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A good wilderness workout in a less than 4-mile hike.


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Map Key

1.9

Miles

3.0

KM

Point to Point

4,851' 1,479 m

High

4,488' 1,368 m

Low

398' 121 m

Up

75' 23 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Unknown

Features River/Creek · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Need to Know

The nearest restrooms are outhouses at the Spring Creek picnic area on Sheridan Lake Road, about 2 miles east of the Spring Creek Trailhead.

Description

Follow #89 trail markers. From the Spring Creek Trailhead, follow the creek until the first bridge. Heading southwest along the creek, the #89 trail marker is easy to miss. Backtrack from the bridge, and you'll easily see the #89 trail marker. Head up the hill. The trail to Dakota Point is a doubletrack most of the way, and is obvious and well-marked. On the return path from Dakota Point, the trail splits, so take the left branch to return on the same path to Spring Creek. The other path is the horse path, and takes you down to the Sheridan Lake dam.

This trail is an excellent alternative hike when the foot bridges on Spring Creek Trail are out of service, which has occurred several times from 2016 through 2019.

The 500-foot elevation change makes this trail a good workout. On the doubletrack, there is not much shade, so this is a good trail for an overcast day or a rainy day. Both trailheads have parking and information boards with maps. The trail next to Spring Creek has a lot of poison ivy and rocks that are slippery in wet weather. Hiking poles are recommended.

Flora & Fauna

Mixed pine forest and mountain meadows. Expect to see white-tailed deer and wild irises.

Contacts

Shared By:

Imre Pattantyus

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 2 votes

#3

in Rapid City

#14304

Overall
  4.0 from 2 votes
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Trail Rankings

#3

in Rapid City

#44

in South Dakota

#14,304

Overall
5 Views Last Month
124 Since Jun 18, 2019
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Spring Creek in September, looking southwest.
Jun 19, 2019 near Colonia…, SD

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
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Check-Ins

Oct 15, 2022
Rebecca Sanders
UPPER SPRING CREEK LOOP/FLUME TRAIL w/ FSC 3.1mi
Apr 27, 2020
Douglas Everson
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