Moments on the Lost Trails
We were meeting some friends that were camping at Center Lake Campground, we got there way before they did and amazingly enough just happened to stumble upon the Lost Trails. What an amazing find!
We found ourselves in a parking lot near bathrooms, that was handy after a car ride from Rapid City. We had traveled South down highway 16, we got off on the Rockerville exit and went on S. Rockerville Rd. and hopped on Playhouse Rd. We entered Custer State Park from the North and got our annual pass, I told myself this would make me come down at least one more time this summer. There is no manned booth at this location, you just fill out a little envelope and drop it in the box.  From this point on we followed the signs for the Center Lake, if you get to the playhouse you went too far. With all the switchbacks, twists and turns it was a real enjoyable ride.
Â
Okay back to the trail…we stood there trying to decide which path to take, there are basically three options, a steep path directly to the overlook, the slow incline loop to the overlook or around the lake. There were many things to consider, well two things, the kid with the sprained ankle and how soon we would be eating (when hiking with 3 growing boys hunger is a real concern).Â
The trail is easy to follow and is mostly dirt although there are some areas of loose rock as you get closer to the top. Its easy to roll an ankle or lose your footing on these large loose rocks, so take your time especially through those sections.
So we picked the straight up incline that was a shorter distance. I would highly recommend a walking stick if you are choosing this option, the dry pine needles on the dirt and rock made for a slick terrain. We found some random sticks laying around and improvised with them to assist us up the steep hill. The trail is nicely marked with blue diamonds so you really won’t get lost, at least if you are paying attention.
It was a very lovely hike while scents of smoke from campfires filled the air and we could hear the laughter of little kids down in the campground. My legs were really starting to feel the burn, when my kids decided to crank up the intensity. Apparently the smells made them think of hamburgers and there was suddenly some sense of urgency to finish. It didn’t take too long at this pace to reach the top of the scenic overlook.
