Free — you'll pick up right here.
Watch this trail
Sign up to watch it — saving subscribes you to gate, closure and report changes.
South Dakota
Sanctuary Trail
3.7 mi
Distance
1,283 ft
Gain
1h 28m
Time
We don't cover this trail yet
No agency boundary, access route or field report is mapped to it — so there is no verdict, and we won't guess. We'll tell you the moment this trail has something to say.
Covered nearby
Trails within 25 miles where we do have a current picture.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
Here's your day, mapped
Sanctuary Trail
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
Meals
Gear for the day
Elevation & route
- Distance
- 3.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,283 ft
- Elevation loss
- 1,283 ft
Photos
Directions & GPX
Permits & access
No permit or access details on file for this trail — check with the local land manager before you go.
About this trail
The Sanctuary trail is a moderately strenuous, 3.6 mile (5.8 km) one-way trail. The trailhead is about one mile (1.6 km) north of the Rankin Ridge fire tower turnoff. This trail follows the rolling hills of the prairie, crosses a large prairie dog town, and ends when it meets the Highland Creek trail. The Sanctuary trail can be combined with other trails to make a longer route. Hiking Safety • Hiking off trail is permitted. Watch out for wildlife. • Bison and other wildlife are dangerous and unpredictable. Do not approach. • Carry and drink plenty of water. There is no drinking water on this trail. • Check the weather forecast before you hike. Bring extra layers.
Add to a trip & share
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Centennial Trail
~4 min drive
The Centennial trail is part of a 111 mile (178 km) trail that begins in Bear Butte State Park and ends at Wind Cave. The 6 mile segment (one-way) of the Centennial trail at Wind Cave is moderately strenuous and can be accesses from SD HWY 87 or from NPS 5. Here, this trail cr…
Beaver Creek Mallo
~1h 12m drive
1.59-mile out-and-back trail in Wyoming with 146 ft gain.
Beaver Creek Dry Beaver
~1h 14m drive
9.06-mile out-and-back trail in Wyoming with 385 ft elevation gain.
Lookout Point Trail
~6 min drive
Lookout Point trail is a popular, moderately difficult trail that follows the rolling hills of the prairie across Lookout Point to Beaver Creek. A side trip up Lookout Point offers views of the American Elk Prescribed Fire from 2010. This trail can be combined with a section…
Beaver Creek Porcupine
~1h 14m drive
2.20-mile out-and-back trail in Wyoming with 131 ft gain.
Elk Mountain Nature Trail
~8 min drive
The grassland and forest meet on this peaceful, 1 mile (1.6 km), pet friendly, trail around the campground. While hiking, follow along with the self-guided tour for this trail in the app. Pets on Trail Pets must be leashed at all times. Please clean up after your pet. Do not…
Boland Ridge Trail
~10 min drive
Boland Ridge is a strenuous, 5.2 mi (8.4 km) round-trip, hike. The trail begins at a small parking area on NPS 6, one mile north of the junction with NPS 5. A series of climbs offer panoramic views of the Black Hills, Red Valley, and the plains beyond. Elk are often seen…
Cold Brook Canyon Trail
~12 min drive
This moderately strenuous, 2.8 mile (4.6 km) round-trip, trail winds through Cold Brook Canyon to the park boundary. Along the way, a ponderosa forest gives way to the open prairie and crosses a prairie dog town, a good place to see prairie falcons and other raptors. Hiking…
East Bison Flats Trail
~14 min drive
East Bison Flats is a 3.7 mi (5.9 km) one-way, moderately strenuous hiking trail. Begin this trail on US Highway 385, right near the south entrance of the park at Gobbler Pass. After a short climb, hikers will be rewarded with the rolling hills of the prairie. Panoramic…
Photo: dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Horsethief #14
~30 min drive
0.59-mile out-and-back trail in South Dakota with 260 ft elevation gain.
