• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • 🥾 Hiking >>
    • Hiking 101 >
      • Types of Hikes
      • Trail Etiquette
      • Hiking Terms & Jargon
    • Long Trails >
      • Appalachian Trail
      • Lone Star Hiking Trail
    • Hiking Texas >
      • Central Texas Hiking Trails
      • Chalk Ridge Falls
      • Dana Peak Park
      • Guadalupe Mountains National Park
      • Lone Star Hiking Trail
    • Hiking Articles
    • Gear Reviews
    • Ask Nutty Hiker
  • 🏕 Camping + RVing
  • 🗺 Destinations >>
    • Road-Trip Checklist
    • Texas
      • North Texas
      • Central Texas
      • East Texas
      • South Texas
      • West Texas
      • Texas State Parks
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Idaho
    • Kentucky
    • Nevada
    • New Mexico
    • North Dakota
    • Pennsylvania
    • South Dakota
    • Utah
    • Washington
  • 🚘 Road Trips >>
    • Road-Trip Checklist
    • Road Trip 2015
    • Road Trip 2016
    • Road Trip 2017
  • ⭐ Reviews >>
    • Hiking / Outdoor Gear
    • Photography Gear
  • 🗞️ News >>
    • Hiking News
    • Outdoor News
    • Interviews
  • 🎥 Video’s
  • 📷 Photography >>
    • Latest Work
    • How To & Tips
    • Photography Gear Reviews
    • Photography Classes
    • Photography Articles
    • Portrait Sessions >
      • Overview of services
      • Portrait Portfolio
      • The Cost
      • Portrait Session Tips
      • Referral Program
      • Our Policies
      • FAQ’s
      • Book A Session
  • ✎ Lifestyle >>
    • Recommendations
    • Home & Garden >
      • Home & Garden Articles
      • DIY & How To
      • Gardening/Patio
      • Recipe’s
      • Annual Christmas Light Show
    • $$$ Matters >
      • Finance & Money Blog
      • Making A Budget
      • Free Budget Worksheet
      • Military Family Budget Worksheet {FREE}
      • Money Saving Tips
      • 9 Things You Should Always Negotiate
      • How I saved $2400 a year by making 2 simple phone calls!
      • How I make $150 extra a month by reading emails!
    • Health & Wellness
    • ✪ Military Life >
      • Finance 101: The Frugal Military Spouse
      • Dear Military Spouse
      • Deployment
        • Deployment 101 >
        • Deployment Articles
        • Deployment Kit & Binder | Free Downloads
        • Deployment Preparation
        • Deployment Safety Tips
        • Deployment Survival
        • How to Keep Busy During Deployment
        • Emotional Phases of Deployment
        • Homecoming Ideas & Tips
        • Children & Deployment
        • Care Package Sign Up Sites
        • Care Package Do’s, Don’ts & Restricted Items
        • Care Package FAQ’s
        • Care Package Ideas & Tips >
          • Care Package Theme: Happy Birthday Care Package
      • PCS & Moving >
        • PCS Binder – How To & Downloads
        • General Info
        • PCS Allowances
        • PCS Checklist
        • Types of Moves
        • Standard TMO/PPO PCS Tips
        • DITY & Partial DITY Moving Tips
        • PCS Household Goods Weight Allowance
        • Items To Take With You
        • Unauthorized Items
        • Filing A Claim
        • Useful PCS Links
        • Blog Posts about PCS
        • PCS Blog
      • Base-Post Reviews
      • Military Discounts
      • Military Legal >
        • Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
        • SCRA: Companies That Go Above & Beyond
      • Military Living & Benefits
      • Military Weddings
    • Blogging Tips >
      • Make $$$ Blogging
      • How to Start a Blog
      • Set up a WordPress Blog in 5 Steps
      • How to Secure Your WordPress Site
      • 10 WordPress Plugins Every Blogger Needs!
      • Blogging Articles
    • My Daily Antics
    • Dear Nutty Hiker
    • Just For Fun
  • 🆓 Resources >>
    • Road-Trip Checklist
    • Deployment Binder
    • Military PCS Binder
    • Budget Worksheet
    • Military Family Budget Worksheet
    • Holiday List Printables
    • Free Tools >
      • Military Time Converter
      • Morse Code Converter
      • Message Encryption & Decryption
      • Message Transformer
    • Giveaways
  • 📛 Work With Me
  • 🛒 Shop
  • ☕ Support
  • ✉ Contact >>
    • Contact Me
    • Request Product Review
    • Work With Me
Nutty Hiker Adventures

