Backpacking the Harney Peak Trail #9 North & South -- Black Hills National Forest, SD

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If you're out visiting Mount Rushmore, Sylvan Lake or just enjoying the Black Hills and looking for an exciting day hike or something a little more challenging check out the Harney Peak Trail #9. This trail has it all...from the buttes and bluffs to the spires and other granite rock formations along the way to the Fire Tower on the top of Harney Peak. This trail also connects with several other trail systems making its trail heads a perfect starting point to many other adventures.
I started at the Willow Creek trail head on the North side of Harney and took the shorter north side of Willow Creek trail #8 hiking about ¾ mile to connect to Harney Peak #9. After hiking 4.7 miles and gaining an est. elevation of 2,200 ft. I finally arrived at Harney Peak and toured the fire tower. Then I headed for Sylvan Lake (3.8 miles away) all downhill and only 1,100 ft. elevation change. Along the way I saw what looked to be Little Devil's Tower and found a much closer water source. I had planned on hiking to Sylvan Lake for water and then back out near the Lost Cabin Spur. Because I was filming the trip I ran out of day light very quickly and had a difficult time finding a flat place to camp. In the final minutes of day light I hiked up a ridge and luckily found the perfect spot to...with a beautiful view.
In the morning I completed the next mile or so to Sylvan Lake and toured the lake shore trail. Surprisingly, there is a lot to see on that trail including a dam on the back side, plenty of beautiful rock formations and a beach. There is also a camp ground close by. The Sylvan Lake was the location of some scenes from the movie National Treasure 2. But I'm saving my film of this beautiful lake for next summer.
This is KdawgCrazy...thanks for watching guys. Please feel free to leave comments and don't forget to subscribe.
See you...on the trail.
Tags:
Nemo Transform Tarp,Kdawgcrazy,Sylvan Lake, Mount Rushmore,Mt. Rushmore,Harney Peak,Willow Creek Loop trail #8,Black Elk Wilderness,Custer state park,Little Devils Tower,Black Hills National Forest,Norbeck Wildlife Preserve,South Dakota,hiking,backpacking,camping,William S. Harney,Horse trail,granite formations,

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks for watching Kelly. I didn't even notice but they do seem to be dead trees. We have had some problems with Pine Beatles and who knows what else. After looking back at the video there does seem to be a lot of dead trees and just dead branches. It could just be that area too. But you gotta admit, the views were spectacular. Take care.

[@PomelloRBLX]

An amazing hike. I’m scared of heights but still managed to do this trail with little fear but I did get spooked because of the stairs near the top. View makes it all worth it though.

[@msquad1bymvpc324]

I really enjoyed this. I hiked that trail, 4 times. Last time was May 2012. Seeing that view again was amazing. I miss it so much

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

I just recently went back out with Steve and went all the way around the mountain back to Willow trail head. Awesome views out there. That video is up on my channel too. Thanks for watching man.

[@EasternMountainHiker]

Great views on this hike. Very cool rock formations too. Still on the look out for those cows! Good times.

[@pathfinderfergusfilms6630]

Great bit of country there and what views! Thanks for taking us along my friend.

[@lindahikes2760]

Enjoy your videos. Just got back from hiking Flume Trail & Crow's Peak. Did Harney's about 2 years ago. It is a beautiful area. You are lucky to live so close. Food for thought..When you make oatmeal etc..if you use a freezer zip lock bag you can pour hot water right into the bag and eat from there. No clean up..just throw away the bag when you get back. (Has to be a freezer bag though) Keep up the good work.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks Harold. Besides all the signs that say no camping near the Peak...there just aren't any good flat secluded spots to camp. I got lucky with that ridge. I had the perfect view, cell service and was far enough from the trail that no one could see me poo. LOL.

[@uptrail7169]

The last time that I was in the Black Hills area was 1985. This looks to be a good area to check out. Long drive from Northern Michigan, but I will do more research. Backpacking and day hikes is what we enjoy. Bob

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Awesome! Let me know when you guys are coming and if you don't mind me tagging along I'd love to hike out there again. It's one of my favorite trails.

