Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: June 25, 2025

Download GPX

Save

Move start point

Edit route

Navigate

Send to Phone

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Black Elk Wilderness

Custer State Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

193 m

Sylvan Lake

Highlight • Lake

Sylvan Lake is a popular destination to enjoy the wilderness. You can take a hike around the picturesque lake with unique smoothly shaped rock formations or climb up to Black Elk Peak – South Dakota's highest point.

Tip by

2.81 km

Harney Peak Lookout Tower (Black Elk Wilderness)

Highlight • Summit

The Black Elk Wilderness is home to the highest peak in South Dakota and to the famous Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It is a sacred area to Native Americans and …

Tip by

5.56 km

Black Elk Peak

Highlight • Summit

Until August 2016, the peak was still called Harney Peak, named after General William S. Harney, who fought against the Brulé-Lakota. To honor Black Elk, for whom the Black Hills …

Tip by

11.7 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.20 km

5.12 km

199 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

8.85 km

2.30 km

208 m

199 m

112 m

Elevation

Highest point (2,170 m)

Lowest point (1,880 m)

Weather

Today

Sunday 21 December

9°C

-8°C

27 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 17.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

This route was planned by komoot.

Nearby routes

Moderate

4.8

311

Black Elk Peak loop — Custer State Park

03:31h

11.7km

390m

Moderate

4.8

139

Sylvan Lake & Sunday Gulch Trails loop — Custer State Park

02:00h

6.72km

210m

Easy

4.5

Lover's Leap Trail loop — Custer State Park

01:54h

6.53km

160m

Easy

5.0

Prairie Trail Loop — Custer State Park

00:59h

3.30km

100m

Easy

Little Devil's Tower Trail — Custer State Park

01:20h

4.37km

150m

Easy

Cathedral Spires Trail — Custer State Park

00:52h

2.34km

150m

Easy

Stockade Lake Trail loop — Custer State Park

00:46h

2.43km

100m

Moderate

5.0

Hell Canyon Trail loop — Black Hills National Forest

02:30h

8.36km

200m

Easy

5.0

Stratobowl Rim Trail – Black Hills National Forest

00:41h

2.55km

30m

Easy

Canyons Trail loop — Jewel Cave National Monument

01:39h

5.93km

110m

Easy

Rankin Ridge Trail loop — Wind Cave National Park

00:49h

2.75km

80m

Easy

Buzzard's Roost – Black Hills National Forest

01:13h

4.28km

100m

Black Elk Peak loop — Custer State Park

Sylvan Lake

Harney Peak Lookout Tower (Black Elk Wilderness)

Black Elk Peak

Nearby routes

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️