Description
Black Elk Peak (2,208 m), formerly known as Harney Peak, is the highest natural point in South Dakota and the highest summit in the US east of the Rockies. Located in the heart of the Black Hills within Custer State Park, the stone fire lookout tower at the summit (built by the CCC in 1938) is a historic landmark. The hike through pine-covered granite ridges is one of the most scenic in the Great Plains region.
Important Information
Sylvan Lake Trailhead (Trail #9): 7 km round trip. Custer State Park entrance fee ($20/vehicle). Historic CCC stone observation tower at summit. Named after Oglala Lakota holy man Black Elk in 2016. Summit views extend 160 km on clear days. 175 km from Mount Rushmore — easy to combine.