[@uptrail7169]

Our main trip is usually late August. We did the Smoky Mountains this year and the Black Hills with some more research looks like a good chance for next August. I did subscribe to your channel and maybe we will meet up. Bob

[@TrekkerPat]

As always, Kdawg, I enjoy your vids. Never went to Harney via Willow Creek Tr. so liked seeing that direction. We usually begin at the Little Devil's Tower pull off on Needles Hwy. Little shorter that away. Wind Cave National Park also has some great hiking trails and you don't have to pay to hike outside. Yes, unfortunately the mountain pine beetles are devastating our beloved Black Hills.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

The way I look at it is...all animals that travel great distances have either wings or 4 legs. The trekking poles give us that same advantage and transfers some of our weight and upper body strength from our legs to our arms and other support muscles like our chest and upper back. So instead of our arms being dead weight they help us travel twice the distance that we would without them. I would never backpack with them. Plus I use them for supporting my shelters...ie tarps and pup tent. Cheers.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Your welcome. Thanks for watching. This was a great hike and a great camp.

[@ottowest]

Amazing views! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. I look forward to the next video.

[@moknives]

I worked in Custer state for a year and I can tell you that the Harney Peak fire lookout was manned in 1974, so it wasn't closed in 1967

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

That figures. Information online is often wrong.

[@fognnorway6471]

Mtn biked it a few times (when it was legal) and hiked it many times, never gets old.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks. There are so many trails out there. I think it's the coolest place in the Black Hills.

[@brentd3443]

"If you were me, then I'd be you, and I'd use your body to get to the top!!" Dude, that hike looks fun! Kim and I were wondering...why not just camp right there at Harney Peak? Who would know?!?

[@timothyciarlette8250]

Another great hike Kdawg, thanks.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

If your ever out here I highly recommend this trail. Beautiful area and ending it at the lake and visiting the little shop there is a perfect way to end the day.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks David. Any time you're out here you are more than welcome to come out to Harney Peak and Sylvan Lake with me and "Mrs. Crazy". She loves the lake and really wants to go back.

[@TurtleBushcraft]

Great hike some great views thanks for taking me along atb John

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks John. That area is one of the coolest places to hike out in the Black Hills.

[@tkmaida]

Preparing for my flight to Wessington springs. Were planning to go to the black hills, I'll make sure to recommend this trail to my family.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

+TK Gaming thanks for watching. This is a great area to hike. There are so many trails out there. Have a great summer.

[@tkmaida]

KdawgCrazy Thanks!

[@hikewithmike4673]

awesome!......beautiful!.....I have to crawl myself out of the swamp and make my way out there!!!

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Hey Mike. Thanks for watching. You should check out my latest trip up there. It rained the entire time. But it was beautiful. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

[@scottgraham7541]

hi I hiked this trail last year and It was the coolest thing that I have ever done and I am going back this year too

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

+legend of the flip hffy it is definitely one of my favorites too.

[@gremlinadventures1909]

Hey man I found your channel from Bob808night and Shane Coffey. Great hike that might be the best fire tower ever. Thanks for sharing... Subscribing

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks Gremlin. It's a great trail and they just completed a restoration project on the tower. It was nice to see it after the repairs. Bob's a great guy with a great channel. We have an awesome little community of outdoorsman on KZbin. Thanks for subscribing. I've got a lot of projects planned for this year and I look forward to sharing my backpacking trips with you guys.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks Pat. I still have a lot of trails to hike and film. Wind Cave National Park is definitely one I'm gonna try next summer.

[@prereitz]

thanks I live in rapid just let me know I always watch your videos when new one pops up

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks bro. I might try doing and open invite video. It's just hard trying to get Steve, Shane and I to synch our schedules for a trip.

[@prereitz]

hey sounds good! can you use hammock gear on the trails?

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Definitely.

