Black Elk Peak Trail Custer State Park

We try to hike to Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak) when we are in the Black Hills. It was a beautiful day and relatively cool so we decided to make the hike. The fall leaves were nearing their beak color.

On the way to the top we encountered a number of deer on the trail. The couple behind us had to restrain their dog when this one jumped across the trail.

There were still a variety of flowers out. I captured this Bluebell.

There was some graffiti along the trail. This is the first time I’ve seen anything like this.

To native Americans Black Elk Peak is a sacred site. In the past we have seen offerings but they seemed to have increased in recent years.

The views from the top of the Peak are spectacular.

Beautiful views on the trip down from the top.

Hiking Black Elk Peak

It was a beautiful morning and on the cool side so we decided to hike up Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak). It was renamed in 2016 to honor of Nicholas Black Elk and recognized the significance of the summit to Native Americans. Nicholas Black Elk was a famous medicine man and holy man of the Oakota Sioux. I suppose the child in the white house will want to change the name back to Harney Peak since it was renamed when Obama was president.

The fall colors were outstanding. This is the first time I’ve hiked the trail from Sylvan Lake to the top when the fall colors have been this good. It was mid week and there were not a lot of hikers on the trail. We did meet a woman who had three dogs with her. Two of them were hers and the third was a rescue dog she was training to walk trail.

More photos from Custer State Park can be found on my website.

This was the only wildlife we saw along the trail.

There were some great views from the top of the peak. We walked through the fire tower and then down to the peak where we found a stone structure.

On our way back we met a couple of hikers in cowboy gear (hats, boots and chaps). They left their horses down lower and walk the last part of the trail. It was a good decision because  the trail near the top has deteriorated a bit and the steps were quite high. We found their horses tied to trees down below.

On the way back we took a different trail that took us over to the Needles and Little Devil’s Tower before winding back to Sylvan Lake. This portion of the trail was even more colorful.