Skyline Wilderness Area: Cerro Court Trailhead

The Cerro Court Trailhead sits at the end of a residential cul-de-sac on Rapid City's west side, in the southwest corner of the Skyline Wilderness Area. It's the least-known of the Skyline access points. A large parking lot and seasonally open restrooms are on site, making it the most practical trailhead in the southwest portion of the network. From the trailhead at marker SWA 430, a series of switchback singletrack paths wind gradually uphill through ponderosa pine toward Stonewall Overlook — the reward at the top, where views of the Black Hills and Rapid City stretch out in both directions. From Cerro Court, hikers and mountain bikers can also access the Southern Gully Trails, the Amphitheater East Loop, and the Amphitheater Trail itself — giving this trailhead more connectivity than its low profile suggests. The Skyline Trail leads north from here into the main body of the 150-acre wilderness area, connecting eventually to the Petrified Forest Trailhead, Dinosaur Park, and Stonewall Overlook. Trails are singletrack, open to hikers and mountain bikers. Dogs welcome on leash.