We visited the Black Hills of South Dakota during the week of July 4th, and one of our main activities was hiking in beautiful Custer State Park! We hiked the 3.9 mile Sunday Gulch Loop Trail in a clockwise direction, which means that we had a tough climb at the end of the trail. We were definitely feeling the burn! This hike is rated as difficult, and that last section (or the first section if you're going counter-clockwise) is why. Definitely not for the faint of heart, or if you're not in good physical condition. That being said, it was a great hike, and even our kids enjoyed it! If you don't want to hike the entire loop trail, there is a smaller trail that goes around Sylvan Lake that is much more manageable.
We highly recommend this hike if you ever make it to the Black Hills of South Dakota!