A Hike To The Tallest Point In South Dakota
Scenery, Sun, and So Many Granola Bars- A Family Hike In The Black Hills In Fall
We have a bucket list problem in our family- the tallest, shortest, mostest, etc. And we all have our individual take on that bucket list as well-- whereas I will absolutely detour off the highway to go see the largest easel in the world (it’s in Kansas), others in the fam are all about hitting the high points (literally) of wherever we go.
Once these high point aficionados found out that Black Elk Peak (7242 ft) is not only the highest point in South Dakota, but actually the highest peak east of the Rockies, I knew it was a must-do addition to our Black Hills vacation.
*Guadalupe Mountain in Texas is higher but from what I understand, geographically it is considered south of the Rockies so the above statement is still true. But now we have to go hike that one too, just to make sure.
And Black Elk Peak did not disappoint. The views from the top live up to their well known billing but I actually liked the journey up and down the best (I don’t care as much about saying I reached the highest point making me an outlier in my crew). The fall colors of the trees and meadows were gorgeous, plus we got to watch a family of mountain goats for awhile on the way up. We hardly saw anyone until we got near the top and nothing makes me happier than a peaceful day in the woods.
Uncrowded trail, fall colours, gorgeous views- what else can you ask for?
The Important Details
Where Is It?
Black Elk Peak is located in the Black Elk Wilderness just north of Custer State Park in South Dakota. The vast majority of hikers start at the Sylvan Lake trailhead which is located in the northwest corner of Custer State Park.
Which Way To Go, How Long, And How Difficult Is It?
THE ANSWER IS…. WELL, IT DEPENDS
This is a popular hike and you will find lots of blogs on the subject. There are a couple of different trails you can take to the peak, a couple of possible side trails to see nearby sights, and lots of different takes on the difficulty of the hike and amount of time needed.
I spent quite a bit of time researching to get an idea of what I thought we should do and what to expect. And helpfully, not all the maps and descriptions, even the official ones, seem to agree on mileage or even the exact height of Black Elk Peak (you see 7242' and 7244' on maps).
Click on images below to enlarge, maps courtesy of Custer State Park website
The Shortest Route is Trail #9, the Black Elk Peak trail: 6.6- 7 miles RT, 3-4 hours, mostly moderate, strenuous at the top
The shortest trail is # 9, the Black Elk Peak Trail, that takes you straight to the summit and back. It starts at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park. It is officially 6.6 miles RT (3.3 miles each way) but even some Custer State Park’s maps I found had it at 3.5 miles each way. Lots of reviews on All Trails also said they did closer to 3.5 miles each way.
Elk Peak Loop Combo: about 7- 7.2 miles RT, 3-4 hours, mostly moderate, strenuous at the top
Many people make it a loop by combining the # 9 trail (Black Elk Peak trail) with the #4 trail (no other name) and a bit of the #3 trail (Norbeck Trail). This is a bit longer than taking only the Black Elk Peak trail up and back but not by much (about 0.2 miles). Again, mileage seems to differ but usually comes in around 7-7.2 miles RT for the loop hike combining #9 and #4.
The #9 trail (Black Elk Peak Trail) is a pretty steady but moderate incline while the #4 trail has more overall up and down and can have steeper sections. Which trail you do first is up to you, there doesn’t seem to be a decisive group opinion.
Some people like to do the steeper bits on the downhill so they go up #9 and down #4 while others like to do the up and down part first and then have (almost) straight downhill all the way home. In that case hike up #4 first and hike down #9. Which is what we did.
Elk Peak Loop + Bonus Side Trails (around 8.5 miles RT, at least 4 hours, strenuous)
The best part of making it a loop (besides not doubling back on yourself) is that you can swing by Little Devil Tower and Cathedral Spires on the #4 trail. These will add some mileage and a bit of fun rock scrambling.
The spur to Little Devil’s Tower is about 0.4 miles (0.8 miles RT) from Trail #4. A trip to see the rock formations at the top of Cathedral Spires trail from the #4 trail will add about 0.3 miles (0.6 miles RT).
The mileage to both is variable as there isn’t a distinct summit at those two points, just a walk around and look at the rocks kind of place. So you can easily add more to your mileage. We sure did. (It was all the goats’ fault- more on that below).
This is a close-up of a trail sign that we saw when crossing out of the Black Elk Wilderness on the #9/ Black Elk Peak South Trail. The mileage is slightly different than Custer State Park has it and it lists the peak as 2 feet taller.
HOW DIFFICULT DID WE FIND THE HIKE?
