The park also had a wonderful visitor center and the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center offers an extensive list of free programs for children. Another popular drive is the Wildlife Loop, with opportunities to see bison, pronghorn, the begging burros, and more. Drive the scenic Needles Highway, which connects Sylvan Lake with the center of the Park. There is much more to see and do in Custer State Park. It’s also possible to extend the Black Elk Peak hike by adding a short side trip to Cathedral Spires. For a more adventurous option (if you still have the energy), try the hike through Sunday Gulch. Relax by the lakeshore, go for a swim or paddle, or simply float lazily on the water at this beautiful lake. The Black Elk Peak Trail begins and ends at Sylvan Lake, a great place to unwind after a long hike. Want an even longer hike? Add on another short side trip to Cathedral Spires.Įnjoying a snack break on Black Elk Peak WHILE YOU’RE HERE.Wondering if the Black Elk Peak Loop is a good fit for you? See the “Our Experience” section below for many more photos and an overview of what to expect.Always follow Leave No Trace principles.This one-mile loop is mostly flat, although there is a brief hilly section near the dam, and offers superlative views of the lake. For an easier hike, try the Sylvan Lake Trail.Wear shoes or boots with good traction.If this isn’t a good fit for you, skip this side trip. Climbing to Little Devil’s Tower involves some scrambling up and down narrow rock channels where you need to use both your hands and feet. Although Sunday Gulch is shorter, the terrain is definitely rougher and the trail is more exposed. Because the trial isn’t overly steep and is easy to follow, we found it less strenuous than the nearby Sunday Gulch Trail. The hike to Black Elk Peak is strenuous, but doable if you are comfortable with steady elevation gain and some rocky trail surfaces.Get an early start to beat the crowds and the summer heat. The summer sun can be intense and parts of the trail are very exposed. Water, shade hats, and sunscreen are extra important on sunny days. There is also a general store near the south parking lot that sells souvenirs and a limited selection of food and drinks.Ĭhecking out the map at the Black Elk Peak trailhead Restrooms and drinking water are available at the Sylvan Lake trailhead.This smaller lot is popular with hikers doing an out-and-back hike to Little Devil’s Tower, but works for the longer loop hike as well. A second trailhead for the hike is located along the Needles Highway just east of Sylvan Lake.This is a very popular spot! In summer, expect to share the trail with numerous other hikers. Arrive early to avoid congestion both in the parking lot and on the trail. If you don’t yet have a pass, you can purchase one from the entrance station southwest of Sylvan Lake on Highway 87. When you pay, you’ll receive a pass for your car window that is valid for seven consecutive days. Custer State Park has a $20 per vehicle entrance fee.The parking lot and restrooms on the east side of Sylvan Lake near the Black Elk Peak trailhead GOOD TO KNOW By remembering this, we honor the importance this place holds for the Lakota in the past, present, and in the future. When you visit the Black Hills, the Paha Sapa to the Lakota, you are on sacred land. For more information about the name change, visit the Black Hills Visitor webpage. Board on Geographic Names approved the change. Instead, they proposed the peak be renamed after Nicholas Black Elk, an Oglala Lakota medicine man who fought at Wounded Knee. To refer to this sacred place by such a name was painful, local Native American groups asserted. The previous namesake, William Harney, was an army general who led violent raids against the Lakota in the 1850s. For many years, the highest peak in the Black Hills was instead known as Harney Peak. Those who hiked it in previous decades, however, may not be familiar with the name of Black Elk. More recently, it has also become a popular destination for hikers. July, 2022, around 5.5 hours WHAT’S IN A NAME: BLACK ELK PEAKīlack Elk Peak has long been a sacred place for the Lakota people. The trail is easy to follow, but rough and rocky at times due to the natural terrain. Add on Little Devil’s Tower, and it increases to 1700 feet, including some rock scrambling. Strenuous - The trail to Black Elk Peak includes nearly 1500 feet of elevation gain. LENGTHħ.7-mile loop to do both Black Elk Peak and Little Devil’s Tower 7.1 mile loop for Black Elk Peak only DIFFICULTY It’s a half hour drive southwest of Mount Rushmore and one hour southwest of Rapid City. The Black Elk Peak trailhead is located at Sylvan Lake in the northwest corner of Custer State Park, South Dakota, off Highway 87. Whidbey & Fidalgo Islands Paddle & Swim.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |