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How Long Does It Take To Hike Harney Peak

Is hiking to the tiptop of Blackness Elk Peak in South Dakota calling your name? We're sharing exactly how to hike Black Elk Top in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota! Continue reading to programme an incredible day hike to 1 of South Dakota's nearly historic gems.

I grew up in Southward Dakota, and I can't wait to share this ballsy hike with you!

Let's programme a trek to this sacred mountain in the Black Hills while visiting the oldest mountain range in the United States.

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Black Elk Peak hiking trail

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How Long Does it Take to Hike Blackness Elk Peak?

If you're reading this post, y'all are definitely interested in hiking to the elevation of Blackness Elk Superlative and finding out how long information technology takes to hike the Black Elk Summit trail in South Dakota.

Common' – I'll tell you all about it!

I of my favorite things to practice was hike to the Black Elk Peak picket tower growing up in the Black Hills. Previously known as Harney Summit, and rightfully renamed in 2015 after a Holy Oglala Lakota Medicine Man, Blackness Elk Peak is the highest signal in the U.S. east of the Rockies.

Information technology is a scenic trail with spectacular views of the Blackness Hills. It is also a great work out!

Hiking to Blackness Elk Elevation from Sylvan Lake Trail #nine is roughly seven.4 miles round trip and will take about iii-iv hours to complete.

Black Elk Peak Trail Day Hike Details

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Blackness Elk Acme lookout tower

Being from the Black Hills of Southward Dakota virtually Custer, my favorite road to hike to Black Elk Peak is from Sylvan Lake Trail #9.

Sylvan Lake is located in Custer Country Park, and so you'll need to purchase a day pass to enter and park in the parking lot.

  • Trail Name: Sylvan Lake Trail #9
  • Difficulty: Moderate difficulty + one,100 feet elevation gain. At that place are switchbacks and stairs to accomplish the lookout.
  • Distance: 7.4 miles round trip
  • Fourth dimension: three-4 hours round trip
  • Where to Park: Sylvan Lake parking area on the east side of the lake. The trail is accessed north of this parking lot.
  • Bathrooms: There are only restrooms by the parking area.

The trail is well maintained and well marked.

Black Elk Tiptop Hike Trail Map

Best Time of Twelvemonth to Hike Blackness Elk Peak

The best times of year to hike to the acme of Black Elk Peak are late spring through early on autumn (May through September).

The trail is open year-round; all the same you may encounter snow or ice hiking in the winter and then mud during the bound.

All-time Fourth dimension of Twenty-four hours to Hike to Black Elk Meridian Lookout Tower

Start as early as possible to crush the crowds and the weather in the summer.

The Blackness Hills have mountain atmospheric condition which ways it tends to thunderstorm in the afternoons. Yous definitely don't want to be at vii,000+ feet in summit in a lightning storm (yikes!).

You lot're more likely to encounter clear skies and epic vistas hiking early in the solar day. Start as early as possible in the day for the all-time chance of clear skies.

How to Hike Black Elk Peak via Sylvan Lake Trail #9

Begin your hike on the wide pebble rock trail due north of the Sylvan Lake parking area located on the lake's e side (same parking lot for the Sylvan Lake beach). This is trail #9.

If you start super early to trounce the crowds, you will likely take the trail to yourself (ahhhhhh, lovely). For the most part, trail #9 gets a fair amount of traffic.

You will hike the trail for a few miles before inbound the Blackness Elk Wilderness Surface area. At that place is a not-and then-formal permit system. You accept to sign in at the self-service kiosk with your name and the number of hikers in your party.

Anytime you get into the backcountry, registering where required helps keep you rubber, so be sure to check-in. Check out the US Forest Service map for hiking in the Blackness Elk Wilderness Area.

As the trail winds you through the Blackness Hills, you'll exist surrounded by behemothic Ponderosa Pines. There are a few stream crossings and clearings with majestic views of the Black Hills and granite rock formations.

As you gain elevation, you'll run across more of the remarkable geology, including the Needles Cathedral Spires.

As you expedition college in tiptop, the copse begin to thin, and you begin to come across spectacular vistas of the Black Hills for miles. Supposedly, some say on a super articulate day; you lot can even come across the curvature of the globe!

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View of the Needles geologic formation in background

What Should Y'all Take Hiking Blackness Elk Peak?

Hiking to the top of Black Elk Peak is a decent expedition and workout.

Below are items we always accept hiking and recommend.

  • Day Pack – we dear this Osprey pack
  • Water bottles – at to the lowest degree 64 ounces
  • Snacks
  • Comfy hiking boots – I have the Oboz make here these days, and Pablo wears these Merrell hiking shoes
  • Trekking poles – I use these Leki carbon poles and have had them for over x years!
  • Layers – long sleeve shirt and maybe light wind jacket
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen and chapstick – Sun Bum brand since it is environmentally and ethically safe

Check out our tips for practicing Leave No Trace and beingness stewards of the environment when hiking in the backcountry and wilderness areas.

Planning a Trip to Visit the Black Hills in South Dakota?

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View of the Needles from Black Elk Peak lookout belfry

Cheque out our Summertime Guide for the 40 All-time Things to do in the Black Hills from someone who grew upwardly in the Black Hills.

You lot tin can't become to South Dakota without visiting Mountain Rushmore! Read more to find travel inspiration for your summer holiday to the Black Hills.

Happy Hiking!

Ashlee & Pablo

"Is non the heaven a father and the globe a mother, and are not all living things with feet or wings, or roots their children."

Black Elk, Oglala Sioux

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Planning a trip to S Dakota? Check out our other Due south Dakota articles:

  • Things to do in the Blackness Hills Summertime Guide
  • How to Visit Mountain Rushmore Local's Guide
  • 10 Best National & State Parks to Visit in Due south Dakota

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top left photo: hike to black elk peak lookout tower, top right photo: girl hiking with black elk peak in background, bottom photo: black hills cathedral spires

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