Black Elk Peak — Attraction in Hill City

This has to be one of the best hikes I've been on! It's not super hard but it is steep so it does tire you out. It took us about 4 hours with breaks and pictures. I honestly liked a lot of the views along the way more than the top view. But you know you gotta get to the top! It killed my feet though haha.

It was like a two thousand feet increase in elevation. It's not super scary for those afraid of heights as I'm generally cautious about going too high because of my fear of heights. It's quite a foresty walk not close to the edge much. And the view points are great. I don't think I've seen a lot of terrain like this that is a mix of rock formations and forest. Typically from the trails I've been on, it's one or the other so I really enjoyed the unique views, but maybe that's just me.

Take plenty of water and snacks. I was beat by the end. I had not eaten enough beforehand or taken enough with me. Also wear really good shoes. Mine were not the best fit and it killed my feet. Also try to go in the cooler hours as it makes for a much nicer experience. But make sure you give yourself enough time to get back in light. I would not want to walk down the trail at night as it's pretty bumpy and hard to see even with a headlamp. We made it back just before dark and went at about 4pm during the summer. We really lucked out on the weather. We caught the sunset and it was beautiful and really pleasant...

The hike is so enjoyable and view so majestic that it earned back the star that I was going to deduct for the difficulty parking. Sylvan Lake is quite impressive in its own right and I completely understand why it was a mob scene in late July (even on a weekday). The trail heads were clearly marked and the paths well kept. Be sure to take a different trail down than you take up because the views from both are great. I did the 4 up and 9 back. I would consider this heavily traveled but everyone was courteous. It is suitable for all skill levels— families with small children, older people, teens and everything in between. I wore low top hikers, shorts and a tee-shirt and would recommend exercise wear. Not a requirement because some people wore sandals, others running shoes... one guy had on jeans and work boots. In my pack I took a couple liters of water and some snacks. Thankfully, I used bug spray before setting out because I could hear them flying around my head. Along the way there were also chipmunks, deer and a little black snake. You can’t go wrong with this hike and I wish that I lived close enough to do it over...

This is a most lovely hike. It is strenuous. But can be done by people of many different abilities. The one thing is to pack ample water. The scenery is beautiful going up and coming back down. There are a few different ways to get up there. The look out has absolutely amazing views. Our view was obscured by smoke from the Rankin fire in the Wind Cave park, and air quality was not good. But we could make out the Badlands. It really is something to make that hike, and be on top and look around. It took us a little over 5 hours round trip. We spent a good amount of time chatting with folks at the top and took frequent rests. A wonderful...