There was only one thing on tap for the day, Black Elk Peak, the highest point in South Dakota. After a quick stop at one of the drive up coffee places, it was time to venture into Custer State Park. Seen on the drive in…
With a brief stop at the entrance station to pay for a weekly park pass, it was onward to the day use parking area for Sylvan Lake. More on the lake later.
Depending on who you believe, the round trip hike to the summit is either six miles, six and a quarter miles or six and a third. The kiosk in the parking lot doesn’t even agree with the sign at the trailhead. So, I’m going with six and a quarter. Either way, it’s a well earned summit.
The trail goes by many names. Some still call it the Harney Peak Trail, named after General William Harney who led troops against the indians during the country's expansion west. Three years ago, the peak was renamed Black Elk Peak, after a Lakota medicine man. Inside the park, it's simply Trail #9.
This sign sits around the first curve in the trail. Wildlife indeed...
Perhaps a half mile up the trail I came to this bench. It was placed here when the peak was still Harney Peak.
Across the valley, this is your first glimpse of the peak…three miles away. It's on the far ridge, center frame.
I shoved the camera into my pack and just concentrated on the hike. Knowing the light would be better on the trip down, I took very few shots on the way up.
Close to the summit, I started seeing colorful ribbons hanging from the trees. The local native Americans leave these here, usually with a little tobacco tied inside, They're offerings to their ancestors. They ask that you don’t take photographs out of respect.
There’s a nice platform at the summit with a great view. The peaceful scene is only broken by the drone of tourism helicopters. For those of you scoring at home, this makes state high point number twenty-five.
That’s where I met Zoe.
The further I hiked down, the darker the became sky by the summit. Still, a steady stream of hikers passed me, heading up.
The parking lot at the trailhead sits next to Sylvan Lake, the most photographed spot in the state, and for good reason. There’s a one mile loop trail around it. Yeah, I could do another mile.
On the backside of the lake loop, sits the Sunday Gulch Trail. I seriously thought about it. In the end, I chose not to. As I found out when I did the loop later in the trip, it was definitely the right move. It's tougher than it looks.
It was still too early to head back to town. So, I took a scenic drive down what they call Pinnacles Highway. But first, I had to get through the Needles Eye Tunnel. More on the name tomorrow. It's a thin tunnel and only ten feet high. Tour buses for the park are all designed with this in mind. Traffic jams are a regular occurrence. This one took a while to sort itself out.
I came through this tunnel again later in the trip and had a very different encounter.
The aptly names Pinnacles Highway...
Okay, there are much bigger pinnacles, but there was enough traffic I couldn't really stop, get out and shoot them.
The first buffalo sighting of the trip, but certainly not the last...
After a stop at the visitors center to ask about the buffalo herd and some trails, it was back to Custer. I had numerous people tell me I just had to have dinner at Black HIlls Burgers and Buns. Sometimes traveling alone has it's benefits. The family in front of me had a thirty minute wait. I went right in. The bison burger was excellent and the Crows Peak Pile of Mud Porter Ale superb. I even had a nice chat with a local guy.
Sunset, such as it was...
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