FLAG MOUNTAIN

Flag Mountain (6,937 feet) is the 9th highest peak in the Black Hills. It can be accessed by fire roads all the way to the summit - a short set of stairs leads to the ruins of an old stone fire tower overlooking Slate Prairie, Castle Rock, and White Tail Peak is prominent. Like Bear Mountain and Odakota, Flag is a high point along the Limestone Plateau where it drops down into the valley surrounding the Core region. Four wheel drive is recommended, but not necessary when conditions are good. If you park at the base of the fire road that leads to the lookout, you can either bushwhack up the ridge (generally due North) or hike along the road itself (not very scenic along the way). The view from the ruins is the highlight of this - you may opt to drive to the top and do your hiking in the surrounding Deerfield area anywhere along Flag Mountain Road. In any case, Flag offers a short but rugged drive to a nice panoramic vista. (YDS Class 1)

STORM HILL

Storm Hill is a fairly easy climb (with a little scrambling over a small talus field) fairly close to Rapid City.

(Storm Hill as seen from Boulder Hill)

Storm Hill (5,192 feet) is the highest outlying peak of the Black Hills Core region facing Rapid City. The trail head is on the grounds of the Storm Mountain Retreat Center. A well marked trail leads up from the retreat area, and a few paths wind along the mountainside. All are well marked with signs. While not particularly steep, it does offer a good workout as the last section of trail leads straight up the side. A small talus field separates the summit from the end of the trail-proper. Large boulders of metamorphic rock at the top offer views of Rapid City and Highway 16, and the plains beyond. In all, Storm Hill makes for a short day hike with a decent view from the top. (YDS Class 2)

LOST CABIN TRAIL

Little Devils Tower as it appears from Lost Cabin Trail (spur of Harney Peak trail 9)

Lost Cabin is the trail less-followed to or from Harney Peak. There are some beautiful views, making this slightly more rugged trail a great opportunity to make any trip to Harney Peak's summit seem like a new experience. I've seen fresh mountain lion tracks (5-6 inches long), so hiking with a buddy or in small groups might be a consideration. Several granite knobs and spires make for some easy climbing side-tracks, and many offer nice views from their tops. (YDS Class 1)

OLD BALDY MOUNTAIN

Old Baldy (5,605 feet) shares its name with at least one other mountain in the Black Hills. This Old Badly is the prominent outcropping of granite behind Mount Rushmore. Its summit offers spectacular views of the back of Mount Rushmore, as well as the Central Hills/Harney Peak area.

To get to Old Baldy, park at the Wrinkled trail head and proceed towards Wrinkled Rock (due East). Once you are among the spires, descend on one of the unmarked trails that wind North-East into the valley below. They all funnel into an older trail, which winds East into the Mount Rushmore National Memorial forest. A North-South trail forms a T near the entry sign; make a right (South) and follow it as it curves to an eastern course. Another trail leads North once you have meandered past the base of Old Baldy. Make a left onto this trail - it will lead you up the mountain, eventually curving up to approach from the northern side to the base of the granite slope leading to the top. Head up the granite slope (South), where several wide ledges provide good places to catch your breath. Getting to the summit requires either climbing up the granite knobs directly, or wedging your way up a thin fissure in the granite itself. Either way takes you straight up to the top of a wide granite sill. Reaching the summit from there requires more of both, as you will have to traverse a narrow gap and then haul yourself up the rock using natural hand & footholds. A smooth, gently rounded knob at the top provides excellent views. A register box is tucked in a fold in the granite. The views are well worth the exertion, but be prepared for plenty of rock climbing! (YDS Class 3)

THRALL MOUNTAIN

Thrall provides an easily accessible, quick, but vigorous and challenging hike close to Rapid City. Thrall Mountain is located between Big Bend and Johnson Siding (Highway 44). Not an especially high mountain (5,091 feet), nor a long hike to the summit, Thrall nonetheless requires plenty of energy due to its steep sides. If you choose to traverse its sizable talus fields, it also requires good balance and some basic rock-traversing skills. Thrall can be approached from a number of directions, and there are residential roads on both sides that provide access. A path runs along its North face, a few hundred yards up its side from the base. Once on this trail, another, smaller trail can be found (N-NE face) leading up to the large talus field that dominates this hill. An arrow made of loose stones points the way to the top. If you choose to traverse the talus field, you can zig-zag straight to the summit, but the boulders are loose and rest at the angle-of-repose, so rock slides are a serious hazard. A safer (but equally steep) route can be found by hugging the base of the talus field and working your way to the West. The treeline can be followed up to the summit, where a small cairn, a registry canister, and a decent view of the surrounding Black Hills await. (YDS Class 2, Talus Field YDS Class 3)

