Mount Roosevelt Trail

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This gradually sloping trail leads to the stone tower on top of Mount Roosevelt. It is located just outside of Deadwood, SD—a perfect stop for any trip to this part of the Black Hills.

The drive is well-signed once you exit U.S. 85 at the turnoff for The Lodge at Deadwood. Access the trail from the unpaved but well-graded Mt. Roosevelt Road. Parking is free, and there is a pit toilet and picnic area.

The trail forms a lollipop loop that you can hike in either direction. On two parts of the loop, there are treeless rocky expanses that provide decent views of the Black Hills with signs pointing out the names of geologic features.

At the top of the mountain, you'll find the historic Friendship Tower, a monument built for President Theodore Roosevelt that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Thanks to a restoration project in 2010, you can climb to the top of this tower for views above the trees. It's a quick and easy hike that provides something else to do when visiting Deadwood.

Seth Bullock, Deadwood's first sheriff, constructed a stone tower as a monument in honor of his friend President Theodore Roosevelt. The Society of Black Hills Pioneers provided funding for the tower, which was dedicated on July 4, 1919. Interpretive signs at the trailhead explain this history in better detail.