Harney Peak

Harney Peak from the south

Didn't realize how prominent this mountain was

Of all the state high points in the Midwest, this would be the first real hike with a considerable amount of elevation gained.  Harney Peak in South Dakota is higher than any point on the east coast.

The standard route to Harney is about 7 miles with almost 2,000 feet elevation gained.  Since I was at Mt Rushmore, I decided to do a loop hike.  This would amount to almost 18 miles, with the last 2 miles on the road.

The trail was across the road from Mt Rushmore, but I had quite a bit of difficulty finding it.  I asked a Ranger who pointed me in the right direction.  The start of the trail was not obvious at all.  Once on the trail the grade was quite slight.  Supposedly this trail provides great views of Mt Rushmore, but I didn't see any.

Friendly and pretty trail at first

Beautiful walk through the pines

I made quite good time to the first trail junction where I met a family.  I pointed them in the direction of Mt Rushmore.  I still made great time to the next trail junction and that's when the trail became quite difficult.  The elevation gain started to kick in along with the most blowdown I have ever seen on a trail.  I've experienced quite a bit of blowdown off trail in both the Catskills and the Adirondacks and it's not fun.  I also led a hike to Balsam Lake in the winter after an ice storm making that trail difficult to follow.  I passed a trail sign suggesting to turn around.  I came too far at this point.  Fortunately, the herd paths around the blowdown were good enough to where I could negotiate.

Blowdown as seen from the summit.  It must have been some storm

Finally, the well named Grizzly Trail (maybe not for actual Grizzlies, but for the fact the trail was a bear) came to and end and I reached the Harney Peak Trail.  Civilization had been reached.  After spending the past few hours solo, I now started to run into people.  Harney Peak is quite popular.  For a Monday, there must have been 50 to 75 people on or near the summit.  I met a mother and daughter who thought I was crazy taking the route I took.  This was coming from somebody who yesterday morning were at Yosemite.

The views from the summit were quite amazing.  Though not familiar with the region, it did not take me too long to figure out where stuff was.  I could make out the area where I would descend to and I could see the mountain that the presidents were carved into.  Though the actual faces were not visible.  The stone tower on top is quite impressive.  There is an area close by that appears higher, but a recent survey proved otherwise.

Black Hills have some interesting features

The way down

The walk down went fairly quick.  I took a good fall along the way while holding my camera.  At first, I thought it broke, but fortunately after removing the lens and battery it came back to life.  Since nobody was willing to pick up a homeless guy, I walked the last 2 miles on the road.  It felt good once back at the car.

Mt Rushmore is the mound in the middle and to the right

A closer look.  The parking lot is dead center.