2025 Moon Walk Program
Four fantastic Moon Walk events are planned for summer 2025 on the Black Hills National Forest.
June 14 - Native Plant Dyes
Boulder Hill Trail
Madi Mazur (Crawford) / Botanist
Mystic Ranger District
July 12 - Similar Goals, but Different Management Techniques
Buffalo Corrals (Wildlife Loop Road)
Lydia Austin / Visitor Services Program Manager – Custer State Park – South Dakota, Game, Fish and Parks Dept.
(Photo by Matt Stefanich)
August 9 - Meet the Black Hills Birds of Prey
Carson Draw Trailhead
Maggie Engler / Executive Director – Black Hills Raptor Center (Rapid City, South Dakota)
Bearlodge Ranger District
(Photo by Dave Porter)
September 6 - A Nod to the Past
The Dalton Lake Campground and Preservation of a Historic CCC Pavilion
Brett Ewald / Archaeological Technician
Black Hills National Forest, Northern Hills Ranger District
Moon Walk Photos
Check out Black Hills National Forest Moon Walk Event photos.
2025 Moon Walk Collector's Pin
The Black Hills Parks and Forests Association offered a 2025 Moon Walk Collector’s Pin at each event for $5.00 each. The sale of lapel pins support the interpretive & educational efforts across the Forest. The Moon Walk Programs are supported by BHPFA through financial assistance & staffing; BHPFA is a non-profit partner with the U.S. Forest Service.
Black Hills National Forest Moon Walk program takes National Forest visitors to fire lookout towers, mining towns, beaver dams, caves, and more. Since 1996, over 16,500 visitors have attended the forest’s 160 Moon Walk programs. An average of 106 people attends each walk.
The purpose of the program is to provide a family-oriented activity that introduces visitors to the cultural and natural history of the Black Hills. Through this introduction we hope to foster an understanding and appreciation for these resources that will lead visitors toward stewardship of public lands.
All walks take place on Saturdays at 7 p.m. from June - September on Saturday nights close to the full moon. Most programs run for one to two hours. Each walk, about one mile round trip, starts with a short introduction to the night's program; then the group hikes to a designated area in the forest where a speaker presents a 30-minute program. Presenters are experts in their field from local Black Hills communities.
Be prepared: Half of the Moon Walk experience is just getting to the site! We encourage you to drive slowly and give yourself time to enjoy scenic forest vistas and wildlife. Remember that a 30-mile drive through the forest on gravel roads could take up to an hour of drive time without stopping. Dress in layers because the weather in the Hills is often different than it is in town. Pack water and snacks for the return trip. Bring a flashlight for cloudy nights.
** If a Moon Walk is canceled in advance due to severe weather forecasted, the notice of cancelation will be placed on the Black Hills National Forest Facebook page, Twitter account, and Forest website. If there is uncertain weather, the public is encouraged to check online before heading out to the event. **