Sunday Gulch Trail Hiking Guide
Sunday Gulch drops from behind the Sylvan Lake dam into a narrow granite canyon, follows a creek through boulders and small waterfalls, and climbs back out through the pines. It is short, but Custer State Park rates it strenuous and says many rescues happen here because hikers underestimate it. Go for the scramble and the shade, and go prepared to get your feet wet.
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.
How Long and How Hard
AllTrails maps the loop at 4 miles with 764 feet of gain and calls it moderate. The park's own trail guide gives 3 miles, two to four hours and a strenuous rating, and says about a quarter of the hike involves scrambling over mossy rock beside small falls and pools. The park's staff note is blunt: rescues are common because people arrive unprepared for how rugged the middle section is. Treat the shorter mileage as no indication of an easy walk.
The Gorge Section
The trail leaves near the dam and drops steeply into the gulch on a natural stone staircase, where the park has installed handrails along the steepest rock. Below that you hop across the creek several times, and the park map marks the crossings with a plain warning that you will get wet. The canyon walls are tight enough that the park says the bottom can run 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the lake on a summer day, which makes this a good pick when the open trails are baking.
Clockwise or Counterclockwise
Hikers argue about direction. Some prefer to start at the dam and go down the handrail section first; others would rather climb up it, where the rails help more. Recent reviewers on AllTrails are split almost evenly. Either way, the rock stays slick when wet, so if it has rained or the creek is running high, take your time on the descent and test each foothold.
Dogs and Kids
Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 10 feet, the park's rule everywhere outside buildings and swim beaches. AllTrails' trail description warns you may need to lift your dog down several ledges near the start, and recent reviewers say only agile dogs manage it comfortably. The same goes for small children: the scramble is fun for confident kids but not for anyone unsteady on wet stone.
Parking at Sylvan Lake
The trailhead shares the Sylvan Lake lot with the lakeshore loop and Trail 9 to Black Elk Peak, so it fills early on summer and fall weekends. Every vehicle needs a Custer State Park license, $25 for one to seven days. The park notes there are no restrooms anywhere along its trails.
Hiking tips for Sunday Gulch Trail
- Wear shoes with real tread and plan on wet feet at the creek crossings.
- Skip the gorge after heavy rain, when the rock and crossings are at their slickest.
- Budget the park's two to four hours, not the mileage, for the loop.
- Be ready to lift a dog down the ledges near the dam.
- Arrive before mid-morning to find a spot in the Sylvan Lake lot.
Nearby trails to explore
- Sylvan Lake Shore Trail
- Black Elk Peak Trail 9 from Sylvan Lake
- Little Devils Tower Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Sunday Gulch is the scramble everyone in the Black Hills talks about, and a hand on the steep rock helps. Use TrailMates to find Black Hills hikers heading to Sunday Gulch. Download the TrailMates app to connect.