7000 Club

view from the summit of Sylvan Peak

HARNEY PEAK (7,242 feet) is the top of South Dakota, and the highest point between the Rockies and the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. A beautiful, moderately strenuous hike (6 miles) with incredible views; The stone fire-tower is a landmark of the Black Hills, and offers 360 views. Logging and brown (infested) trees due to the Pine Beetles and a high volume of hikers detracts from the overall experience.

ODAKOTA MOUNTAIN (7,198 feet) A short, easy hike from a fire road (approaching from the West side), Odakota offers good views along the ledge. The summit is not marked, and there are no trails, so bushwhacking is mandatory - thin ground cover and limestone ridges make it fairly easy.

BEAR MOUNTAIN (7,166 feet) Remote but well marked fire roads go right to the top, so there is no hike at all. The summit is dominated by a Fire Tower and antennae. Views are extensive but unspectacular. The Fire Tower is manned, and can be climbed for a better view. Restrooms and a picnic table are also at the summit.

CROOK'S TOWER (7,137 feet) Remote, but accessible by fire road (no hike); the summit is not marked, but is very peaceful. Views are partly obscured by trees, but a limestone cap at the top is easy to climb - and is also very fossiliferous. Imprints of ancient corals and brachiopods (look like little clams) from the between 300 and 400 million years ago pepper the limestone upon a close inspection.

TERRY PEAK (7,064 feet) An access road leads directly to the summit, leaving no hike at all. Stairs lead to a viewing platform at the summit, providing a 360 view, marred by a web of radio towers, antennae, and tension-lines surrounding the platform. There is an excellent view of Lead and Bear Butte.

CROW'S NEST PEAK (7,048 feet) Its location is remote and difficult to find. Trees obscure just about any good views, and fire roads lead through active pasture land - be careful to avoid trespassing if you take the wrong fire road. The limestone which forms the mass of this mountain is also very fossiliferous, although rocks are small and litter the forest floor rather than offering larger outcroppings.

SYLVAN HILL (7,000 feet) A strenuous hike, all bushwhacking, with opportunities for rock climbing! Views from the summit are on par with Harney Peak, without improvements, or other hikers. Several false summits make this an interesting hike, with plenty of "teaser views" before the summit is reached. A slightly lower, prominent false-summit crowned with a granite mass offers views just as good as the actual summit's. Steep slopes, granite outcroppings, and fallen timber make this the most strenuous and challenging of the top 7, and good orienteering skills are mandatory. Easily my favorite hike of all of the 7,000 footers.

PERRIN MOUNTAIN

(East of Lake Pactola, between Routes 44 & 385)

Perrin offers a short but moderately strenuous climb, followed by a generally easy meander along the ridgeline. Mountain bike trails have been established, which double as excellent hiking trails.

At 5,212 feet, Perrin is hardly the highest of peaks, but it is relatively isolated from other peaks as high, and offers decent views to the south to Harney Peak, as well as nice views of Lake Pactola. Follow the trails from the Rapid Creek Trailhead (Centennial Trail, 89). To access the trail head, take 385, and watch for a road in the center of the dam (the stop sign is the best marker). A sharp switch-back road descends to the trail head. From the western end of the parking lot, go due north to the river, where a bridge allows access across the river. Follow along the north bank of Rapid Creek to find a trail going up a gorge in the shoulder of Perrin Mountain - this is "Choke Hold," a mountain biking trail which leads to the summit from this direction. The summit itself is lackluster, as ponderosa forest masks any views, but a quick walk downhill to the east along "Hurt Locker" brings you to an exposed, jagged ridge line with good views to the east (Thrall Mountain), south (to Harney Peak), and south-west (Lake Pactola and Scruton Mountain). (YDS Class 2)