Nutty Hiker Adventures

Hike Every Hike Like It Is Your Last

Cairn Banner
You are here: Home / Destinations / South Dakota / Hiking Black Elk Peak: Highest Point East of the Rockies (Video)

Hiking Black Elk Peak: Highest Point East of the Rockies (Video)

Posted January 29, 2018 / Last Updated June 22, 2020 Tags: Trails

When I scouted places for our 2017 Road Trip (based off of how much hiking I could get in) I realized the Black Hills of South Dakota was going to be our main stop when I stumbled upon Black Elk Peak (formally known as Harney Peak), which is the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains. While hiking Black Elk Peak isn’t a strenuous hike, it also isn’t for the faint of heart either.

We didn’t hike it right away and instead waited about a week before knocking this off of our Black Hills Bucket List.

We got up early and drove to Custer State Park to the trailhead and began our journey about 0730. BTW, if you will be in the area for longer than a day, just get the annual pass to Custer State Park to save a ton of money in entrance fee’s!

The trail starts off easy and slowly begins to ascend where it then begins to descend and then ascend and then descend. You get the point! A whole bunch of up’s and downs! I didn’t realize how out of shape I was until I did this trail! Of course, I am also used to only hiking the trails here in Central Texas which are all relatively flat with at the most a 200 ft elevation gain.

Black Elk Peak, South Dakota

The trail is beautiful and has a ton of good photo ops, so make sure you bring your camera. Also, make sure to bring plenty of water, snacks and if you are going to make a day of it, also a lunch. We decided to have our lunch break at the top of the peak!

There are several different ways that you can reach the peak, however, the most common two are the North and South approach. The most used is the South approach trail (No 9) from Sylvan Lake. The North approach trail (No 9) from Willow Creek Horse Camp is longer and more strenuous but is also more scenic and less traveled.

Our Route

Our route started at Sylvan Lake on Trail No 9 to the peak. Coming back, however, we took Trail No 9, to Trail No 3 to Trail No 4 back to Sylvan Lake. So we essentially did a loop. Looking at the map below, we did red, brown, to green.We did a total of about 7 miles with an elevation gain of 1400 ft.

Black Elk Wilderness Trail System

Video of Hiking Black Elk Peak

Instead of putting a million pictures within this post, I added them to the end of this video. This will give you a pretty good idea of what the trail is like. Excuse my poor video making skills, I am still learning!

Tips

Bring plenty of water! Especially during summer.The trail can work up a sweat!

Bring snacks and a lunch. You will be happy you took the time to stop and eat lunch at the peak!

Bring a camera. There is too much beauty for you not to!

Remember trail etiquette. I don’t know how many times we were going up and the people coming down were not yielding, which means we had to stop and move aside instead of the other way around!

During summer the trails to the peak are crowded. Even during the week. Start early as possible and be prepared for a ton of noise at the top from kids (mostly teenagers). Or use the Northern approach to the trail (it will still be crowded and noisy at the peak).

Watch your children! Other than the fact that you are on top of a mountain in which they can fall off, I also noticed a lot of parents allowing their children (of all ages) to run freely interfering with others, messing with the fabric on the tree’s (which are prayer ties left behind by local Native Americans), and leaving trash.

