Continued from the previous page.

THE OLD STONE FIRE TOWER

This handsome historic fire tower -- and the amazing panoramic views from Harney Peak's summit -- are the reasons this hike is so popular with Black Hills visitors.

Here are more photos of the tower itself and distant views, which are more awesome in person:

 

Some very colorful rocks, many with quartz in them, were used to build the fire tower.

Not sure what this piece of iron was used for . . .

 

 

 

The distant views are even better if you carry binoculars with you on this hike. On a clear day you can see many, many miles from the fire tower, which is why it was placed in this location.

The next two photos are a bit more hazy because I was shooting toward the sun:

 

I'm not positive but I think this formation is Cathedral Spires.

The fire tower is no longer used but visitors are encouraged to wander around the two levels inside plus a stone walkout on one side.

I've taken many more pictures of the surrounding Custer State Park and national forest/wilderness areas visible from the summit. I showed only a few of them here because these small web photos don't do the scenery much justice, especially if you're looking at them on a really small screen.

TRAILS #3 & 4

Here's the trail map again for reference:

It's about 3.5 miles on Trail #9 from the trailhead at Sylvan Lake to the fire tower on the summit of Harney Peak.

I made this hike and my one last fall into more of a loop by returning to the truck on basically a parallel route to the south on Trails #3 and 4 past Cathedral Spires. Total distance for this Harney Peak trail loop is about 7.6 miles, plus a mile around Sylvan Lake at the beginning if you do that, too.

Here's another map that shows other trails that lead to Harney Peak:

Note that several of these trails do not begin in Custer State Park, where you must pay the park fee to access the trailhead at Sylvan Lake like I did. The other trails are also more remote and less traveled than the ones I hiked, although I didn't run into very many people on either of my autumn hikes here.

From the fire tower I followed Trail #9 back down to the intersection with Trail #3, then followed Trail #4 the remaining three-plus miles back to the trailhead at Sylvan Lake. Trail #3 is shown on the first of the two maps above.

Since the fire tower is on the highest point in South Dakota, it would stand to reason that I had a net elevation loss back down to the lake. The trails undulate, however, so it isn't just a straight shot down.

Now we're approaching the large rock formations called Cathedral Spires:

 

 

It is fun to get off the trail to wander through and around the formations. Look both up and out for some very interesting views.

 

 

Although I continued on Trail #4 there is another trail (4A) that goes through the formation and down to the Needles Highway (SD 89).

Trail #9 gradually descends through attractive pine-and-spruce forest, then curves around the western side of the Cathedral Spires formation:

 

 

After passing the intersection with a spur trail to Little Devil's Tower the trail continues descending through less dense pine forest and an increasing amount of yellow aspen and birch trees.

You're never far from interesting rock formations on any of the trails in Custer State Park:

 

 

For the past several years a serious pine beetle infestation has damaged or destroyed numerous ponderosa pines in the park.

There is a sign in this open area that describes how helicopters brought 18,000+ damaged trees to this location in 20009-10, then transported them to local sawmills to be made into wood products. They continue the process each summer. "Helicopter logging" is used in the park because of the rugged terrain.

Removing these infected trees is a win-win-win situation. Removing the trees from the forest disrupts the life cycle of the beetles. The mill drying process kills the beetles. Once killed, the wood can be used for a variety of products. Finally, there is less fuel remaining in the forest to burn in a wildfire. 

Continued on the next page:  the remainder of colorful Trail #9 and photos along scenic Needles Highway

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, and Cody the ultra Lab

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© 2012 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil