This Collection intimately discovers the Black Hills massif in South Dakota. From north to south, the Centennial Trail covers the entirety of this outpost of the Rocky Mountains. The route connects two sacred sites of the Plains Indians: Bear Butte near Sturgis, and Wind Caves National Park, near the town of Hot Springs. This 240-kilometre (149 mi) adventure leads through incredibly diverse landscapes.

The trail winds through open meadows, punctuated by valleys of ponderosa pines. You’ll hike past numerous rivers and lakes and along forest trails dotted with granite towers. With lots of wildlife and few other hikers, it’s an excellent opportunity escape on an adventure for ten days. Created in 1989 to mark the 100th anniversary of the formation of the state of South Dakota, the route is relatively new.

You’ll discover the Black Elk Wilderness Sanctuary, located in its centre, and part of Custer State Park, home to bison and pronghorns. Long considered a place of refuge, and very rich in game, the Black Hills are fascinating. Since time immemorial these mountains have been the favourite place of the Lakotas who saw this territory as a blessed place compared to the harshness of the endless plains. In this sense, the Black Hills are like an island in the middle of the plains.

With almost no infrastructure, you’ll need to be completely self-sufficient. To stock up on food, you have to hitchhike to reach the few towns along the route such as Hill City. Only experienced hikers should take on this route. At the start and end of each stage, you’ll find a campsite or you can wild camp. Camping is your only accommodation option. If you like solitude, wide open spaces and the wild animals of the American West, then don't hesitate for a second, this trip is for you. Most of the campsites are located on the edge of a lake and you’ll have countless swimming opportunities. It's an ideal and completely free way to recover from your day's efforts.

This path is at its best between the end of spring and the beginning of autumn. Forget winter – snow and bitter cold make it impassable. You need to prepare for this adventure in advance and bring the necessary gear, including appropriate clothing and camping equipment. Water purification tablets or a filter are essential. Many areas don’t have phone reception.

To get to the start of the route, fly into Rapid City, one of the main cities in the state. Then travel by bus or car to Sturgis. Bear Butte doesn’t have a bus stop, so you’ll have to hitchhike to get there or walk about 10 kilometres (6 mi) from downtown Sturgis. For the return, take advantage of the influx of visitors to Wind Caves and ask someone to take you to Hot Springs. There you’ll find plenty of public transport connections back to Rapid City. If you’re interested in discovering the region by bike, here’s the essential Collection which will complete this adventure:

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