Carson Draw Trail System Trailhead (Trail #87)

• Off the Beaten Path

  The Carson Draw Trail System, just outside of Sundance, WY, is a four-season, non-motorized system of trails that wind through Carson Draw. From spring to fall, the trails are busy with hikers, mountain bikers, and horse riders. These "off the beaten path" trails offer solitude to those searching for a more primitive trail experience. Users may find that these trails are much like the Sundance Trail System in their beauty and serenity and offer an even greater level of solitude. Pine, aspen, and oak stands surround the trails and provide diverse habitats for the abundant wildlife in the area, such as elk, deer, bobcats, turkeys, and a mixture of winter songbirds. In the winter, the Carson Draw Trail System, with a combination of level stretches and fairly steep descents, offers some great cross-country skiing and snowshoeing options. This quiet and non-busy trail system provides cross-country skiers with a five-mile loop.

  Brochure    Map

NOTE: The Carson Draw Trail System is groomed throughout the winter by volunteers with the local Sundance Nordic Ski Club. Conditions may vary from day to day and week to week. For updated trail information, interested skiers are welcome to call the Bearlodge Ranger District directly at (307) 283-1361 / Black Hills National Forest - Offices (usda.gov).  

Historically, parts of the trail date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, as miners and homesteaders used the area for settlement in the Bearlodge Mountains. The trail system is named for one of these early families – the Carsons. 

• Carson Cut-Across Trail, 0.7 mile, Difficulty Rating: Moderate.
• Carson Draw Trail, 3.8 miles, Difficulty Rating: Moderate.
• Carson Draw Spur 1, 1.0 mile, Difficulty Rating: Moderate.
• Carson Draw Spur 2, 2.0 miles, Difficulty Rating: Moderate.