The trail to black elk peak from sylvan lake is heavily traveled, but lesserknown trails offer a great way to get to the summit without the crowds. On the map below, from the south dakota state park website, you can find the trailhead in the top left corner, surrounded by the green border. Hiking south dakotas harney peak the new york times. Black elk peak via harney peak trail south dakota alltrails. Little devils tower has fantastic views of cathedral spires, black elk peak, and the sprawling black hills forests.
This loop hike utilizes multiple named trails to go from sylvan lake to black elk peak, and back to sylvan lake. Even though the trailhead is at sylvan lake, which is a popular starting point for the harney trails, this one is often overlooked, giving you a quieter hike. Trail r c h m n t r i dia g r a e ga p t crooked arm ridge tr f i n l e y c n t r 4 1. Download a map of the trails system at custerdocsharneypeakmap. This is the standard, touristy route up the mountain, but is still challenging regardless. Peak 10272ft 32m harney peak 7242ft 2208m longs peak 14255ft 4346 m ount elbert 14433ft 4399 borah peak 12662ft 3860m m ount shasta 14162ft 4318m lassen pk 10457ft 3188m m ount ritter 140ft 4010m s i e r r a n e v a d a c a s c a d e r r a n g e r o c k y t m o u n t i n s g r e a t p a i n s. It is marked blazed with blue diamonds and leads away from the water. Follow the trail up the stairs and metal walkways until you come to the fire tower. Taken from an internet site, the historic fire lookout tower built upon the remote summit remains as an abandoned shell and is open to the public. Follow the main trail from the parking lot about 300 yards then there will be an unmarked trail off to the left, it is a beaten path more than a trail. From there youll have a chance to find the poets table trail along your route to black elk peak. One of the best things about taking this hike to the top of black elk peak is the moderatetoeasy skill rating of the hike.
This trail has one steep climb down, requires some scrambling, and has more than one rock river crossing. Sylvan lake day use area north of needles highway hwy 87 two trailheads are located at the sylvan lake day use area. My hike up harney peak, the highest point in south dakota on june 23, 20. Black elk peak loop hiking trail, custer, south dakota.
This hike starts at the little devils towers trailhead just east of sylvan lake in custer state park. One of the least populated areas of the contiguous united states, it is located largely in northern harney county, bounded on the north and east by the columbia plateauwithin which it is contained, physiographically speakingand on the south. Scroll down to the map below or use the state park filtering tool to narrow the list to your needs. Norbeck trail 3 intersects with trail 9, which continues to black elk peak.
Best atvutv trails in the black hills of south dakota. Its elevation at 7,244 feet is the highest point east of the rockies. There are many trails that lead to black elk peak, but the most popular trail is a 7. Highest mountain in sd, and highest east of the rockies key information is provided for hiking the sylvan lake trail in the black hills of south dakota up to 7,242 foot harney peak, the highest point in south dakota. Harney peak trail number 9 from sylvan lake is the most common route to the summit.
The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from may until october. Black elk peak formerly harney peak is the highest natural point in south dakota, united. Black elk wilderness lost cabin and harney peak trails. Using the app, you can find trails, track your ride, set and share way points and follow friends. Wilderness area, travel is restricted to nonmechanized, nonmotorized transportation and groups are limited to 25. Backpacking in the black elk wilderness travel south dakota. Advertisements and articles are reprinted as they originally appeared in the harney peak mining news, of hill city, south dakota, in the year 1904, published by c. The harney peaktrail begins at the sylvan lake day use area.
The trail crosses several serene streams which are known to attract buffalo. A map of marked horse trails may be found at the visitor centers, entrance stations and the custer state park office. Sd gfp state parks directory custer state park trails. It lies in the black elk wilderness area, in southern pennington county, in the black hills national forest.
This route summits the 7,244foot black elk peak formerly known as harney peak, the highest point in south dakota, from the lesstraveled north side and makes a loop through ponderosa pine forests. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from may until october. The authoritative guide to black elk peak has been published by the history press. This trail is one of the most popular in the wilderness and is the main trail from which tourists climb harney peak. If you would like a moderately strenuous hike, while visiting custer state park in south dakota, be sure to hike the harney peak trail from sylvan lake. Please report any accident or incident immediately to park police. Harney peak is the high point of the black hills, an isolated range in western south dakota. Stock is prohibited on the harney range trails within the park. Harney peak trail renamed black elk peak from sylvan lake is the most. The most popular harney peak trail is the southern approach through the black elk wilderness to the summit. All boundaries and trails are shown as approximate.
