The Black Hills are a mountain range in southwestern South Dakota and a small part of northeastern Wyoming. Geologically they are related to the Rocky Mountains; however they are a separate mountain range. They are described by many as a geologic anomaly due to their relative small area for a mountain range, the fact that they are isolated from other mountains and rise straight up from the prairie, and also for their varied and interesting rock formations.
A beautiful although typical Black Hills craggy mountain
They get their name from a translation from the Lakota Sioux, which called the range the Paha Sapa, which means the hills that are black. They were called this because the mountains are covered with pine trees and from a distance they appear dark colored.
Do not let the fact that these mountains are tree covered fool you into thinking they are like the Ozarks or the Appalachians. What sets these beautiful mountains apart from other tree covered mountain ranges are the incredible rock formations that seem to thrust out of the ground and create almost a fantasy world on Earth.
Incredible rock formations thrust up from the ground
Formations like the Needles and the Cathedral Spires are the most dramatic, but are only the tip of the iceberg. It seems that every bend has a new rock face either large or small rising from the ground to thrill the visitor.
Even the less dramatic and less spectacular rock formations are beautiful
One would think the hiker would get bored of all the interesting rock formations, but this is far from the truth. I spent three days hiking through the Black Elk Wilderness, which is the heart of the Black Hills adjacent to Mt. Rushmore. It seemed that each turn of the trail offered a different rock formation and each one seemed more spectacular than the one before.
It seems that there is a rock formation thrusting out of the ground at every turn in the Black Hills
The highlight has to be the overlook at Harney Peak, which is the highest point in the Black Hills at 7,242 feet. One can see four states from the overlook tower on this peak. It is not the fact that one can see for miles and miles that will make the jaw drop here. What will fill those that climb the peak with a sense of wonder is the fields of jagged rock protruding from dark pines from the surrounding Black Hills. Add a touch of snow and it turns a spectacular view into something sublime.
One can see four states from Harney Peak
The mountains are tree covered, but there are many buttes and outcroppings that can be easily climbed that rise over the trees and give a broad spectrum of the surrounding scenery. Walking through the woods is just as amazing as the trails zigzag through pine trees, mountain prairie, and rock.
The views will dazzle the senses and backpackers will continually say “oh my god.” This hiker has been through the backcountry in Zion, Big Bend, and the Grand Canyon. Those parks are incredible, but the Black Hills are arguably their equal in scenic wonder.
Stay tuned,
TT
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You keep opening new vistas for your fans, Ted. As always, GREAT photos. They give us the feeling of being there.
Beautiful pics! Your posts make me want to travel to South Dakota ASAP. We came close on our Wyoming trip but didn’t have the time.
LeslieTravel recently posted..Holiday survival guide- 7 tips for spending Christmas abroad
My brother lives in Spearfish and I’ve spent some time in the Black Hills; it is indeed a great place to hike and camp. I heard on the radio today that the USAF is going to greatly expand their flying range in this area – that will really disrupt the ambience of the area.
Mike S recently posted..Urban Trails Identification Needed
Thanks for reading Mike. That would be a shame to have more air noise. In Keystone I saw they had helicopter tours of the area, but the whole town was closed due to offseason. Yet another reason to visit the Black Hills or anyplace during the off peak travel times.
Great hike Ted! Since I haven’t been to SD, really enjoyed your photos and adventures from your hike. Seems like a great place for the outdoors but don’t think I could brave the cold like you did. I would choose to visit when it’s a bit warmer! 🙂
Jeremy B recently posted..Budget travel week in review – winter deals- holiday travel gifts- free cruise
My jeep broke down in the Black Hills many years ago durring a cross-country trip. I spent a nice few weeks there waiting for it to get repaired, great scenery.
Matt | YearAroundTheWorld recently posted..Daily Travel Photo- Lazy Afternoon in Santiago de Atitlan
Hi Ted,
How did you find out about the Black Elk Wilderness? I’ve been promoting that area for some time with the South Dakota Office of Tourism. I spend a lot of time hiking out there. Just wondering how to reach a wider audience. Thanks for you reply.
Joey.
Great post, I’ve lived in the Black Hills for 10 years and I’m still finding great hikes. There area is just beautiful and there are over one million acres of public land to hike on.
Josh recently posted..Lead Trailhead
Most every fall I spend a long hiking weekend in the Black Hills, and every year I seem to come away with a larger list of places I want to explore.
I completely agree it is the scenic equal of almost anywhere I’ve hiked, especially in the fall.
Harney’s Peak is a hoot. The building on the top serves as an excellent reference point for hikes all over the area.
I’m heading out there in 10 days, and I can’t wait!…
Thank you for the post and the pictures – truly excellent!