DrPowercat - Apr 11, 2013 1:05 am Date Climbed: Mar 12, 2013
Sunny, but icy
great sunny afternoon hike with my boys, lots of ice in several spots on the trail, but we had a great time and had the summit all to ourselves until the wind chased us off
WyomingSummits - Apr 8, 2013 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2012
Beautifull!
Easy walkup but amazing scenery!
Larry Laverty - Mar 30, 2013 7:58 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2011
Thought Provoking
While I have only a very small amount of Native blood in me, the time spent on this mountain, as with that on Bear Butte, was very thought provoking above all else. My heart sank to look down on the devastation of the Black Hills pines by the beetle, and to think of how the history of this magical place has gone in the last hundred and fifty years. The sun will always shine on Harney Peak though. For a minute, I thought I could see the Chicago skyline off to the east.
joseyinnet - Mar 26, 2013 4:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 1993
back when I was little
Did this with my family on vacation. It was my second state high point, after doing Minnesota's when I was 5. Should probably return someday.
mountainhare - Feb 13, 2013 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2012
Wowing views
It felt like an aerial view of the southern Black Hills. One of the best summit views I have seen.
xbaghat - Jan 20, 2013 10:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2009
twenty-five
...
Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 4:07 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2012
tldelaney - Oct 22, 2012 3:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2011
Tremendous View
Started off from Sylvan Lake. Wonderful temps, but clouds started rolling in and a mere half an hour into the hike the thunder was getting close. Great hike, but as the storm rolled through realized I was under dressed. Incredible view of the Hills from the top!
Walkoutnow - Oct 10, 2012 3:23 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2012
HP #11
Really cool area, nice easy hike. Some snow from the storm a couple days before made things even better. Black hills area is definitely worth seeing.
espreck - Aug 17, 2012 8:58 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2012
Harney Peak Summit
Great hike, probably my 10th summit on Harney Peak in the beautiful black hills!
IagosGhost - Aug 1, 2012 3:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2012
Family Climb
I took the whole family (six kids ranging from 12 years to 7 months old) on this hike via the Sylvan Lake TH. High point number seven for me. The views along the trail and from the top were magnificent, and the kids loved playing and climbing on the rocks at the summit.
irchrisbrown - Jul 29, 2012 2:57 pm Date Climbed: Mar 15, 2012
Where I train
Made my first summit sometime around March of this year. I started with hikes from Sylvan Lake but I now prefer the Willow Creek route.
My 2nd High point. Solo climb from sylvan lake trailhead. The cloud cover made the hike eerie but beautiful. it was pretty windy at the top but the amazing views were well worth it.
skorpeo - Jun 4, 2012 10:33 am Date Climbed: May 30, 2012
From Sylvan Lake
Very windy and cold(45). Great hike with my kids, though.
My third state high point.
Great views!!
xchallenging - May 31, 2012 12:15 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2012
Big wind on top
Four hours round-trip, trail 9. The view was limited in the woods. But on the top, it was nice, the tower almost felt like those from 'HarryPotter' movie scene. Wind was gusting heavily on top.
huskertriguy - May 30, 2012 1:08 am Date Climbed: May 29, 2012
SHP #14
I had intended to hike the Willow Creek route, but of course only discovered after several beers near the trailhead the night before my intended hike (having arrived shortly after dusk) did I think to walk to the trailhead to check for signage. Then and only then did I learn about the trail closures.
Oh well. The next morning I drove around to Sylvan Lake and hit the trail by 9:00. Even with my late start, I didn't see a soul until the summit. Three other people were there and departed shortly after my arrival. For 15 blissful minutes I had the summit all to myself. Beautiful day!
Then I headed down, and it was a steady parade of would-be hikers all the way back to the trailhead. TWO different parties were hiking with small foo-foo dogs; there were other head-tilting displays en route to the summit as well. I was glad to avoid all the clowns for the most part. Looks like if you get a halfway-early start, you can too.
Finished in 3 hours; was sitting at the Sage Creek Grille in Custer noshing on a delicious Dakota Burger by 12:30.
Sarah Simon - May 27, 2012 6:54 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2012
Via Little Devils Tower Trail
Hot dog, this place is beautiful! I had not been to the Black Hills since I was 4 years old. I am so grateful for the chance to return. This mountain and the surroundings are absolutely beautiful. I loved the rock, the forest, the views. Amazing. Sorry it took me since 1978 to get back here! Only downside today = uber-windy. Not a nice day for lunch at the summit.
technicolorNH - May 18, 2012 6:25 am Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2010
Nice view for a plains state
It was a nice relaxing climb after doing Elbert a few days before. The rock formations are what the real draw is. The geology there is quite unique and truly beautiful. I can see why they picked Rushmore as a sculptors site.
iquest4it - Jan 8, 2012 9:24 pm Date Climbed: Oct 16, 2011
Coats in the Trees
It was a fun hike to the summit from Sylvan Lake, but there were 40+ mph winds, which I could see were common, since the trees on the leeward side were filled with coats, hats, and backpacks blown off unwary climbers. This is the highest peak between the Rocky Mountains and the Pyrenees in Europe.
