Reviewed by: Jestpest , from Denver, co

Summary:
The trail is pretty fun and the views are really nice. We saw a bunch of deer along the way. The trail gets extremely faint and hard to follow towards the bottom. It needs to be marked and ridden more...especially at the bottom. Right now it is maintained by huge rains washing pine needles down the trail. I ended up lost at the bottom and would not have found my way out without my eTrex Vista GPS. I followed a "logging road" that was marked on my GPS basemap, but I would have never known it was there if it wasn't on the GPS. Take some bug spray for the biting flies. The local bike rental shop in Custer has a map for sale, but it's not simple to read at all. Print off the directions and reviews from this message board instead...you'll be able to follow the trail much easier.

Recommended Route:
Follow the directions posted here. The start of the trail is very faint and overgrown.

Reviewed by: Ken , from Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Summary:
Very scenic trail winding amongst some huge granite rocks at the top and meadows at the bottom. But let there be NO mistake that this is a downhill only run just because you drive up in altitude to get to Sylvan Lake and the trailhead. Right out of the gate it's uphill to the trailhead, then uphill again to begin the first descent. Don't give up! Keep riding and you'll find yourself pedaling uphill to get down the mountain over and over and over and over again. There are scars shaped like a small "i" cut into the trees. Most are painted RED in the first half of the ride and colorless towards the bottom. Trail was lost at the very beginning by a local rider because of some new clearing of trees but just take a left upon entering the cut away trailhead and go uphill via small switchbacks. The trail will reveal itself quickly. Trail was also lost at the bottom near the first meadow you come to. We just kept taking a left and going up and over 3-4 ravines until we got to the gravel road. It was a blast and I'll be back for more the next time I'm in Custer.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Deerfield Lake Loop (Trail 40L) Access at any of the lakeside trailheads and follow the 40L signs around the lake.

Reviewed by: andy , from rapid city

Summary:
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
Best riding we have in the Hills. I can't imagine it getting much better. 9+ miles of mostly downhill singletrack interrupted only by a few technical, lung- tissue spitting climbs of short duration. What a gas!
Thought we locals had a secret one of our own with this one..oh well..we can share.A must do for anyone riding the Hills.

Recommended Route:
depart little devils tower parking lot, left once you hit the gravel rd. back up Needles Hwy

Reviewed by: Bryan , from Boulder, Colorado

Summary:
I was a bit hesitant about this trial, but don't be. The directions are good, but substitute the yards for feet - this trail is super close to the little devils tower trailhead... Also, the trail is marked by vertical scars in the trees, I had to hunt once or twice to find the trial and they were of great help. I'm really impressed by this trial, and it was very clean and an absolute blast. It's the type of trial that will very likely become a biyearly staple of my riding plans. Locals: You are damned lucky.

Recommended Route:
I rode it as described, and then rode highways back via Custer to Sylvan to my Jeep. I don't think I would do it quite that way again....