Cathedral Spires Trail Hiking Guide
The Cathedral Spires Trail climbs from the Needles Highway into a hidden basin ringed by granite pillars hundreds of feet tall. It is under two miles round trip, but the climb is steep and rocky with some scrambling over boulders. The spires are a National Natural Landmark, and the basin at the end feels far removed from the road below.
Permit: Custer State Park requires a park entrance license before you enter or park: $25 per vehicle or $20 per motorcycle, valid 1 to 7 days, sold at the entrance stations or online. Annual licenses are $40 for South Dakota residents and $60 for nonresidents.
Distance, Gain and Rating
AllTrails maps the out-and-back at 1.7 miles with 475 feet of gain and calls it moderate. Custer State Park lists 1.2 miles round trip, allows one to two hours and rates it strenuous, citing a steep scramble over boulders. The climb is concentrated in a short distance, so the pitch is steeper than the numbers suggest. The trail is well marked but connects with Trail 4 and the Little Devils Tower trail, so follow the signs at each junction.
What You See
The trail ends in a mountain basin walled in by the spires. The park says they were named for their resemblance to the organ pipes at the back of a cathedral, and that Gutzon Borglum considered carving them before he chose Mount Rushmore and found the granite here unsuitable.
Parking Is the Hard Part
The park's staff note says parking is limited, and AllTrails reports that the lot on the Needles Highway fills, with mid-morning the busiest time. Arrive early or try late afternoon. Do not park along the highway's narrow shoulders; the road is a winding scenic drive with tunnels only 8 to 9 feet wide nearby.
Seasons and the Road
The Needles Highway shuts to cars once the season's first snow falls and stays shut until April 1 at the earliest, so this trail is effectively a late-spring-to-fall hike unless you walk or ski in on the closed road. In summer, the park warns of frequent thunderstorms with hail, lightning and strong wind; the open rock at the top is no place to be when one arrives.
License and Dogs
To park you need the state park's entrance license, which costs $25 per vehicle and covers up to seven days. Dogs may come along on a leash of 10 feet or less, but the boulder sections are awkward for them; small or older dogs will need lifting.
Hiking tips for Cathedral Spires Trail
- Get to the Needles Highway lot early; it is small and fills quickly.
- Wear shoes that grip granite; parts of the trail are bare rock.
- Plan for the park's one to two hours despite the short distance.
- Follow the trail signs at the Trail 4 and Little Devils Tower junctions.
- Head down if storms build; the basin offers little shelter.
Nearby trails to explore
- Little Devils Tower Trail
- Sylvan Lake Shore Trail
- Black Elk Peak Trail 9 from Sylvan Lake
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Cathedral Spires is a short hike with a big payoff, ideal for a morning before the lot fills. Use TrailMates to find Black Hills hikers headed to the Cathedral Spires. Download the TrailMates app to connect.