[@kellydavis1776]

oh yes the views are awesome - maybe I'll make it out to black hills some day. although that'd be a long trek from Peoria, IL

[@TheBeandip13]

Northern hike to harney beats the sylvan lake way by a longshot. Camping on that ridgeline on the granite faces is the best.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks. I really though so too. The hike was a little taxing for me (being a couch potato) but the views were spectacular. I got really lucky finding that spot on the ridge line. It was getting dark fast and there were not flat spots to camp so I just followed a game trail up the hillside and there was the perfect camp spot. Take care.

[@brentd3443]

Ya, I did see that sign hanging there...well, shoot...that looks like fun man! Do you ever light a little campfire? Hey, I didn't see a roll of TP anywhere in your pack....soooo, what did you wipe with? LOL

[@EricNistler]

I had the same frustrations with the squeeze including having 2 of the squeeze bags fail on me. What I did was buy the inline adapter kit and a 3l tpu camelback with fold over top closure. Now I use it as a gravity filter and couldn't be happier with it.

[@EricNistler]

Btw great videos subscribed!

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Awesome idea dude.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Eric Nistler Thanks for subscribing. More cool vids to come this summer.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

I know what you mean. I actually want to do the AT but I just live too far away to make it practical. Some day though.

[@BlackOwlOutdoors]

great video! i love the black hills. i need to get back there sooner than later. - stony

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

It's a very beautiful area and there are so many trails out there by Harney Peak and Mount Rushmore. Thanks for watching Stony.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks Ben. Took a lot of effort to film but was definitely worth it. :) And my campsite was perfect...even better than the one on the Flume trail.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

No camp fires allowed unfortunately. But I was close to having to make one during the blizzard on Mickeslon Trail last March. The TP was in my bag but mostly I just use pine cones. LOL

[@bendavies9046]

Great video! :D

[@prereitz]

hey kdawg love your videos, i hick the Superior hiking trail and north american trail, now i live hear in rapid would love to do a hike with you, my first time hiking black hills.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Cool. We could plan a May trip on the Deerfield trail. That trail has so many different routes and camping spots plus water sources and 2 toilets along the way. I'm hoping to do a meet up with two other people next year too. It would be awesome if you came with us.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Steve, I spoke to da boss...a.k.a the wife and she said we could probably make that happen. I would just need to be in South Dakota or very near to it. I thought about doing the Flaming Gorge on the Wyoming/Utah border. I was gonna go anyways and I would definitely not want to go solo. What do you guys think?

[@uptrail7169]

We will be backpacking in this area late August. Any advice for a good 2 day 1 night backpack loop in the Harney Peak area. We are from Michigan so this is a new area for us. My wife wants to do a lot of sight seeing so it'll be only a 2 day backpack trip. Thanks! Bob

[@Fanciful13]

I enjoyed your video and am making plans to go there August 2015. My maiden name is Harney and I am thinking this dude is related to me in some way.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks. I'm actually heading out there again this weekend. It's right next to the Centennial trail too and you could hike it straight to Mount Rushmore. Pretty cool place to backpack.

[@Slaytanik.]

this weekend im doing Grizzly Bear Creek>lost cabin 4>harney 9>lost cabin 2>harney 9>willow creek rushmore>centenial>grizzly bear TH. it will be AWESOME!

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

+freakmessiah sounds like an awesome trip. It's some beautiful country out there. If it's raining you'll have plenty of water sources. I speak from experience. LOL.

[@Slaytanik.]

hiking on mondays and rainy days means less people on the trails!

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

+freakmessiah Steve and I ran into an amazing thunderstorm last summer and were the only ones hiking through Sylvan Lake. It was nice to film the lake without people in the background. That video is up on my channel too. I believe it is part 2 of the three parter.

[@kellydavis1776]

Question goes out to everyone - do trekking poles make a difference? Seems everyone has them.

[@kellydavis1776]

Great vid - Seems like a lot of trees with no leaves.. are they dead or have the leaves fallen already?

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

No worries. I have bear spray now. LOL. We'll get those evil cows. :)

[@abitofthisabitofthatwithda5379]

glowing eyes? MOOOO! i think it was the cows. a cow in comfort mode, there head hangs around the 5' mark or in and around there. but, bear spray is not a bad thing to have. being it is strongest consumer grade pepper spray. right from a vermont state trooper- " it is better then what we get". then showed me his spray. worked in a sporting good shop in vermont. bear spay made for bears! any thing smaller " self explanatory! " still jealous from NY!

