billydheyhey - Nov 16, 2018 2:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2017
HP #23!
Love the views; reminds me of something out of a Lord of the Rings movie.
Ruvicha - Sep 3, 2018 9:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2018
Glittering trail -- really
Took the longer, harder but more scenic northern route from the Willow Creek horse camp. The trail passes through meadows and forests, circles around the dramatic spires of Elkhorn Peak, and finally tops a ridge with long views toward the observation tower on Black Elk. The trail glitters almost the whole way with shards of mica that have flaked off the richly colored rocks that line the path. The summit was crowded with families and others who had taken the shorter southern trail. Black Elk attracts an international clientele; hikers from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg and elsewhere joined friends and me in singing happy birthday to my wife from the summit. A beautiful day and a great hike.
Tunalp@yahoo.com - Aug 28, 2018 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2018
Great View, easy hike, Mountain Goat right at tower
Left 4:30 easy hike at tower 6:30 with nice visitor Mountain Goat, great job the CCC building the rock tower
montanajames - Aug 12, 2018 2:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2018
Summitted during family reunion with my daughter
Hiked to the top in a party of 7 including my 9 year old daughter. Returned via Cathedral Spires to trailhead at the lake.
Trail 9 up and trail 4 including Little Devil on the way down.
Saw lots of eyes in the dark on the way down from Black Elk- curious deer watching me. Had to wait for mama mountain goat and her kid getting done on top of Little Devil before I could climb the last metres. Beautiful sunrise from Little Devil!
With Sylvan Peak, Little Devils tower, Bear Mountain, Odakota Mountain, Green Mountain, Crows Nest Peak, Crooks Tower, Terry Peak.
Rvojacek - Jun 12, 2018 12:52 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2016
Great Views, great hike
The entire hike from Sylvan lake to the peak was great. Easy to follow trail, beautiful views!
marciamallow - May 26, 2018 1:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2015
HP #29
Loved the Black Hills area...good quality hike and unique tower at the top...although there were a ton of annoying knats!
wyomtman - May 24, 2018 3:14 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2018
First family summit
Started at the cathedral spires trail head, 5 month old, 2 year old, and my wife. Beautiful day in a beautiful place!!!
urraca man - May 22, 2018 6:57 pm Date Climbed: May 22, 2018
Beautiful Day!
Another great high point. Went to Mount Rushmore earlier in the day.
triviasteve - Apr 26, 2018 7:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2015
goats!
got to the summit and encountered quite a few mountain goats. a beautiful hike in the black hills (you have to drive needles highway!)
NonaRider - Mar 29, 2018 10:56 am Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2006
Peak #15 [NonaRider]
[Date Approximate]
I had way too much fun climbing in the rocky areas I wasn't supposed to be climbing. Definitely a great exploratory trail! CAUTION enter at your own risk :D
CPrice1024 - Mar 5, 2018 2:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2017
So many summits, and every time it blows me away and renews my appreciation for my home state.
Curtissimo - Aug 7, 2017 9:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2017
With my boys
Nice hike up windy on top water in stone pool very cool.
huskertriguy - Jul 24, 2017 12:26 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2017
2nd Time
Loved hiking with the nieces and nephews. Took the scenic route back via Little Devils Tower.
utahguy058 - Jun 18, 2017 1:37 am Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2017
Billy Goat Goes Bonkers on Black Elk
Decided to make a loop of this stunning landscape, to get a nice variety. We went up trail 4, and came down the 9. I was impressed by the granite outcroppings of the Cathedral Spires and Little Devils Dower. We saw a stunning Mountain Goat at the spires, and then again inside the watchtower on Black Elk. He was licking the building for minerals. We saw no one on the number 4 trail and found it more scenic than the more crowded 9 trail we went down, though both were beautiful. The views at top were amazing, and was truly the highlight of the Black Hills. Thanks Billy Goats of Black Elk for a Beautiful Black Hills hike.
Wallylongridge - Sep 11, 2016 11:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2016
#9
Camped in Custer State park for a couple of days, saw lots of Bison, Big Horn Sheep and a few Mountain goats. i even got a foot or two up John Gills boulder problem the Thimble. The Lookout Tower on top of Black Elk was pretty cool too!
larvitar - Sep 4, 2016 2:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2016
Larvitour Stop #33
First on the register after the name change! I definitely approve--Black Elk's vision on the mountain makes for a much more interesting name-story than anything General Harney did. After driving in the previous day and seeing how crowded the Black Hills were, I wasn't expecting solitude, but I only met one other party on my way up and down Trail #9 from Willow Creek Horse Camp. The final spur-trail up to Harney was pretty crowded, though, so I guess most people come up from the other direction. All those granite outcroppings along the way are amazing... I suppose some of you crazy folks try to climb them?
Jow - Aug 6, 2016 1:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2016
Larry Legend
Straight from airport to trailhead. Lacking much energy but a scenic and fun hike. Very crowded even on a Thursday. Unique area for sure quite enjoyed. HP #33
We were on an epic roadtrip from Pittsburgh to Denver and back stopping at 14 different states, several National Parks, and 5 state High Points. This one was definitely the highlight of our trip as we were the last climbers of the day and a massive storm set in. We only caught the northern tip of the storm, but the winds and sky were incredible to see from the top of the tower!
billydheyhey - Nov 16, 2018 2:25 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2017
HP #23!Love the views; reminds me of something out of a Lord of the Rings movie.
