Mount Rushmore National Memorial · South Dakota

Blackberry Trail

0.8 mi of trail, end to end · about 350 ft of climbing · 4,871 ft–5,203 ft

4,871 ft 5,203 ft · 0.8 mi high 5,203 ft

Hiking The Blackberry Trail the Park Service's write-up

30-60 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Blackberry Trailhead

Photo of the Blackberry Trailhead with information sign on the left and pine trees behind it.
Blackberry Trailhead across Highway 244 from the parking facility. Photo: NPS Photo

The Blackberry Trail, a designated National Recreational Trail, is a moderately strenuous one mile gravel trail that connects with the Centennial Trail in the Black Elk Wilderness, part of the Back Hills National Forest.

Equestrian users, hikers, and wildlife observers will all find something to enjoy. There are several small water crossings, a wooden bridge, several horse tie-up stations, and two picnic tables to enhance recreational enjoyment.

Hikers can begin their exploration at the Blackberry Trail trailhead located across South Dakota Highway 244 from the parking facility.

This trail is pet friendly. Remember to keep your pet on a leash shorter than six feet and to pick up after your pet.

Accessibility This trail approximately two feet wide with a fine gravel surface and a maximum grade of ten percent.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 3 trails in Mount Rushmore National MemorialFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.