Many of the trees were shorter, splintered, dead or fallen to the ground. Built by the civilian conservation corps in the mid1930s, photos of the structure show the native stone that was manually hauled the three. Black elk peak south dakota 2020 all you need to know. Black elk peak south dakota highpoint trail is a 7. Select what you are searching for during your stay at a south dakota state park or select your favorite park from the list below. Harney peak topo map in pennington county, south dakota. What to expect on the black elk peak trail the mandagies. We really enjoyed the varying trail and landscape as well as the views at the top. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is mt rushmore natl which is approximately 4 miles away and has an elevation of 5,250 feet 1,961 feet lower than harney peak.
On the hike to harney peak which can be reached by a halfdozen different trails routes detour to show off wonders like the cathedral. From the trailhead at sylvan lake in custer state park, to the summit and back is about 7 miles 11 km. Abundant wildlife a wonderful bonus along the harney peak trail is the abundant wildlife that surrounds it. Find a state park south dakota game, fish, and parks. As part of the rei coop family, were dedicated to making websites and mobile apps that help outdoor enthusiasts connect, share information and get out into the places they love to play. Harney peak is the highest natural peak in south dakota and offers stunning views of the needles and little devils tower, while the trail to the top starts at the stunning sylvan lake. Trail 9 begins across the footbridge leading to the swimming beach. After the solitude on the singletrack of lost cabin trail, i admit that i was just a little bit annoyed at having so many people to pass on this thoroughfare. Bear mountain state park trail map new york state parks.
Our hike to black elk peak aka harney peak in the black hills of south dakota, july 2017 and yes my video skills suck, but i am still learning contact inf. Is it your first time exploring our trails and are you looking for local tips and knowledge. The best hike in south dakota is black elk peak loop via harney peak trail and trail 4, a 7. The high peak railway line first opened in 1831 and was.
Black elk peak loop via harney peak trail and trail 4. Owing to its status as the highest peak in south dakota, the highest peak in the united states east of the rockies, and one with panoramic views of the entire black hills region and the plains and badlands to the east, harney peak is hike extensively, even by many people you usually dont see on a hike that climbs over 1100 feet in elevation or is nearly 7 miles long. This trail connects to the little devils tower trailhead, and continues on to harney peak. Black elk wilderness hiking project hiking trail maps. The most popular black elk peak formerly harney peak hiking trail is the. Take the trail less traveled to the top of black elk peak. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The trail will make some long switchbacks in a forest where it appears there was a fire many years ago. Once on the trail, follow it to the summit, where youll come upon the granite top of harney peak. Harney peak loop, black hills national forest, south dakota. The harney peak trail begins at the sylvan lake day use area. Hiking trail maps are available through the black hills national forest and custer state park. Harney peak is the highest mountain east of the rocky mountains in north america. Black elk peak formerly harney peak is the highest natural point in south dakota, united states.
But the variety of trail conditions only added to the hikethe areas where the trail was still snow packed even provided a welcomed cool feeling just as the sun was beginning to heat up. Harney peak and black elk wilderness area are managed by the u. It is the most traveled trail in the area, so it should be easy to spot. The harney basin is an endorheic basin in southeastern oregon in the united states at the northwestern corner of the great basin. A beautiful hike to an abandoned fire tower atop the highest summit in south dakota. Please note that black elk peak is located in the black elk wilderness area. Best atvutv trails in the black hills of south dakota the polaris ride command app was an invaluable tool to help us explore this area of the country. Harney peak from the trail photo courtesy of klenke essential gear. The complete ride from the koa guest stalls and back is 11.
It takes anywhere from 1 to 2 hours to hike to the summit. Other areas may be posted closed due to resource management concerns. It was formerly known as harney peak 18552016 and is known as hinhan kaga in lakota. Trail 4 begins at the southeast corner of the day use area. Best trails in black elk wilderness south dakota alltrails. Harney peak trails harney peak trails sylvan lake trailheads to harney peak location of trailhead. There are several outstanding trail maps found at the custer state park visitor center or online.
Use the harney peak map to drive to the trailhead at sylvan lake in custer state park where the hiking trail begins. These are easy to miss, especially on the return trip. Black elk peak south dakota highpoint trail alltrails. Harney peak trail is a hiking, trail running, walking adventure located in or near black hills national forest, sd. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. Harney peak trail black elk peak black hills south. The hiking from the northern approach is used less frequently, and is a more challenging hike. There is parking available at sylvan lake, as well as a store and restaurant. The left trail leads to harney peak and the right trails to some place i didnt want to go. Black elk peak formerly harney peak trail through the black elk wilderness. This trek through a ponderosa pine forest offers exceptional views of stockade lake and harney peak. As the trail gets steeper you will reach the summit area, where some stairs lead to the summit tower.
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