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Black elk peak trail map10/12/2023 ![]() To realize we were on top of that peak that dominates the Black Hills is awesome. It is all the more satisfying after seeing the mountain loom above Rapid City as we drove back from Badlands on I-90. The best part of it is reaching the highest point in South Dakota and seeing the view of the Black Hills which includes views of the Cathedral Spires and the back of Mt. As an 8 mile loop with around 1,700 feet of elevation, combined with Cathedral Spires, it was the perfect length, forest, overlooks, rock features and views. This may be my favorite hike of the year for me visiting 17 National Parks and 10 National Monuments. Trails #4 and #9 do get a bit crowded, so get out there early! If you're coming to the area to hike, Black Elk Peak should be at the top of your list. You can get a pretty good trail map at the park if you don't already have one. There are other routes you could take as well as some back-country camping options. It works out to be around a 6.5 mile loop. The trail meets up with #9 just below the peak and we took that trail back. It also offers spectacular views of Little Devils Tower, Cathedral Spires, and the back side of Mt. This trail is slightly longer but breaks up the ascent a bit more so there's more spots to catch your breath between climbs. We opted instead to go up Trail #4, which leaves from the opposite side of the same lot. The standard route seems to be Trail #9 which leaves from the Sylvan Lake parking lot. We knew that going in, and it was still a terrific hike. Fair warning, the last bit of the trail up to the fire tower was closed for maintenance when we were there. ![]() There are several trail options to get to the peak which is the highest point west of the Rockies and east of the Pyrenees. As other reviews mention, this is the "flagship" hike in Custer State Park.
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