Big Pine Trailhead (Centennial Trail / Black Hills National Forest)
SD · Keystone / Central Black Hills
SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751
Big Pine Trailhead (Centennial Trail / Black Hills National Forest) has the kind of South Dakota presence that immediately slows the day down in the right way. In Keystone / Central Black Hills, Big Pine feels like the kind of practical trailhead experienced riders save because the logistics are unusually good for the scenery it unlocks. It feels especially strong for riders who want landscape, access, and a destination with real local character rather than a generic public-park loop. If your ideal horse day starts with a clear sense of place before you even tack up, this is one of the state’s more memorable entries.
Riding guide
Highlights
A strong Black Hills trailhead choice for riders who want National Forest access, trailer-friendly parking, and Centennial Trail mileage without campground complexity.
Riding
From here, the Centennial Trail opens into classic Black Hills terrain—pine forest, changing elevation, and the kind of long-route potential that rewards riders who prefer true trail travel over short interpretive loops. It is a working trailhead, but the surrounding scenery still feels special.
Rideable terrain
111 miles
Trailer parking
This is one of the cleanest Forest Service haul-in entries in the Black Hills: the trailhead offers a large parking area for horse trailers and direct access to a scenic Centennial Trail segment.
Horse regulations
Horse and pack animals are allowed at the site, and riders should stay on open Forest routes and check current trail and travel guidance before heading out. As with other Black Hills public-land rides, conditions and route availability can change.
Getting here
Use SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751 as your planning reference and build the arrival around the horse, not around generic parking. This is one of the cleanest Forest Service haul-in entries in the Black Hills: the trailhead offers a large parking area for horse trailers and direct access to a scenic Centennial Trail segment. That matters because the first hour sets the tone: when unloading, tacking up, and heading out feel organized, the whole ride immediately feels more polished and less stressful.
Planning your visit
This is a smart choice when you want a trailer-friendly Forest Service launch point with less guesswork. Arrive with a map, do not expect on-site restrooms, and build your day around the mileage and elevation profile you actually want rather than riding without a plan.
Where to stay
There is no horse camp at the trailhead itself, so this works best as a carefully planned day ride or as part of a larger Black Hills equestrian circuit. For riders who value parking, access, and usable trail mileage, that tradeoff is often worth it.
Trails
No trails synced for this park yet.
Campgrounds
No campgrounds listed for this park.
Stay near this park
No horse-friendly stays listed near Big Pine Trailhead (Centennial Trail / Black Hills National Forest) yet. Know a great barn or property? Help fellow riders by listing it.
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