Lovers' Leap Trail
Custer, SD
Lovers' Leap Trail
A loop hike that’s a great family outing, with some ups and downs, a few stream crossings, and many wonderful views. With lots of potential for a fun family outing, this hike combines gentle ups and downs after an initial steep ascent to a ridge. Numerous stream crossings exist here, though none is too difficult. Poison ivy can be abundant along the streams. According to legend, Lovers’ Leap derives its name from a Native American couple who elected to end their lives by plummeting from the lofty outcropping of rocks on a 200-foot ridge. Just why the couple leaped to their deaths is not certain. Today a lone ponderosa pine stands among the conglomerate rocks overlooking the sheer drop of several hundred feet. Not surprisingly, the ridge commands spectacular views of the Black Hills.
Driving Directions
We cannot find this location: please try again.
Directions to: Lovers' Leap Trail
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Custer |
| Length | 3 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 480 ft |
| Skill Level | Moderately strenuous for the first 30 minutes, then moderate to easy |
| Duration | 2 to 4 hours |
| Season | Best late spring through fall |
| Top Elevation | 4,780 ft |
REI MEMBERS: SAVE $20 on a Trails.com Subscription
Subscribe to Trails.com for just $29.95 a year and gain full access to over 49,000 professional trail guides, high-res USGS topo maps & much more!
