Best running trails in South Dakota
Ranked by the runners who actually run there — Google rating weighted by review volume, across 26,370 reviews of South Dakota trails. A trail needs at least 25 reviews to qualify (28 in South Dakota do) and each name appears once. Nobody pays for a place. Updated 2026.
The 20 below run across 9 cities, 5 of them natural surface, 2 loops, 4 shaded, and 2 with a stated distance. This is a popularity ranking, not a difficulty score — for what a trail is actually like underfoot, open its page for surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms and parking.
Sertoma Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,913 reviews
Park featuring a butterfly house, a playground, a picnic shelter, walking paths, restrooms & more.
Yankton Trail Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 766 reviews
Green space with multiple league soccer fields & access to the riverside bike trail.
Founders Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 681 reviews
Sprawling green space along Rapid Creek with hiking and walking trails, plus picnic tables.
City Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 604 reviews
Park offering a playground and picnic facilities, plus sports courts and a fish hatchery.
Family Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 501 reviews
Park with a fenced-off dog-walking area and a lake for kayaking and fishing.
Oahe Downstream Recreation Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 363 reviews
Waterfront campground & hiking area with fishing, disc golf & wildlife, including bald eagles.
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 297 reviews
1,500-acre park with a visitor center, picnic shelter, bird blind, hiking trails & an archery range.
Riverside Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 292 reviews
Riverside park featuring a playground, a ball field, picnic shelters and grassy areas.
Legacy Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 297 reviews
Riverfront space featuring paved trails, grassy paths, plus picnic spots and clean bathrooms.
Fantle Memorial Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 229 reviews
Park with a water park, playground, and sports courts, as well as disc golf.
Leaders Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 232 reviews
Large forested space with a community garden & a series of single-track mountain biking trails.
McHardy Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 216 reviews
Relaxed park with playground equipment and a sand base, fishing and a river.
Skyline Wilderness Area Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 199 reviews
150-acre public park offering scenic trails for hiking & mountain biking, plus picnic areas.
Little Elk Creek Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 174 reviews
Kid-friendly area with an out-and-back trail through the woods to Dalton Lake.
Pierson Ranch Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 129 reviews
Well-equipped campsite with a park area, picnic shelters, ball courts & a playground.
Farm Island Recreation Area
4.5 ★★★★★ 133 reviews
Waterfront green space with a public beach, playgrounds, multi-use trails & a campground.
Evans Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 113 reviews
Scenic park featuring a river, plus playgrounds (with rocket ship equipment) and picnic tables.
Coon Hollow Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 101 reviews
Hiking area with various trails that are kid-friendly, well-shaded, and offer scenic views.
Where these trails are
The cities in this ranking, if you'd rather start from where you live.
All 119 trails in South Dakota → Best trails in other states →