The hike wasn’t difficult, but it was a long day so somewhere between moderate and strenuous. Moderately strenuous, I guess.
We are a pretty active family but not heavy hikers these days thanks to busy kid activities that seem to eat up all of our weekends. We had 7 people on our family trip (3 adults, 4 kids 12-16) and while two of the kids would tackle a Colorado 14er with enthusiasm and little issue, two kids would really rather not do that and probably wouldn’t make it.
That being said, everybody managed the hike fine, although we were far from speed hiking. The hardest part was near the peak as it was the steepest section, there wasn’t much shade, and we hit it right before noon on an unseasonably hot day in early October. There are quite a few switchbacks near the peak and then stairs to get to the top of the fire tower. I was a little winded by the time I set foot up on the viewing platform. Nobody was sore the next day though.
We found the hike to be strenuous because of the time it took us. Everybody was tired by the time we got back to the parking lot 5 hours later. This was thanks to frequent snack stops, frequent picture taking, and the frequent pee breaks that come with hiking in a group, especially one with kids. There was also the aforementioned mountain goat diversion, plus we spent awhile hanging out at the peak enjoying the view and talking with people we met up there.
My Garmin watch gave out just after we started hiking back down from the fire tower (I really need to remember to charge that thing at night) but in the 3 hrs 51 min it recorded, it said I was only moving for 2 hrs 17 min. So that tells you how many stops we took.
One of our many snack break spots. Not a bad view right? This was on the #4 trail, not long after we detoured to Cathedral Spires.
Our Route
We did the loop, going up #4 and back down #9 with a detour over to Cathedral Spires
About 8.4 miles total, 5 hours 15 min, 1453 ft total ascent according to my watch
We parked at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park and did the loop from there. We left the parking lot at 9am and returned to the car at 2:15pm.
We had no problems parking at 830am on a weekday in early October but I bet this parking lot fills quickly in summer between hikers and people using the lake.
*My mileage isn’t exact as my Garmin watch petered out on the way back, plus I am not good about marking it when we hit certain points. Plus, many of the maps vary by 1-2 tenths of a mile on their mileage. So this is my best guess.
Sylvan Lake
WAY UP TO BLACK ELK PEAK
#4 trail to #3 trail to #9 trail to the peak, plus a detour over to Cathedral Spires
Just under 5 miles, 3 hr 15 min
We did it this way because we wanted to see Cathedral Spires and Little Devils Tower on the way up, knowing the kids would probably be ready to go straight back to the car once we started down.
The trailhead for the #4 trail is at the opposite side of the parking area from the more heavily used #9 trail. It wasn’t as well marked but not hard to find. There are flush bathrooms and vault toilets by Sylvan Lake near the parking lot.
Not long after you start on the #4 trail, you will come to another parking lot, vault toilet, and trail signs. This is the small TH for Little Devils Tower trail which is just the #4 trail plus the spur for Little Devils Tower. I recommend using the vault toilets here if they are in decent shape as it is your last opportunity until you get back to Sylvan Lake.
We didn’t end up hiking out to Little Devils Tower (0.8 miles RT on the spur from the #4 trail) actually although our plan was to take detours to both Little Devils Tower and Cathedral Spires. We got started a little later than we meant to and we realized early on that our slow pace meant we were going to have to skip it and only see Cathedral Spires if were going to make it up the mountain in decent time. Of course, then we took a long time at Cathedral Spires so we still ended up taking forever to get up the mountain.
It is actually a short hop from trail #4 over to the top of Cathedral Spires (about 0.6 miles RT) to see those awesome jagged peaks but once there, we ran into people who said there were mountain goats down the trail further so we hiked down Cathedral Spires trail for a bit. We added over a mile to our hike with our detour but it was well worth it. I have never seen mountain goats in the wild so I was stoked.
From the intersection with Trail #4, you do have to go downhill on Cathedral Spires trail to get to the best viewing point of the rocks. It wasn’t bad though so don’t get discouraged when you start going downhill and worry about having to get back up to the #4 trail later.
You leave Custer State Park and cross into the Black Elk Wilderness once you intersect with trail #3 (Norbeck trail). You wouldn’t notice except for the Black Elk Wilderness sign. Many of the descriptions and even a few trail signs label it as #4 trail going all the way up to #9 so don’t worry if you don’t see a #3 sign anywhere. You are about 1.5 miles from the top at this point. The trail was less shady on this last part as there lots of down pine trees. (They have had an epidemic of pine beetle.)
