Can you reserve a site at Spotted Tail Trailhead?

No. Spotted Tail Trailhead is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Spotted Tail Trailhead

Facility · Nebraska ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Nebraska National Forest (NF) · Open Access

3,811 ft
Elevation

This trailhead area accesses both the Pine Ridge Trail and Spotted Tail Trail. The Pine Ridge Trail and the Spotted Tail Loop Trail are non-motorized, open to mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. From this trailhead you can do the Spotted Tail Loop Trail (about 6 miles) which uses part of the Pine Ridge Trail in order to make the loop. This section of the Pine Ridge Trail provides access to several other trails, including motorized and non-motorized. This area was burned in the 2006 Spotted Tail fire.

Distances to the following are:

From Spotted Tail Trailhead to Chadron State Park, using the Pine Ridge Trail is 7.7 miles
Spotted Tail Loop Trail is 6 miles

Dispersed camping is allowed off of Forest Road 711 near the trailhead. There is no garbage service, so please pack it in and pack it out and Leave No Trace.

For additional details and maps, please call the Pine Ridge Ranger District at (308) 432-0300.

Getting there

From Chadron, NE travel south on Highway 385 from the intersection with Highway 20 for about 5 miles to King Canyon Road. Turn east on King Canyon and travel for ½ mile to Forest Service Road 733. Travel on Road 733 for approximately ¾ mile to Forest Service Road 711. The trailhead is located a short distance after turning onto Road 711.

42.75621, -102.98900 · 42°45'22.4"N 102°59'20.4"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 89°F in Jul, down to 38°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	38	41	52	59	69	81	89	88	79	64	50	39
Low °F	13	15	23	31	42	52	59	56	46	33	22	13
Precip in	0.6	0.6	1.3	2.2	3.0	3.2	1.9	1.7	1.5	1.4	0.7	0.6

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 4.9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

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Common questions about Spotted Tail Trailhead

Can you reserve a site at Spotted Tail Trailhead?: No. Spotted Tail Trailhead is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Spotted Tail Trailhead

Red Cloud (Ne) Nebraska NF 4.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Hudson-Meng Education & Research Center Tours 5 mi · Tickets · we watch it
Roberts Tract (Ne) Nebraska NF 9.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Soldier Creek (Ne) Nebraska NF 30.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Toadstool (Ne) Nebraska NF 31 mi · Campground · we watch it
Outrider Trailhead 2.7 mi · Facility
Red Cloud Campground 4.2 mi · Campground
Nebraska National Forest at Chadron 5 mi · Facility
West Ash Trailhead 15.8 mi · Facility
Soldier Creek Campground 29.8 mi · Campground
Toadstool Geological Park and Campground 31 mi · Campground
Oglala National Grasslands 32.9 mi · Facility

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Info Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.