Cathedral Spires Trail

The trail off Needles Highway in Custer State Park earns its name honestly — a short hike, under a mile each way, threading through granite pinnacles that rise sharply above the forest floor. The parking is limited, tucked along a hairpin turn, which tells you something about the scale of the place: small, specific, not built for crowds. It connects to the broader trail network toward Black Elk Peak for those who want more. Go for the formations. Leave before the lot fills.