Remember this is a sacred holy site! Again leave the prayer ties on the tree’s alone, keep the noise level to a minimum, pack out what you have packed in, and don’t remove anything (even rocks) from the area!  The peak is sacred to many Native tribes who often hold religious ceremonies here, show some respect!

History of Black Elk Peak

Originally called Harney Peak, the name was changed to Black Elk Peak on August 11, 2016, by the Federal Board of Geographic Names to honor Black Elk, an Oglala Lakota Sioux Indian who is said to have received a great vision while he was on top of Harney Peak. He is also believed to have survived the Battle of Little Bighorn and the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Black Elk Peak, which is located in the Black Elk Wilderness area of the Black Hills, has an elevation of 7,242 feet and is the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains. In fact, you won’t find a higher point until you reach the French Pyrenees.

The fire lookout that sits on top of Black Elk Peak was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1939 and used until 1967. While it is no longer in use today, you are still able to tour it once you reach the peak. The view from the tower allows visitors to view land in 4 different states – South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana.

Have you visited Black Elk Peak aka Harney Peak? Leave a comment and let us know what you thought!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Mix (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

cairn banner

Reader Interactions

Leave me a Comment =) Cancel reply

Comments

  1. Annie says

    February 5, 2018 at 10:09 am

    I love hiking and love that this guide shows me places to hike where I never would’ve thought to go otherwise! Great guide!
    xoxo
    Annie

    Reply
  2. Dee Samaan says

    February 5, 2018 at 11:12 am

    I have not hiked in awhile, well since I moved out os PA to ohio. It so flat here that you really cant hike. This post inspired me to go home and hike in the mountains of PA!

    Reply
  3. The Restless Wild says

    February 5, 2018 at 3:36 pm

    Definitely a fabulous hike! Nice tips and it’s fun to get a glimpse of the trail. Do you know what the mileage and elevation change of this hike was?

    Reply
    • Bridget Carlson says

      February 15, 2018 at 1:30 pm

      The route we took was roughly 7 miles round trip with about a 1400 ft elevation gain =)

      Reply
  4. serena hale says

    February 6, 2018 at 8:56 pm

    Looks like you had a wonderful time. There are plenty of places to hike here and just maybe I will get past my heights challenge and go hiking.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Search

HOWDY Y’ALL

Nutty Hiker here – military wife, mom, photographer, writer, and an avid hiker. I love turquoise, long hikes, Cherry Dr. Pepper, & tornados. Read More…

“Hike Every Hike Like It Is Your Last” – Nutty Hiker
Facebook Icon Instagram Icon YouTube Icon

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up to receive my monthly newsletter & notifications of new posts by email.

Featured Posts

Big Ole List of Books for Hikers & Backpackers

30-day challenges to change your life

15+ 30-Day Challenges to Change Your Life

Fort Lancaster in West Texas

Visiting Fort Lancaster and the Wild West

Visiting San Antonio: Your Guide to San Antonio from a Tourist

Your Guide to Visiting San Antonio

Colorado Springs - Trails to Hike

Top Spots in Colorado Springs to get your Hike on

Sponsors

Battleboxcairn-sidebarMountain Steals Banner

Footer

SUPPORT =)

This blog is my full-time job. I rely heavily on support from my readers. If you would like to help offset the cost of running this blog and my nutty adventures so I can continue to bring you travel & outdoor adventures, please feel free to donate =)Donate to Nutty Hiker

Disclosure

Per the FTC, This website contains affiliate links, advertisements, and sponsored posts. For reviews, I was provided with a complimentary copy of the item unless otherwise stated. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases using the amazon links located on my website. Read my full policy here.

Search

Awards

Best Outdoor Blogs

Copyright © 2021 — Nutty Hiker Advenures | Bridget Carlson • All rights reserved.
The links on this website are solely for the convenience of our visitors. Nutty Hiker does not endorse, operate, or control external websites.
Terms of Use • Privacy Policy• Disclosure• Contest Rules

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.