highest peaks in the Black Hills with an elevation of 7,153 feet. It has a key fire lookout which is located at the end of a 400 yard spur off Trail 25. Back on Trail 25, you'll continue the ride by following a limestone rim around to the Grand Vista Draw. From here, you can follow Trail 25A to the Grand Vista Overlook where you can see over 30 mountains and hills as you sit on top of the 7,040 foot high peak. If you continue on Trail 25, you'll head down a scattered aspen and pine draw to Trail 23. Trail 23 heads North up Long Draw or East down Spring Creek to take you back to the trailhead. This area is well-known for it's rich wildlife. Here you can find whitetail and mule deer as well as elk, grouse, turkeys, coyotes, or an occasional mountain lion. (For more information on wildlife in the Black Hills , click on our Wildlife And Not So Wild Life page of the website.) HOW TO GET THERE: From Crazy Horse Monument on Highway 16, head South on Highway 16 toward the City of Custer . Turn right onto Forest Service Road #297 and follow it to Forest Service Road #317. The Medicine Mountain Boy Scout Camp will be on your left, approximately 9 miles from Highway 16.

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The Big Hill Trail System