The hardest part of this hike was near the top where there are more switchbacks and then finally stairs up to the fire tower. I was a little winded by the time we got up there and hot as well because we managed to arrive at noon on a hot and sunny day in October.
Mother and kid mountain goats in Custer State Park on the Cathedral Spires Trail. This was taken from the trail where I stopped when I saw them. They then came closer to us while grazing while we stayed put.
Click to enlarge pictures below
AT THE PEAK
The fire tower at the top was built by the CCC from 1935-1938. All of the stones were carried up here by men and mules which really impressed the kiddos after hiking the same trail themselves. The fire tower was manned until 1967 when helicopters, airplanes, and other fire towers made it obsolete.
The peak used to be called Harney Peak but was changed in 2016 after petitions from Native Americans. General Harney fought against Native Americans in the Black Hills and was accused of a massacre at a Lakota camp. Nicholas Black Elk was a revered holy man of the Oglala Lakota and the wilderness was already named for him. Apparently there was a lot of controversy over the name change at the time but it seems to be a done deal now. Only occasionally did I see signs or maps that still called it Harney Peak.
The fire tower has a small platform area that’s great for pictures and a snack break, although it can get super windy up here.
On a clear day you can see 4 states: Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, and South Dakota (obvi). Our day was pretty hazy so not sure I can say I saw all 4 states but sure felt like I could at least see Wyoming to the west because it is only maybe 20 miles away.
You will see Lakota prayer flags tied to trees near the summit. This is a holy mountain for them and you are asked not to disturb the flags.
You can rock scramble around the fire tower, especially to the west. Look for the small dam and reservoir plus a pump house that supplied the watchers at the tower with fresh water. Lots of people take their picnic out to these rocks as the fire tower itself gets busy. I stayed at the fire tower because this gal doesn’t do heights well.
Click to enlarge pictures below
THE WAY DOWN BLACK ELK PEAK
#9 trail the whole way from the fire tower back to Sylvan Lake
About 3.4 miles, 2 hours
I really enjoyed the way down except for being a little tired from being on my feet for that long. But it was a nice long downhill and the scenery was spectacular. It was a steep downhill near the top and there was a little bit of a mild incline back up in the middle section but then it ended as a nice stroll through a meadow before coming back to Sylvan Lake.
There are several spots where you can look back to see the fire tower at the top of peak. It was fun to see it and feel proud you just climbed up there as it seemed so far away. I think this is one reason I preferred doing the loop the way we did (up #4 trail and down #9), as that might have depressed me on the climb up seeing our destination so high above us.
This trail was busier than the #4 trail but not overly so on a weekday in early October. I hear summer is a different story though.
We got back to our car at around 215 pm.
What To Bring
WATER!-- There is no place for water on the trail or at the trailhead except the Sylvan Lake general store which may or may not be open. Much of the trail and especially the top is not shaded so it gets hot. We brought at least a liter per person. I would so much rather dump water on the way down than be thirsty.
Sunscreen--See above mention of trail not being very shady.
Hats and sunglasses-- Have I said yet that the trail wasn’t very shady?
Raincoat and Layers-- This is up to you and the weather forecast that day. It was cool (65 degrees) when we started and hot by the end (90 degrees) so we definitely shed light jackets and long sleeve shirts by mid- morning. I always pack a light raincoat on every hike as a Murphy’s Law guarantee that it won’t rain.
Food-- Again, no place to resupply on this long day hike and you do work up an appetite. We also hiked with 4 teenagers so we had ALL the food. I was a little surprised wild animals weren’t chasing us around as I felt like a moving vending machine that was constantly dispensing granola bars and trail mix.
TP and plastic bags-- No toilets on the trail or at the peak except for 0.6 miles into the hike when you reach the second TH on the #4 trail for Little Devils Tower. It's a vault toilet.
Other Helpful Info
Custer State Park has an entrance fee. A 7 day pass is $20 and there isn’t a one day pass. A year pass is $36 so it is worth it if you think you might be back. The employees at the gate by Sylvan Lake entrance were a little annoyed we didn’t have cash, only credit cards so they had to walk them back to the gate house to process them. Luckily they weren’t busy as I could see that being a big problem if lots of cars were waiting behind us. Let’s hope they get them mobile devices for the future!
The flush bathrooms at Sylvan Lake will close for winter, usually somewhere around early October. They were still open when we were there but not for long the maintenance worker said. The vault toilets stay open.
Check the weather often. We hiked on October 5 and it got to 90 degrees but it snowed the week after we were here. Thunderstorms and hail can move in quickly to the peak so be aware.
