Centennial Trail - Badger Hole to Iron Creek
What you need to know:
Length - The Map says 7.3 but is closer to 8.4
Water - Unreliable. it would be best to get your water at legion lake.
Water crossings - a couple of small bridged creek crossings
Camping - Camping within custer state park is only allowed at designated campsites or within the french creek natural area, so the only available camping on this section would be at legion lake
wildlife - buffalo are possible. Deer and marmots
Trail condition - The trail is well defined and very easy to follow. if you are mountain biking, this section would be one of the easier sections. over half of it is logging roads and most of the rest is well defined single track.
Trail starts out nice and easy.
First sign of water.
After crossing the road, the trail goes through this driveway and around the cabin.
Signage - yeah - gives us an estimate of how much more to go.
Big gate - to keep buffalo in or out???
We climbed on top of a mountain on the side of the trail for a beautiful view of the hills. Snack break.
First sign after Badger Clark to head to Iron Creek Trailhead.
Lots of tall grass in the summer.
Starts to get really pretty here with all the rock formations.
Can see the Cathedral Spires in the background.
What a gorgeous view.
In the open, get lots of pretty flowers.
Can see forever.
Now we cross the road again - almost there, just over the hill.
Part of the Custer State Park Challenge.
One last marker - turn here for the Iron Creek Trailhead.
Made it.
This is the side trail from Badger Clark to Legion Lake Store if you need supplies before you start. From the Badger Clark Cabin Parking area you take the same road till it ends. It passes the Galena Creek School and goes up the hill to Legion Lake. It is very short and easy to follow.
Galena Creek School - looks pretty cool.
When you see the bridge from below, the store is just around the corner past Legion Lake.