DrPowercat - Apr 11, 2013 1:05 am Date Climbed: Mar 12, 2013
Sunny, but icygreat sunny afternoon hike with my boys, lots of ice in several spots on the trail, but we had a great time and had the summit all to ourselves until the wind chased us off
WyomingSummits - Apr 8, 2013 10:29 pm Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2012
Beautifull!Easy walkup but amazing scenery!
Larry Laverty - Mar 30, 2013 7:58 pm Date Climbed: Sep 10, 2011
Thought ProvokingWhile I have only a very small amount of Native blood in me, the time spent on this mountain, as with that on Bear Butte, was very thought provoking above all else. My heart sank to look down on the devastation of the Black Hills pines by the beetle, and to think of how the history of this magical place has gone in the last hundred and fifty years. The sun will always shine on Harney Peak though. For a minute, I thought I could see the Chicago skyline off to the east.
joseyinnet - Mar 26, 2013 4:06 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 1993
back when I was littleDid this with my family on vacation. It was my second state high point, after doing Minnesota's when I was 5. Should probably return someday.
mountainhare - Feb 13, 2013 9:56 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2012
Wowing viewsIt felt like an aerial view of the southern Black Hills. One of the best summit views I have seen.
xbaghat - Jan 20, 2013 10:38 am Date Climbed: Jul 3, 2009
twenty-five...
Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 4:07 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2012
Couldnt see a thingwhite out...
awhite28 - Dec 25, 2012 1:33 pm
Harneyfrom Sylvan Lake
tldelaney - Oct 22, 2012 3:05 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2011
Tremendous ViewStarted off from Sylvan Lake. Wonderful temps, but clouds started rolling in and a mere half an hour into the hike the thunder was getting close. Great hike, but as the storm rolled through realized I was under dressed. Incredible view of the Hills from the top!
Walkoutnow - Oct 10, 2012 3:23 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2012
HP #11Really cool area, nice easy hike. Some snow from the storm a couple days before made things even better. Black hills area is definitely worth seeing.
espreck - Aug 17, 2012 8:58 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2012
Harney Peak SummitGreat hike, probably my 10th summit on Harney Peak in the beautiful black hills!
IagosGhost - Aug 1, 2012 3:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2012
Family ClimbI took the whole family (six kids ranging from 12 years to 7 months old) on this hike via the Sylvan Lake TH. High point number seven for me. The views along the trail and from the top were magnificent, and the kids loved playing and climbing on the rocks at the summit.
irchrisbrown - Jul 29, 2012 2:57 pm Date Climbed: Mar 15, 2012
Where I trainMade my first summit sometime around March of this year. I started with hikes from Sylvan Lake but I now prefer the Willow Creek route.
fastlikeatortoise - Jun 29, 2012 7:38 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2012
MysticalMy 2nd High point. Solo climb from sylvan lake trailhead. The cloud cover made the hike eerie but beautiful. it was pretty windy at the top but the amazing views were well worth it.
skorpeo - Jun 4, 2012 10:33 am Date Climbed: May 30, 2012
From Sylvan LakeVery windy and cold(45). Great hike with my kids, though.
My third state high point.
Great views!!
xchallenging - May 31, 2012 12:15 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2012
Big wind on topFour hours round-trip, trail 9. The view was limited in the woods. But on the top, it was nice, the tower almost felt like those from 'HarryPotter' movie scene. Wind was gusting heavily on top.
huskertriguy - May 30, 2012 1:08 am Date Climbed: May 29, 2012
SHP #14I had intended to hike the Willow Creek route, but of course only discovered after several beers near the trailhead the night before my intended hike (having arrived shortly after dusk) did I think to walk to the trailhead to check for signage. Then and only then did I learn about the trail closures.
Oh well. The next morning I drove around to Sylvan Lake and hit the trail by 9:00. Even with my late start, I didn't see a soul until the summit. Three other people were there and departed shortly after my arrival. For 15 blissful minutes I had the summit all to myself. Beautiful day!
Then I headed down, and it was a steady parade of would-be hikers all the way back to the trailhead. TWO different parties were hiking with small foo-foo dogs; there were other head-tilting displays en route to the summit as well. I was glad to avoid all the clowns for the most part. Looks like if you get a halfway-early start, you can too.
Finished in 3 hours; was sitting at the Sage Creek Grille in Custer noshing on a delicious Dakota Burger by 12:30.
Sarah Simon - May 27, 2012 6:54 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2012
Via Little Devils Tower TrailHot dog, this place is beautiful! I had not been to the Black Hills since I was 4 years old. I am so grateful for the chance to return. This mountain and the surroundings are absolutely beautiful. I loved the rock, the forest, the views. Amazing. Sorry it took me since 1978 to get back here! Only downside today = uber-windy. Not a nice day for lunch at the summit.
technicolorNH - May 18, 2012 6:25 am Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2010
Nice view for a plains stateIt was a nice relaxing climb after doing Elbert a few days before. The rock formations are what the real draw is. The geology there is quite unique and truly beautiful. I can see why they picked Rushmore as a sculptors site.
iquest4it - Jan 8, 2012 9:24 pm Date Climbed: Oct 16, 2011
Coats in the TreesIt was a fun hike to the summit from Sylvan Lake, but there were 40+ mph winds, which I could see were common, since the trees on the leeward side were filled with coats, hats, and backpacks blown off unwary climbers. This is the highest peak between the Rocky Mountains and the Pyrenees in Europe.