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Thanks Danny. Everyone tells me I have nothing to worry about and then they say that a gun is a great thing to carry out here. Mixed signals? I hope I never have to find out. Hopefully, that bear spray is worth it's weight in weight. LOL.

[@abitofthisabitofthatwithda5379]

then use it on a crazzy hiker! no pun intended.

[@gjfdfggh6352]

yeah we have a lot of trails that are high up we have mountain lions where do you live

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

South Dakota.

[@ujdd201]

How long would it take to hike from the Willow Creek Horse Camp to the peak and back the same way? Great video!

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Honestly, it all depends on your fitness level. I saw people jogging up and down it. I would plan for a couple hours each way for an average person.

[@ujdd201]

@@KdawgCrazyOutdoors Thank you.

[@jimb.7919]

I am strongly considering taking a ~3 day backpacking trip in the Blackhills this spring. Do you have any recommended routes where I would have the ability to fill water with running water and use the bathroom at least once a day without back tracking or seeing the same place multiple times? Also, I like some solitude. We took a family trip out there this summer and there were a lot of people. If I went in May and get deeper in does it get more quiet do you think? Enjoyed your video!

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

+Jim B. Sorry. The only trail I know of with running water and toilets is the bike trail the Michelson Trail. When backpacking we usually fill up on water from streams and creeks. No toilets on most trails. If you are hiking the Harney Peak trail system you could detour down to Sylvan Lake for toilets and there is a general store. Other than the main Harney Peak trail, I hardly ever see people when hiking. I've been on several trips on trails like the Flume where I didn't see anyone till I got to the trail head. Try the Centennial Trail if you are looking for a nice long trail with scenery changes. It's pretty cool between Harney Peak and Sheridan Lake. You could even throw in a detour to Mnt. Rushmore. Pick up a National Geographic map of the Northern and Southern Hills areas. Some trail have changed a little so I would bring a GPS as well.

[@shcmoly]

Would a folding plastic funnel work to fill the Sawyer bag? I know I have seen them before I just can't remember where.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

I think that would work just as well as the gallon sized ziplock but I would really like to see a platypus style bag from Sawyer where 1 end of the bag opens all the way like a ziplock and the other end would have the screw off cap to attach to the filter. So leave the cap on, unzip the other end of the bag...fill the bag in the creek or lake zip it shut and unscrew the cap and attach the filter. That would be great for a gravity filter scenario but I'm not sure if the seal would hold up to squeezing. With how popular the filter is I'm sure they will look at what we all use and try and will eventually come up with a better bag or a folding funnel type system. They gotta know that filling their current bags are jokingly difficult.

[@gjfdfggh6352]

what time is it there

[@gjfdfggh6352]

I live in California

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

You guys probably have way better trails than us. Just gotta look out for those mountain lions.

[@RianLakeTv]

hey do u have a facebook page ?

[@bryanirvine6169]

It's a lie to say that once you get to the peak "it's all downhill from here." After you hit the creek where he got his water, you gain a good bit of elevation again before finally descending to Sylvan Lake.

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

Sounds about right. I was just out there again this past weekend. But the second bit of uphill in nothing compared to the first part. I saw a lot of tourists over the age of 60. Mostly women. So if they can do it anyone can. Just go at your own pace and plan for it to take a couple hours to get to the top. This past weekend we took the Little Devils Tower trail and connected with the Harney Peak trail #9. Near the Little Devils Tower we saw some young adults high-wire walking a line they stung between two peaks. Also saw some deer up there for the first time.

[@Fanciful13]

How can i get in touch with you?

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

[e-mail]

[@gjfdfggh6352]

I am afraid of height

[@KdawgCrazyOutdoors]

That's ok. There are a lot of other connecting trails out in that area with no heights, just cool rock formations.

[@Slaytanik.]

stupid pine beetles!