About this campground
This trailhead area accesses both the Pine Ridge Trail and Spotted Tail Trail. The Pine Ridge Trail and the Spotted Tail Loop Trail are non-motorized, open to mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. From this trailhead you can do the Spotted Tail Loop Trail (about 6 miles) which uses part of the Pine Ridge Trail in order to make the loop. This section of the Pine Ridge Trail provides access to several other trails, including motorized and non-motorized. This area was burned in the 2006 Spotted Tail fire. Distances to the following are: From Spotted Tail Trailhead to Chadron State Park, using the Pine Ridge Trail is 7.7 miles Spotted Tail Loop Trail is 6 miles Dispersed camping is allowed off of Forest Road 711 near the trailhead. There is no garbage service, so please pack it in and pack it out and Leave No Trace. For additional details and maps, please call the Pine Ridge Ranger District at (308) 432-0300.
Getting there
From Chadron, NE travel south on Highway 385 from the intersection with Highway 20 for about 5 miles to King Canyon Road. Turn east on King Canyon and travel for ½ mile to Forest Service Road 733. Travel on Road 733 for approximately ¾ mile to Forest Service Road 711. The trailhead is located a short distance after turning onto Road 711.
Activities
- HORSEBACK RIDING
- BIKING
- HIKING
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Outrider TrailheadNebraska National Forests and Grasslands3 mi
- Nebraska National Forest at ChadronNebraska National Forests and Grasslands5 mi
- West Ash TrailheadNebraska National Forests and Grasslands16 mi
- Oglala National GrasslandsNebraska National Forests and Grasslands33 mi
- Cold Brook CampgroundCold Brook Lake55 mi
- Cold Brook Lake SDCold Brook Lake55 mi
Explore more South Dakota camping
Spotted Tail Trailhead doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby South Dakota campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse South Dakota camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.