The Big Trip 9.7.20 - 9.23.20, Part 6 of 9: More Custer State Park
Our final full day in Custer State Park found us doing a variety of things. Our priority was driving up the Needles Highway to Sylvan Lake to spend the day. Bob and Dana wanted to drive the motorcycle up the very windy narrow road. In fact, this road along with the Going To The Sun Road in Glacier National Park had a lot to do with our decision to buy a tow car. Both of these spectacular roads are too narrow and windy to allow RVs so having the Corolla has served us well. Bridgit was happy to just hang out at the lake and I was really excited about the hike I had planned.
Bridgit and I left pretty early in the morning as we tend to do and began the drive up the Needles Highway. The leaves in Custer State Park were showing more and more fall color with each passing day. You could almost see the changes taking place. Just about two and a half miles before the lake we came to the Cathedral Spires Trailhead. Here is where Bridgit dropped me off. She got to drive solo in our sporty stick shift Corolla the final couple of miles up this incredibly scenic road through Needle’s Eye Tunnel and up to Sylvan Lake. Being so early she had no trouble finding a great picnic table near the lakeshore. She thoroughly enjoyed being completely alone as she took photos of the lake while the water was calm as glass. The plan was for Bob and Dana to meet her there. I would also meet everyone there but I had to hike there from my trailhead.
Cathedral Spires from Needles Highway
It was just an absolutely gorgeous morning. I had already seen the sunrise on the Cathedral Spires as we drove up and now I was hiking on a trail up through changing aspens into a beautiful valley dotted with aspen trees surrounded by rock pinnacles on both sides. I was marveling at how quickly the aspens were changing during our trip. The trail climbed up a couple of miles at the most to a sign that literally said “End of trail”. I think it ends there because the trail is used a lot by climbers and lots of little offshoot paths led to various climbing sites. If you like bouldering and scrambling, the Black Hills are the ultimate mecca for easy scrambling to incredible vistas and views.
From the end of the trail I backtracked to the head of the valley where I switched to a different trail at a trail junction. This was the Black Elk Peak Trail. If I had gone right instead of left it would have led to the summit of South Dakota’s highest peak, 7,244’ Black Elk Peak. I had opted for a different peak called Little Devils Tower so I turned left. Rising above the Cathedral Spires I came to the turnoff to Little Devils Tower. I was first up the trail and first to the summit so I had the top to myself for awhile before a nice couple from Kansas arrived behind me.
The climb was really enjoyable. Near the top the trail just became a big rock scramble. Arriving at the top, the views were outstanding. Just across from me was an entire ridge of Black Hills rock pinnacles culminating in Black Elk Peak and its summit tower. In every direction big rocky outcroppings stuck up out of the pine forest. Just as I arrived my phone rang and of course it was my best friend Harry calling to wish me a belated happy birthday so I got to share my summit experience with Harry.
Cathedral Spires Trail
Cathedral Spires Trail
Summit views
View from the summit of Little Devils Tower. Black Elk Peak on the right
Yours truly on Little Devils Tower summit
Black Elk Peak
Dropping off the summit I headed back down to the junction with the Black Elk Peak Trail. By continuing on this trail I was able to hike all the way to Sylvan Lake, arriving just after Bob and Dana so the timing was perfect.
Beautiful trail to Sylvan Lake
Along the trail to Sylvan Lake
Sylvan Lake has to be one of the prettier lakes I’ve ever seen. There is a lodge there and a path that goes all the way around the lake which we took. This is perhaps the most popular spot in Custer State Park but by arriving early we managed to do the walk before the hordes arrived.
Sylvan Lake reflection (Bridgit photo)
Dana and Bob had a blast driving this up the Needles Highway
Bridgit on the trail around Sylvan Lake
Sylvan Lake Trail
Sylvan Lake
The gang at the stockade our campground was named after
So our visit to Custer State Park was a huge success. We saw and did a lot while we were there but also had a very relaxing time. Now we were set to start the next leg of our adventure. That will come in Part 7.