The general store at Sylvan Lake wasn’t open before we left for our hike but looked open when we returned. I think it opens earlier in the summer though. I could’t find a website or facebook page for the store and apparently it was torn down in Sept 2022 to make way for a new one so might want to google that before your trip.
The fall colours on this hike were amazing
What We Did After Our Epic Hike
Number one, take off hiking shoes. My sandals felt glorious. Then we headed to Mount Rushmore which is 30 min away if you go back out the Sylvan Lake entrance and then go around Custer State Park on highways 87 and 244.
Originally we were going to drive through Custer State Park on Needles Highway to Legion Lake Lodge for lunch and then take Iron Mountain Road to Mt Rushmore. That’s a 90 minute drive but you see two of the most spectacular scenic roads in America and most of Custer State Park.
Unfortunately, several people in our family suffer from motion sickness and these two spectacular roads have spectacular hairpin turns and switchbacks. Plus, Legion Lake Lodge was already closed for the season so that plan was scrapped.
I really liked Mount Rushmore, but we did not do much exploring or hike the trail around the base as everyone was tired and hungry by this point. So we took pictures and looked around the museum which was interesting.
Mount Rushmore was a lot better than I was expecting, which was kitschy and “Looks just like the pictures.” In person, you are actually taken aback by how freaking huge the sculptures are which I don’t think any picture can quite adequately convey. And the museum makes you appreciate just how dedicated the sculptor, Gutzom Borglum, was to achieving his vision.
We were staying in Rapid City that night so we headed back to our hotel (Residence Inn, 40 min away from Mt Rushmore, see Where To Stay Below for more details) for much needed showers after visiting Mount Rushmore. Then out for a well deserved dinner in downtown Rapid City.
The Avenue of Flags felt soooooo long after our big hike and then sitting in the car for 30 minutes. But I thought it was worth it, more so than I thought Mt. Rushmore would be.
Dinner In Rapid City
We found Sabatino’s Italian Ristorante and treated ourselves to an amazing meal. It is not the cheapest in Rapid City, but we felt it was reasonably priced for that level of quality Italian food. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Our other favorite place was right across the street, Firehouse Brewing Company. We ate there several times while staying in Rapid City and enjoyed it each time. Tasty American style food, good craft beer, family- friendly, and a neat historic firehouse theme mixed with sports bar made everybody in our group happy.
Other Places To Eat In The Area
If you are here in the season (May- Sept)- Sylvan Lake Lodge in Custer State Park has a restaurant although it is bit upscale for just coming off the trail which is why I would probably pick Legion Lake Lodge instead. It has a beautiful deck overlooking the lake and a more casual atmosphere. Out of season, there isn’t much open in Custer State Park including the general stores.
In the nearby town of Custer (15 min away), you will find lots of options. We liked Maria’s Mexican for inexpensive but good Mexican, Custer Wolf for more foodie fare and a nice patio for kicking back with a beer, and Horatio’s for excellent ice cream. But you will also find pizza places, burger places, and even a super foodie place (Skogen Kitchen) all packed in and around Main Street. It is a great little town that is touristy but not completely overdone.
Hill City is 20 min away and we liked Bumpin Buffalo Bar and Grill for the namesake buffalo burger and Mangiamo Wood Fired Pizza because good pizza and pasta is always a hit with our hungry crowd. Also a cute town but a little smaller than Custer and really seemed to shut down in the offseason.
Firehouse Brewing Company in Rapid City
Where To Stay In The Black Hills
Heads up- There are potential affiliate links below. See our full disclosure policy to find out why we don’t accept freebies or sponsored visits and what our affiliate links mean for you.
Custer State Park
Staying in the park would be the obvious choice for hiking Black Elk Peak and exploring the rest of this gorgeous place. You have a variety of choices in the park- lodge rooms, cabins, and campgrounds.
Lodges and Cabins
The lodges and cabins aren’t cheap but you are right in the middle of everything. Custer Resorts manages all the lodges and cabins for the park.
Sylvan Lake Lodge and cabins is definitely the one to go for here. The lake is beautiful and you are right there for starting your hike first thing in the morning, plus you can rent kayaks or paddleboards to relax in the afternoon after your big hike.
My next choice would be Legion Lake where you can rent cabins and also has a nice lake for paddling around the rest of the day.
The other lodges are State Game Lodge, Blue Bell Lodge, and Creekside Lodge, plus they have some specialty cabins for large groups. Check the website for Custer Resorts for descriptions and availability.
Campgrounds
There are 9 campgrounds in Custer State Park, managed by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Wildlife. Their website has a nice list and descriptions of each.
The Sylvan Lake campground isn’t actually at the lake, it is down Needles Highway about a half mile, although there is a walking trail connecting the 2. It looked like a pretty typical campground with a bathhouse in the middle and smallish campsites looped around it. The bathhouse has flush toilets and showers. Someone has helpfully driven around it and posted all the pictures on Google Street View so you can take a look. Some of those sites are really close to Needles Highway, the main road through the park from the Sylvan Lake entrance so they wouldn’t be my first choice. There is a large tent only area at the back of the campground that looked nice. That would probably be my choice.
Blue Bell campground seems to be a favorite of campers, at least from the blogs I read. Back Road Ramblers has a nice blog about camping in Custer.
Hotels Near Black Elk Peak
We typically stay in one of the larger hotel chains like Marriott or IHG because of credit card points, and we like the included breakfast buffets (hello bottomless pits masquerading as teenagers).
We thought the hotel prices in the Black Hills were expensive and also the availability was low for our dates. Maybe it’s because the season is limited and so many people do come during that season. Or perhaps the high prices reflected that we were on the tail end of said season when some smaller, mom and pop places had already closed so there was more demand for the larger chains that were still open.
Whatever the reason, we ended up staying in Rapid City for several nights because there was more choice and better prices on hotels there. It meant driving a little longer each day, maybe 20-30 min more versus staying in a centrally located town like Custer, depending on where we were going. We didn’t find the extra driving terrible (it is such a beautiful place!) and it was well worth saving some money for us. We did spend 2 nights in the Black Hills on our trip, just not on the night after hiking Black Elk peak.
CUSTER AND HILL CITY
Both of these towns are close to the trail head for Black Elk Peak at Sylvan Lake.
We stayed two nights at the Holiday Inn Express Hill City- Mt Rushmore and it was great. Exactly what you would expect from a Holiday Inn Express and walking distance to the main drag in Hill City where all the restaurants are located.
There was also a Holiday Inn Express in Custer that we looked at as well. These were my top choices in those towns. Again, because we often use hotel points for that chain. There were other chain hotels in those towns plus some super cute locally owned inns. Book early though, we had trouble with availability which is one reason we ended up in Rapid City.
RAPID CITY
Outside of Downtown
We stayed two nights at the Residence Inn in Rapid City. I like Residence Inns in general because they have a suite with 2 bedrooms, a small kitchen and most importantly- 2 BATHROOMS! So important for family harmony and preventing fratricide. And the rooms have a full kitchen which we like for keeping lots of picnic supplies and snacks for long days exploring.
You could even cook dinner in your hotel room, because they have stoves and dishes. The Residence Inn wasn’t downtown, but it was a quick 10 minute drive away since it is right by the interstate at exit 61. We compromised on location for more room and a better price point, and we were really happy.
We also spent one night at the Fairfield Inn at this same exit at the end of our trip. It was fine as well, although I liked the Residence Inn better because most of the rooms are bigger and have the full kitchens.
* Pro Tip- If you have kids that are into that kind of thing, there was a huge indoor water park (WaTiki Indoor Water Park) at this exit (exit 61 from I90) that seemed very popular. Both the Fairfield Inn and the Residence Inn are attached to the water park, but the Fairfield Inn is directly attached with rooms overlooking it whereas the Residence Inn has an indoor walkway connecting it. The Fairfield Inn also advertises the water park in its description, so it was more crowded at morning breakfast with lots of families in bathing suits.
Also gathered around this apparently super popular water park was a Home2Suites by Hilton Rapid City, a La Quinta by Wyndham Rapid City, and a Courtyard by Marriott Rapid City. I guess all those hotels right next to each other kept the prices competitive, because this little area by exit 61 off I90 had the best prices we found in the Black Hills.
In Downtown Rapid City
My choice would be the Alex Johnson Hotel, a historic hotel that’s walking distance to the restaurants and shops in Rapid City’s neat little downtown. The lobby is very cool with its Germanic Tudor vibe (as they call it) but the rooms have been updated and modernized.
It has a wonderful rooftop bar with the signature neon sign that’s a landmark for downtown. The hotel also has several suites that could fit a family up to 6 people. It is on my list for future stays in Rapid City as it looks amazing and I have heard great things about it.
