We Finally Hiked Harney Peak!!!

Finally we get to hike Harney Peak today and we can not wait our puppy Cosmo will be along for the hike as well he is super excited. Here is some information on Harney Peak it is the highest natural point in South Dakota and the Black Hills area it is 7,242 feet above sea level and the views are amazing and so worth the hike when you get to the top.Make sure when you are going to take the hike to allow yourself 4-5 hours round trip and bring lots of water it is not that strenuous but there are some area of heading up that get steep. We suggest taking snacks and a lunch because once you get to the top you will need the energy to go back down and there are tons of awesome spots to sit and grab a bite. The weather can change in a instant so if you can take some warm clothes in case is gets cold or rains Just another quick note there are not restrooms at the top so make sure you use it before you hit the trail.  There are 3 different trails to take in the area the two that we traveled on were #4 and #9 in the Sylvan Lake in Custer,SD

We decided to go up #4 this is not the widely used trail most people take #9. Head up the start of the trail to the left of us there was a cool cave of course we had to walk back into it to check it out. It looks to be a old mining cave or something it was very cool. Now back to the trail even though this trail is not used by most people it is still a very well marked trail no chance of getting lost so you do not have to worry about that. Along this trail we saw a ground hog and tons and tons of chipmunks Cosmo loved chasing the chipmunks. Along this trail you will also come to Little Devils Tower it is a 1 mile jaunt one way not a loop and it is supposed to be a very strenuous hike we did not take it but from reading it what we figure also you will come to a trail called cathedral spires were there are very cool rock formations very cool like hike of the Harney Trail #4. There are stops along the way that have amazing views that are worth a picture and a rest spot before you continue up the trail. 1 mile before you are at Harney Peak trail #4 turns in to trail #9 and you continue on trail 9 to the top. The last mile in my opinion is the hardest mile because there are steps and the terrain gets jagged at this point Cosmo was pooped and I picked him up and put him in the puppy sling and continued along the way. I keep thinking to myself "how dare them put steps at the end of the hike" but the views are so worth pushing through and making it to the top. Once at the top you just need to stop and take it all in........ going up to the compete top of the tower is incredible the views are like once in a life time you are over looking the black hills at the highest point it is breath taking. To one side you will see the back side of Mount Rushmore (no their butts are not sticking out the back end LOL...) look to the other side all you see are rolling hills valleys. You will just want to take so many pictures to remember the moment but pictures do not do it justice you just need to take it all in. 


Once you are finished eating and just being memorized by the views you can start your hike down on trail #9 this is the trail that everyone uses but we took it down because it is a loop and we get to see a different scenery. Most of the trail is down hill so it is not as hard and the hike up for sure there is maybe about a 1/4 mile that is up hill at least that is what is seemed like to us. Heading down the trail the views are not as good as on #4 but it is a easier hike down. mostly in the shade and covered and surrounded by trees which is OK for us because the hike up was warm. The clouds are starting to look alittle dark on us here but if you have watched the weather here the clouds pop and almost in an instant they are gone so we are just going to push on a little rain wont kill us it might be refreshing. Almost down to the bottom and we are beat and Cosmo still has tons of energy but I know to Todd a diet pepsi sounds really good right now. We brought 6 bottles of water 2 for Cosmo and 4 for us and yes we used them all except Cosmo had half a bottle left. I hear cars which means we are almost there we can do it yes we can!!! and whats that I see Sylvan lake heck yes!!!! WE DID IT and let me tell you it was so worth every minute. We might go back and hike up to Little Devils Tower and Cathedral Spires and check it out so there might be an up coming blog about that.