Shh! Hell Canyon
One of my favorite hikes in the Black Hills is also the most quiet, okay, deserted, which is why I love it. Maybe you’ve never heard of Hell Canyon, and if so, you’re not alone. I have never arrived at the trailhead with more than one other car in the parking lot. Since the trail is a loop, there’s a good chance that you won’t see anyone ahead or behind you even if they are on the trail at the same time. It’s fantastic.
Another reason I enjoy Hell Canyon is that its scenery is unlike most other trails; it’s in the Jasper Burn area west of Custer. Now some folks may be thinking, “I don’t want to hike in a burn area, it’s ugly.” They’d be wrong. The blackened, dead trees add an almost xeric feeling to the hike, and open up the view. Most of the hike is very out in the open, not shaded like many other Black Hills trails. Furthermore, with the trees gone, wildflowers flourish. This is the best trail I’ve found for wildflowers; even now, in mid-July there were many blooming. I’m still kicking myself for not getting out there two or three weeks ago when the wild roses must have been extravagant.
Hell Canyon Trail Number 32 is located about 14 miles west of Custer on Highway 16, past Jewel Cave. The trail is a 5.3 mile loop, and is moderately strenuous at the beginning. You’ll climb for about the first hour, depending on how fast you hike, then the trail levels out for awhile. For the return, you’ll descend to the canyon bottom, which is very level. For this leg of the hike, long pants are a good idea in the summer as the trail goes through tall grass and bushes, prime tick habitat. The whole trip takes 2 - 4 hours; my daughter and I hiked it yesterday in 2.5 hours, with several stops for flower photos.
