Ever wondered what it feels like to stand at the highest point in South Dakota? Imagine immersing yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the Black Hills, breathing in the heavenly aroma of pines, marveling at a unique Black Hills Spruce, and the stunning foliage of aspen trees. Come along on a thrilling 7.7-mile round trip hike with Craig the Natural Medic as he explores Black Elk Peak in this episode. Whether you're an avid hiker or a nature lover, join Craig in the adventure and discover what makes this trail incredibly worthwhile even amid its popularity and the crowd.
As Craig navigates steep stairs to reach the fire lookout tower, you'll get a glimpse of the spectacular vista of the Black Hills. He shares intriguing insights about the diverse flora and fauna that inhabit the area and the various captivating rock formations he encounters along the trail. The episode also offers helpful tips for potential hikers, giving a comprehensive look into what it takes to complete the hike. So, lace-up your boots virtually, and let's hit the trail together to appreciate the wonders of nature and the thrill of adventure.
Hey, what's up everybody? Welcome to the Natural Medic Adventures. This is Craig the Natural Medic. Today I'm in the Black Hills of South Dakota hiking up what was formerly called Harney Peak, since been renamed. Since I was here last also here in 1999 didn't do a lot of hiking, but anyway, now it's called Black Elk Peak. It's a 7.7 mile round trip. According to all, trails should take around three, half to four hours to get the full loop in. So let's get after it. Follow me down the trail about a half a mile into it, climbing back and smell the aroma of pines and it smells heavenly. So I'll just keep going onward and forward. Here's what it looks like. Pretty cool. Check back with you, sir.
Speaker 1:
I'm doing this trail in October. I think it's the third or is it the fourth? I guess the fourth, and you can see the view. Wow, beautiful black elk peak awaits. It's a very popular trail and parking lot was pretty much full. It does cost $20 to enter the park. But hey, if you're liking this video, make sure. Give me a thumbs up, let me know you approve my content and subscribe to the channel. Thanks, hey.
Speaker 1:
So I'm in the fire lookout tower now the observation tower on top of black elk peak, formerly known as Harney Peak. This is what it looks like up top. I'm at the very top of it. There's a little platform you can get on. That's got a small area, as you can see here, for small area, and some very steep stairs to come up to the top to walk on. But look outside, you can see pretty much the entirety of the black hills. I believe this is looking west, if not all correct this in post. This is north and that's gonna be to the east and that's, of course, to the south, which you can't see very clearly through the windows because they're all clouded up. Pretty cool, the highest point in all of South Dakota, 7,214 feet. Very cool, very cool. So right here behind me you have the connector trail goes to the top.
Speaker 1:
I'm actually going down trail number four. Take me by the little diverse Devil's Tower, the Cathedral spires and back to the parking lot. So off I go. So I literally made it through the wilderness, just like Madonna, and up ahead I think are just some interesting rock formations, but I don't know what. Offhand. I don't know what they are, I don't know what these are called, but they sure are cool looking. Looks like it's gonna be storming a little bit, so better keep going.
Speaker 1:
The majority of the Black Hills has a ponderosa pine forest with some aspen mixed in for good measure. Now we're in a spruce forest. This is called Black Hills Spruce. It's a special subspecies of one of the spruces I don't know which one. Offhand sorry, but definitely a different feel to it. It's a lot denser and darker. Matter of fact, I don't think I need my sunglasses right now. I'm gonna take those off, but difficult to tell the difference when it opens up a little bit. There's a little squirrel. Lots of stuff to see here.
Speaker 1:
Anytime I do a trail hike video, podcast, whatever I really try to give you a good overview of everything. I cannot show you everything on that particular trail. The video would be immensely long, so I'll try to keep it short and sweet and hit the high points. Hope that's what you like. If it is, give me that good old thumbs up. Let me know you approve. Don't think about subscribing to the channel. Okay, see, ya, I'm guessing that the main hardwood or not hardwood but a sigiwis tree in the black hills is the aspen. You'll see some of these as I'm walking by. Pretty beautiful foliage foliage nice kind of yellowy orange. I know, beautiful stuff, beautiful stuff and mixed in with some of that black hills spruce and a ponderosa for good measure.
Speaker 1:
Hey, made it back to the parking area to my vehicle, took about five hours round trip to go up the number nine trail and come down the number four trail between seven and a half and seven point seven five miles of trail total. Spent a little more time up at the top than I probably intended to, which is fine. It was really cool up there, literally and figuratively. Nice place, definitely a crowded trail. So try to pick a day when it's not gonna be crowded, which I don't know when that is. This is the end of the busy season for the black hills, october the 4th 2023, so I'm not sure when you would, when you would be here and not get a crowd, but it wasn't too bad it's and there's enough manageable space for everybody to enjoy. Hey, if you like this video, make sure you give it a thumbs up. Think about subscribing to the channel if you like this type of content so you don't miss anything coming out in the future. If you got any comments, questions, leave them below. Until then, I'll see you on the trail. Bye.