Ruvicha - Sep 3, 2018 9:13 am Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2018
Glittering trail -- reallyTook the longer, harder but more scenic northern route from the Willow Creek horse camp. The trail passes through meadows and forests, circles around the dramatic spires of Elkhorn Peak, and finally tops a ridge with long views toward the observation tower on Black Elk. The trail glitters almost the whole way with shards of mica that have flaked off the richly colored rocks that line the path. The summit was crowded with families and others who had taken the shorter southern trail. Black Elk attracts an international clientele; hikers from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg and elsewhere joined friends and me in singing happy birthday to my wife from the summit. A beautiful day and a great hike.
Tunalp@yahoo.com - Aug 28, 2018 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2018
Great View, easy hike, Mountain Goat right at towerLeft 4:30 easy hike at tower 6:30 with nice visitor Mountain Goat, great job the CCC building the rock tower
montanajames - Aug 12, 2018 2:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2018
Summitted during family reunion with my daughterHiked to the top in a party of 7 including my 9 year old daughter. Returned via Cathedral Spires to trailhead at the lake.
Bjorn - Jul 12, 2018 10:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2018
Alone on the mountain at nightTrail 9 up and trail 4 including Little Devil on the way down.
Saw lots of eyes in the dark on the way down from Black Elk- curious deer watching me. Had to wait for mama mountain goat and her kid getting done on top of Little Devil before I could climb the last metres. Beautiful sunrise from Little Devil!
With Sylvan Peak, Little Devils tower, Bear Mountain, Odakota Mountain, Green Mountain, Crows Nest Peak, Crooks Tower, Terry Peak.
Rvojacek - Jun 12, 2018 12:52 pm Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2016
Great Views, great hikeThe entire hike from Sylvan lake to the peak was great. Easy to follow trail, beautiful views!
marciamallow - May 26, 2018 1:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2015
HP #29Loved the Black Hills area...good quality hike and unique tower at the top...although there were a ton of annoying knats!
wyomtman - May 24, 2018 3:14 pm Date Climbed: May 24, 2018
First family summitStarted at the cathedral spires trail head, 5 month old, 2 year old, and my wife. Beautiful day in a beautiful place!!!
urraca man - May 22, 2018 6:57 pm Date Climbed: May 22, 2018
Beautiful Day!Another great high point. Went to Mount Rushmore earlier in the day.
triviasteve - Apr 26, 2018 7:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2015
goats!got to the summit and encountered quite a few mountain goats. a beautiful hike in the black hills (you have to drive needles highway!)
NonaRider - Mar 29, 2018 10:56 am Date Climbed: Jun 1, 2006
Peak #15 [NonaRider][Date Approximate]
I had way too much fun climbing in the rocky areas I wasn't supposed to be climbing. Definitely a great exploratory trail! CAUTION enter at your own risk :D
CPrice1024 - Mar 5, 2018 2:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2017
SD Highpoint4th highpoint
ToTheHeights - Feb 13, 2018 7:54 pm
South DakotaSo many summits, and every time it blows me away and renews my appreciation for my home state.
Curtissimo - Aug 7, 2017 9:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2017
With my boysNice hike up windy on top water in stone pool very cool.
huskertriguy - Jul 24, 2017 12:26 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2017
2nd TimeLoved hiking with the nieces and nephews. Took the scenic route back via Little Devils Tower.
utahguy058 - Jun 18, 2017 1:37 am Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2017
Billy Goat Goes Bonkers on Black ElkDecided to make a loop of this stunning landscape, to get a nice variety. We went up trail 4, and came down the 9. I was impressed by the granite outcroppings of the Cathedral Spires and Little Devils Dower. We saw a stunning Mountain Goat at the spires, and then again inside the watchtower on Black Elk. He was licking the building for minerals. We saw no one on the number 4 trail and found it more scenic than the more crowded 9 trail we went down, though both were beautiful. The views at top were amazing, and was truly the highlight of the Black Hills. Thanks Billy Goats of Black Elk for a Beautiful Black Hills hike.
Wallylongridge - Sep 11, 2016 11:18 am Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2016
#9Camped in Custer State park for a couple of days, saw lots of Bison, Big Horn Sheep and a few Mountain goats. i even got a foot or two up John Gills boulder problem the Thimble. The Lookout Tower on top of Black Elk was pretty cool too!
larvitar - Sep 4, 2016 2:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2016
Larvitour Stop #33First on the register after the name change! I definitely approve--Black Elk's vision on the mountain makes for a much more interesting name-story than anything General Harney did. After driving in the previous day and seeing how crowded the Black Hills were, I wasn't expecting solitude, but I only met one other party on my way up and down Trail #9 from Willow Creek Horse Camp. The final spur-trail up to Harney was pretty crowded, though, so I guess most people come up from the other direction. All those granite outcroppings along the way are amazing... I suppose some of you crazy folks try to climb them?
Jow - Aug 6, 2016 1:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2016
Larry LegendStraight from airport to trailhead. Lacking much energy but a scenic and fun hike. Very crowded even on a Thursday. Unique area for sure quite enjoyed. HP #33
THC73 - Jul 10, 2016 11:03 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2016
My favorite HP so far!We were on an epic roadtrip from Pittsburgh to Denver and back stopping at 14 different states, several National Parks, and 5 state High Points. This one was definitely the highlight of our trip as we were the last climbers of the day and a massive storm set in. We only caught the northern tip of the storm, but the winds and sky were incredible to see from the top of the tower!