Horse users like the Black Hills many trails and low standard roads. Two National Forest horse camps offer convenient starting points for rides into the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve and Black Elk Wilderness.

Most of the national forest trails allow horses. Here are some good ones. . .

Centennial Trail is the perfect way to experience the Black Hills for an hour, a day or a week. Known as Trail No. 89, the trail is a lasting legacy of South Dakota's 1989 centennial year of statehood. Its 111-mile length explores the diversity of South Dakota. This trail has more than two-dozen access points at intervals of 3 to 10 miles.

Location: Bear Butte to Wind Cave
Length: 111 miles
Elevation: 3200 to 5600
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, short segments can be more difficult

Named for South Dakota's late governor who championed this trail, the Mickelson Trail is the first Rails to Trails conversion in the Black Hills. The trail follows historic rail lines linking once-busy mining and logging camps. Mickelson Trail takes the path of least resistance through the central Black Hills. The maximum grade is 3 percent, and the hard packed gravel surface is accessible to people with disabilities, the young and the old.

Location: Deadwood to Edgemont
Length: 114 miles
Elevation: 3400 to 6000
Difficulty: Easy

Three interconnected trails, Old Baldy, Rimrock and Little Spearfish, form a network of several loops, so you can create trips of varying length. The limestone rims along Little Spearfish Creek show the power of water erosion as they provide a natural backdrop to the pine, spruce and aspen.

The view from 6100-foot Old Baldy Mountain includes Ragged Top, Terry Peak, Cement Ridge and Crow Peak. Little Spearfish Trail passes the foundation of an old ranger station. Winter scenes from the movie Dances with Wolves were filmed here.

Location: 18 miles south of Spearfish or 4 miles west of Savoy
Lengths: Old Baldy 6 miles; Rimrock 6 miles; Little Spearfish 6 miles Elevation: 5300 to 6300
Difficulty: Moderate

Deerfield Trail gradually descends from west to east as it follows the scenic canyons of Slate Creek and Rapid Creek. You'll pass historic Flanigan Cabin, trace the route of an old flume and follow the old rail line into Silver City, before climbing again to meet the Centennial Trail just off US 385.

Location: Deerfield Lake east to US 385
Length: 28 miles in both trails
Elevation: 4600 to 6000
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

10-mile Lake Loop Trail circles Deerfield Lake, known for its excellent cold water fishing. Four trailheads provide easy access. Tall pines shade the trail south of the lake, while to the north the country opens up as the trail skirts the edge of Reynolds Prairie, one of three large natural meadows in the Black Hills.

Elevation: 5800-6200 feet
Length: 10 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Location: Circles Deerfield Lake

On the Hell Canyon Trail, the first ½-mile of trail climbs at a steep pitch with one switchback until you top out on the limestone crest. From there on grades are level to easy. This trail follows a bench below limestone cliffs and provides outstanding views of Hell Canyon and the surrounding area. The last 2.0 miles of trail follows a two-track road along the bottom of the Hell Canyon drainage.

Elevation: 5,400 to 5,700 feet
Length: Loop - 5.5 miles; Spur Trail to observation point -1/2 mile
Location: From Custer: Trailhead is approximately 11.0 miles west on Highway 16. From Jewel Cave: Trailhead is approximately 1.0 mile west of Jewel Cave National Monument entrance on Highway 16.

The Harney Range trail network is one of the most popular in the Black Hills, boasting 50 miles of trail and 14 trailheads. With 12 trails to choose from, you can plan a trip of an hour, a day or several days.

Here is a great link for more thorough information on these trails and a lot more: Black Hills National Forest Horseback Riding.

Happy trails!