RIDING THE BLACK HILLS

Now is the time to plan for spring rides. Spring is a beautiful time of year in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The days are warming, but still cool. Wildflowers blanket the region. One of the first to bloom is the small, purple pasque flower, South Dakota’s state bloom. Also watch for fairybells, longspur violet, and lanceleaf bluebells.

Early explorers described this region as a “true oasis in a wide and dreary desert.” And what an amazing oasis it is. Rugged rock formations and cool canyons are interspersed with greenery-draped gulches and verdant meadows. Ponderosa pines blanket large, undulating hills giving them a dark-green, almost black appearance.

Within the 1.2-million-acre Black Hills National Forest, you’ll find nearly 600 miles of riding trails in varied terrain. History marched loudly here, and its reverberations echo to this day.

Here, we’ll relate our riding adventures in Black Hills National Forest and our “know before you go” tips. (For a resource guide to Black Hills horse camps, see page 92. For a guide to attractions in the Black Hills area, see page 93.)

CUSTER STATE PARK

Custer State Park, one of the largest state parks in the country, is home to elk, deer, bison, mountain lions, and mountain goats. French Creek Horse Camp is the only horse camp in Custer State Park. Make reservations, because this horse camp