Stratobowl Rim Trail

The Stratobowl Rim Trail is a very easy trail just east of Rockerville on Highway 16. Beginning at the highway, this trail winds through dense pine forest and eventually ends at an overlook with plaques and monoliths. The majority of the trail is used as a maintenance road so it is wide and fairly well maintained.

Gate at trailhead

The trailhead is located about two miles west of Bear Country on Highway 16 south of Rapid City. After Bear Country there is a gas station. Take an immediate right after the gas station to turn into the trailhead parking lot. Here you will find a tiny parking area and a gate across the road. While hiking through the forest the views are of trees but you will be rewarded at the end of the mile long hike when you are on top of the east rim of the bowl. Other than the views, there is a plaque and a memorial giving the history of the area and great information about what flew out of the  Stratobowl back in the 1930's and 1950's. At the overlook there are also a few choices for other short trails.

One thing I found odd is that the big stone monoliths with the history of the Stratobowl are encased in a chain link fence. I assume the fence is to prevent vandalism, but it looses it's aesthetic appeal and turns into an eyesore…