Vacation Rentals Near Black Elk Peak Trailhead
If you are spending a couple of day in the Black Hills, then you might think about renting a cabin. There are literally hundreds of cabin rentals in this area at all kinds of price points so it is easier to find a VRBO than a hotel sometimes. It is nice to have a home base -- get to unpack once, more room, able to fix dinner at your lodging after a long day hiking instead of having to go back out to a restaurant, often cheaper to eat meals at your lodging too.
* A VRBO was our original plan but it didn’t work out because we had reservations at Cedar Pass Lodge at Badlands National Park in the middle of our 8 days in the Dakotas. So we had several days in the Black Hills at the beginning of our trip and two days at the end, which is why we stayed in hotels instead of a vacation rental. Next time, we will book our trip earlier and not have to plan around whatever available dates the Badlands park lodge has left. I bookmarked a lot of places I liked though.
A couple of tips to keep in mind when looking:
some of the more remote cabins with gorgeous views are on iffy gravel roads not fun in rental sedans
check for AC if visiting during late summer and don’t want to deal with opening all the windows and cooling down the cabin when you get back in the evenings
consider how far you want to be from restaurants/ grocery stores/ dollar stores. They can be few and far between in the Black Hills which is great when you want to get away from it all and not so good when a kid realizes he forgot to pack something important. Ask me how I know Hill City has a Dollar General that stays open late and sells underwear.
the price per night can vary widely throughout the year. The same cabin can be $500 a night in season and $100 a night in the off season. It means the nightly average can be way off for your specific nights.
SOUTHERN END OF BLACK HILLS- NEAR WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK
Cabin Southern Hills Serene Getaway is a cute little 2 BR/ 1 BA cabin with wonderful reviews and borders Wind Cave National Park. It is small but has gorgeous scenery and is very secluded. 5 people max and averages $200 a night.
Wind Cave Cabin - Just Wonderful is a large 3 BR/ 2 BA cabin with a hot tub and awesome views. The A- frame cabin sleeps 6 in beds and has air mattresses for up to 10. Averages $200 a night.
NEAR CUSTER
Whitetail Springs Ranch- 3 BR Log Cabin On Private Acreage w/ Personal Pond is a large cabin on 17 acres of a beef ranch. Older cabin with stone fireplace and great reviews. Sleeps 10 and averages $258 a night.
Peaceful, Private Log Home With Exceptional Views And Amenities is a large 4 BR/ 2.5 BA log cabin set on a secluded hillside in a pine forest with gorgeous views. Cute fairy garden to explore for little kids and a few miles from Custer.. Sleeps 9 max and averages $379 a night.
Farmhouse Cabin In The Black Hills (Cabin #1) is a picturesque little cabin on a goat farm with 2 BR/ 1 BA. It is a little out from Custer but located in a beautiful valley. The owners have built several of these brand new and super cute cabins near each other, but you still have a little space and your own fire pit area. Great reviews. Sleeps 7 max and $225 a night.
NEAR HILL CITY
Creekside Cabin On The Mickelson Trail is a cute little cabin (looks to be a converted mobile home) with 2 BR/2 BA. It is right by a lovely creek and the awesome Mickelson Trail so it’s very convenient for bikers. 2 minute drive into Hill City. Sleeps 6 max and averages $156 a night.
Spacious Home- Centrally Located In The Black Hills- Hot Tub, ATV is a very large 4BR/ 3.5BA home that comes with a hot tub, bikes for the nearby Mickelson Trail, and an ATV. 10 minute walk to Hill City and nice views in a more modern development. Sleeps 12 max and averages $258 a night.
Final Thoughts
We loved our hike up Black Elk Peak, even the kids who are not super into hiking. We didn’t find it to be a difficult trail, just a long one. We did around 8.4 miles in a little over 5 hours and took our time.
We hiked the Black Elk Peak loop, going up #4 trail and down #9 trail and saw Cathedral Spires on the way up. We had great fall colors on our early October hike but some of the amenities in Custer State Park and the surrounding areas had reduced hours or were already closed for the offseason.
I would definitely recommend this hike to families with older kids in decent shape and that have hiked before. I wouldn’t say this is a beginner trail nor good for kids not able to read menus by themselves yet. But maybe you have a super hiker toddler so in that case, have at it and be ready to take lots of photos of the incredible views on this awesome trail!
Happy Trails- Amanda
Other Websites I Found Helpful When Researching
AllTrails- Black Elk Peak via Harney Trail
AllTrails- Black Elk Peak Loop: South Dakota Highpoint
Black Elk Peak Hike: South Dakota’s Most Stunning Trail & Viewpoint- Where Are Those Morgans