Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

14ers in California and Washington state or any other peak in the USA
Forum rules
  • This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
  • Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
  • Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
  • Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
User avatar
davebks
Posts: 764
Joined: 6/5/2008
14ers: 10 
13ers: 10
Trip Reports (3)
 

Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by davebks »

Hey all, we are heading up to Deadwood, Mt Rushmore, Badlands, Black Hills, etc for Memorial weekend. While we will be busy sightseeing, are there any hikes up that way that we should NOT miss out on??
Thanks! Any advice is appreciated.
User avatar
TravelingMatt
Posts: 2204
Joined: 6/29/2005
14ers: 56 
13ers: 435
Trip Reports (2)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by TravelingMatt »

There are two different routes up Harney Peak; the longer one (from the north) is a bit more convenient to Mt. Rushmore.

Then you can see Mt. Rushmore from the traffic light. Then go home. Thank you for visiting South Dakota.
You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough. -- William Blake
User avatar
wooderson
Posts: 156
Joined: 2/23/2010
14ers: 58  31 
13ers: 324 7
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by wooderson »

Harney is a pretty cool hike. It was my first peak ever, actually. I’d definitely recommend putting it on your itinerary. Custer State Park is also worth checking out, especially Sylvan Lake. There's a little mile loop hike that goes around it.

Not sure if you’re planning to camp in the Badlands, but if you do, might want to check out the Sage Creek campground. It’s primitive (pit toilets, no water) but it's free. The main attraction is the bison that tend to wander through on a regular basis. Very cool, but of course keep your distance!

I should note that there’s a chance it could be a little on the warm side camping at Sage Creek (or anywhere in the Badlands). We once drove there in the summer, got out of the car and it had to have been 100+... at about 7:00 in the evening. Late May might be OK though… temps appear pretty reasonable right now.

Have a fun trip! It’s a great area.
User avatar
CarpeDM
Posts: 609
Joined: 8/25/2006
14ers: 58  6 
13ers: 350 13
Trip Reports (10)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by CarpeDM »

I'll echo the Harney Peak suggestion: the SD state highpoint. Here's the SP page:

http://www.summitpost.org/harney-peak/150511

I hiked it on my annual Christmas drive to Indiana last December (yeah, it was out of my way, but then I've already visited the KS, NE, MO, and OK state highpoints). The summit building is pretty neat. When I went, they had closed off the northern route (Willow Creek horse camp) for pine beetle mitigation, but I saw some people going up that way anyway. The southern route from Sylvan Lake had a parking fee. The SP page says $5, but they had bumped it up to $15.

Also, you could visit the Crazy Horse monument. I went there in the mid-90s and went back again last December to see if they've made any progress - not really. It was cool the first time I went - I had just read a biography of Crazy Horse, plus the visitors center / museum / touristy stuff was open (it wasn't in December).
"This route is awesome; you can bring all your favorite holds home with you!" - Cedar Wright
"I just wanna live the life I please; I don't want no enemies; I don't want nothing if I have to fake it
Never take nothing don't belong to me; everything's paid for; nothing's free; If I give my heart will you promise not to break it?" - Lucinda Williams
gregS
Posts: 13
Joined: 9/26/2011
14ers: 19 
13ers: 6
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by gregS »

Being from there, I'd check out Harney Peak, the Needles, Sylvan Lake (Sunday Gulch Trail), Mt Rushmore and more particularly all the cool rock around it, Badlands, Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood, and Custer State Park (French Creek Natural Area).

Enjoy.
User avatar
TravelingMatt
Posts: 2204
Joined: 6/29/2005
14ers: 56 
13ers: 435
Trip Reports (2)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by TravelingMatt »

I don't recall paying a fee for the northern TH, off highway 244. It's like most hiking in the East, in the trees with no views until you get near the top. Northern route will have fewer people most likely due to being longer.

