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Moon Walk Program
2024 Moon Walk Flyer
Four fantastic Moon Walk events are happening this summer on the Black Hills National Forest!
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June 22 - Please … Do Not Feed the Wildlife
7 p.m. - Spearfish Canyon: Join Forest staff for a Moon “Drive” through Spearfish Canyon and learn how to safely enjoy wildlife without creating problems for them (or yourself).
(Photo: Mountain goats in Spearfish Canyon by Ruben Mares, Black Hills National Forest/USDA Forest Service)
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July 20 - Explore the Dark Skies at Jewel Cave
7 p.m. - The Forest Service is teaming up with the National Park Service to host a Moon Walk on a family-friendly trail and explore another vastness feature at one of the longest caves in the world.
Check back closer to this event for more information.
(Photo: Formation in Jewel Cave by Jewel Cave)
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August 17 - Wild for Prescribed Fire and Smokey Bear!
7 p.m. - In celebration of Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday, join Forest staff for a walk at the Victoria Prescribed Fire and discover the benefits of fire on the landscape.
Check back closer to this event for more information.
(Photo: Victoria Rx by Chris Stover, Black Hills National Forest/USDA Forest Service)
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September 14 - Are Our Hills "Slip-Sliding Away?"
7 p.m. - This guided hike will talk about Cook Lake recreation area’s special geology, why it is continuously in motion, and how and why the monitoring system was put in place.
Check back closer to this event for more information.
(Photo: Cook Lake by Black Hills National Forest/USDA Forest Service)
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Moon Walk Photos
Check out Black Hills National Forest Moon Walk Event photos.
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2024 Moon Walk Collector’s Pin
The Black Hills Parks and Forests Association offers a 2024 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, approximately 16,334 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. **