By Louisa Burden

Editor in Chief

Temperatures outside are warming up and students are getting sick of being stuck in their dorm rooms. If you enjoy hiking and are new to the area (or just haven’t had a chance to go out exploring), try out these well known trails and experience the beautiful sights of the Black Hills.

Hike #1: Harney Peak

The hike to the top of Harney Peak is by far one of the most popular hikes in the Black Hills. The mountain definitely has a reason for being so popular: it offers spectacular views of the Hills and is the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and the east coast. There are two trails you can go on, both of which start near Sylvan Lake. Both trails are fairly similar in terms of length (about six and half to seven miles) and level of difficulty, but Trail 9 tends to be used by hikers more often. The top of the mountain has a cool rock tower that you can go inside, and there’s enough cell phone service to call all your friends and brag about the awesome views you’re seeing.

Tip: If you’re not an experienced hiker, be aware that walking this trail will take some time (probably several hours) and could be fairly strenuous, depending on how good of shape you’re in. Be sure to plan accordingly!

Hike #2: Bear Butte

Bear Butte is another popular, very beautiful hike. Located just a few miles outside of Sturgis, the butte rises suddenly up from the plains, and most of the sides are too steep and full of loose rocks to climb on. However, there is a trail leading up to the top which is only moderately difficult, and shouldn’t take more than a couple hours for a round trip. At the top, you can see for miles off into the plains, and if you look back at the Black Hills, you can see the ski slopes near Lead and Deadwood off in the distance. It can get pretty windy there, and some of the trail is narrow and leads through the loose rock areas, so be extra careful as you hike.

Tip: Bear Butte is a religious site for some of the Native American tribes from the Great Plains. Tribe members hold ceremonies there and leave behind items of spiritual significance. Please respect their culture and leave these items alone!

Hike #3: Little Devil’s Tower

Not to be confused with the actual Devil’s Tower, located near Sundance, WY, Little Devil’s Tower is a lovely hike with a view that rivals (if not beats) that of Harney Peak. The trailhead is just down the road from Sylvan Lake (and the Harney Peak trailheads), and only takes a few hours to complete. Part of the trail even leads you through a cool tunnel in the granite. At the top, you’ll be able to see for miles, and it is a good area to break out the binoculars and look for mountain goats or other wildlife. This trail is somewhat less used than the Harney Peak trails, so this is a good one if you’re looking for a trail that won’t be too filled with people, especially this time of year.

Tip: The trail can be quite strenuous at times, and in some places may be partly covered up from the recent logging of trees killed by the pine bark beetles infesting the Black Hills. Don’t let this scare you off, though – it’s not as hard as it sounds and is definitely worth it.
Things to remember:

Be aware that there may be entrance fees to get to these trails, and that the hikes may take several hours, so check the weather forecast beforehand.

Always bring lots of water and extra food, as well as a map and a first aid kit. While perhaps not strictly necessary for these trails, it’s also always a good idea to pack other items, such as a compass, rain ponchos, a GPS, matches, a lighter, a snakebite kit, and other survival gear, just in case.

Always bring a jacket, even in summer! These trails all lead you to the top of mountains (or hills) where it can get windy and chilly, even when it’s 90 degrees everywhere else.

Always tell a friend where you are going! If you get lost, there’s no way anyone can find you if they don’t know where to start looking.