If you're a highpointer you can do ND and SD on consecutive days. The ND highpoint is on private property and the owners ask for a $10 contribution at the "trailhead".
Last edited by TravelingMatt on Wed May 16, 2012 4:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough. -- William Blake
User avatar
greenhorn1
Posts: 189
Joined: 12/24/2010
14ers: 5 
13ers: 3
Trip Reports (2)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by greenhorn1 »

We did Little Devil's Tower Spur Trail last spring and loved it. The end has some fun/easy rock climbing and great views of the surrounding area that include Harney Peak fire tower. 3 miles RP.

Regarding the Crazy Horse entry fee, last year they accepted 3 cans of food (per person) instead of the entry fee until June, you might check into that if you're interested in going.
Choose only one master - Nature. Rembrandt
User avatar
wooderson
Posts: 156
Joined: 2/23/2010
14ers: 58  31 
13ers: 324 7
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by wooderson »

CarpeDM wrote: Also, you could visit the Crazy Horse monument. I went there in the mid-90s and went back again last December to see if they've made any progress - not really. It was cool the first time I went - I had just read a biography of Crazy Horse, plus the visitors center / museum / touristy stuff was open (it wasn't in December).
Ooh... too bad the OP won't be there a week later, that's when they have the annual Volksmarch. It's the only time each year you can walk all the way up to the monument, and you actually end up right in front of the face/head, so it's pretty impressive. I did it back in 2003.

More info:
http://www.crazyhorsememorial.org/event ... march.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
davebks
Posts: 764
Joined: 6/5/2008
14ers: 10 
13ers: 10
Trip Reports (3)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by davebks »

Thanks everyone for the info!! We are definitely going to be seeing all the sights and can't wait.
I think we have a pretty good plan laid out. Ft. Laramie on the way up, deadwood, the caves, crazy horse, rushmore, etc.

The only think I am bummed we didn't get into the plan is Devils Tower! I was actually hoping to climb it, but time won't even allow for a trip to the base to see it. I don't think anyway.
Anywho, thanks again. Keep the info coming.
Good places to eat, anything :)
User avatar
JsinDeAZ
Posts: 255
Joined: 9/7/2009
14ers: 37  1 
Trip Reports (4)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by JsinDeAZ »

I have family that lives south of Custer. Just have fun. But please do not come back with a bumper sticker that says, "Where the heck is Wall Drug?" I like Crazy Horse mountain, which is insane to think that Rushmore could fit across his forehead. Hit Wind Cave NP just out outside Custer NP (where the donkeys will mob you). The black hills have quite a few abandoned mines. I had a piece of quartz that weighed over 100 lbs from one of them. I recommend just going out hiking. I stumbled across the mine and had no idea it was there. Just enjoy the beauty of the scenic drives of the Black Hills. Cruise down through Keystone for the touristy stuff.
-----------------------------
I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. - John Muir

...I love not man the less, but Nature more... - Lord Byron
User avatar
Kolo
Posts: 24
Joined: 3/4/2009
14ers: 50 
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by Kolo »

Crow Peak over by Spearfish is nice little hike about 1600 vert. around 6 miles round trip much less crowded than the southern hills. Romas in Spearfish http://www.romasristorante.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is a good place


+1

Agree with live4pc; Crow Peak is a nice, mellow hike with a good view of the Spearfish area. I have eaten at Romas on several occasions when in town to run the Deadwood-Mickelson Trail Half Marathon. The food and service has always been good!
JayB
Posts: 34
Joined: 7/26/2004
14ers: 47 
13ers: 1
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Deadwood/Mt Rushmore area

Post by JayB »

I second and third all the recommendations on Harney Peak. Instead of hitting it from the Sylvan Lake area from the south, try from the north which will be longer and more challenging.

If you have time, drive down to Wind Cave NP. Do the cave tour if you like, but make sure to do some hikes on the ground above. With all the wildlife in the area (buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, prairie dogs, etc), it's like hiking through a safari park. Just be careful to watch for buffalo as you come over hills and bends. I've been surprised by them a few times.

When I've been out there, I've always stayed in Custer. Nice town with some good local places to eat.
Post Reply