grabbs146 - Aug 12, 2009 6:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2009
sylvan lake
great hike!! Even with the crowds and the bikers still very enjoyable
Alpinist - Aug 8, 2009 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2009
Sylvan Lake Trail
I hiked up the Sylvan Lake Trail with fellow CMCers Karen, Jason and Al. Harney Peak is a very scenic and enjoyable hike. This is my 29th state HP and the first of three during this trip. We clmbed Granite Peak next and then White Butte.
We took a day after visiting my parents-in-law near Sioux City, to drive across S. Dakota to visit a friend and my sister-in-law in Rapid City, and spend the night there before driving home to Salt Lake. On the way we managed to visit my father-in-law's paleontology lab in Vermillion, drive the Badlands loop, and meet a friend for a late lunch in Rapid City, and finished the day with a spontaneous sundown hike of Harney Peak. I'm really glad I was able to squeeze in the chance to see the Black Hills on foot.
highlandvillager - May 21, 2009 3:11 pm Date Climbed: May 17, 2009
Very scenic
We hiked up the lightly traveled trail 4 from Sylvan Lake, stopping near the Cathedral Spires on the way up to climb some smaller rock formations. While enjoying the summit views, we were surprised to see a mountain goat near the summit. On the return hike, we took the spur trail to the top of Little Devil's Tower. This is a beautiful area. HP22
VermontMike - May 15, 2009 9:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2008
Love The Hills!
This was my first high-pointer west of the Mississippi, in the first couple weeks of a 3 1/2 month cross-country trip! Great short hike, great views, great area! Custer is one of my favorite state parks.
Highpointed along with ND, IA, and OK on a one week road trip.
bblack99 - Apr 23, 2009 1:26 am Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2009
Highpoint #3
Drove into Hill City from KC the night before climbing Harney. That was a 12-hour trip in cold rain, but by the time I hit the Sylvan Lake Trail, it was shaping up to be a beautiful clear day in the high 50s. Trail was snow-packed and icy as I went up, and a slushy, muddy mess on the descent. Great views all around!
A very fun hike in the snow. Did it in 3 hours RT with lots of snow on the trail, after doing some climbing in the Needles. Very cool view.
damgaard - Mar 21, 2009 4:10 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2005
Harmey Preak
Walked up there with my dad on brother on our trip across the US. Passed Little Devils Mtn on the way. Nice little roundtrip
jeffh25 - Feb 10, 2009 2:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2008
Harney Peak
Highpoint #6 for me was a great trip. The Black Hills are incredible and I went with my Dad during Sturgis. Great views, nice bikes, good times.
distressbark - Dec 17, 2008 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2007
from Sylvan Lake
I've hiked Harney Peak three times in my life with three different sets of people, and all of my experiences have been very rewarding. Wonderful views from the top. I'd love to try a different route next time; glad I came upon this site!
Haliku - Nov 30, 2008 10:18 pm Date Climbed: Nov 28, 2008
Trail #9
Brother Tom and I used this as our post Thanksgiving workout. The trail was snow and icy in places so we didn't run the entire loop. Great views and due to the cold few people.
peerzat - Nov 19, 2008 2:22 pm Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2008
all in good fun!
great view, really. highest point from the rockies to the pyranees! hope they don't turn it into a paved trail to get up there one of these days. I have a feeling they might.
Brian Kalet - Sep 15, 2008 1:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2008
Chalk up the first state highpoint for my 3 kids, ages 9, 7, and 4. My wife is also 6 months pregnant and did great. We saw 2 mountain goats down the rocks to the West. We got sprinkled on a little on the return and the rain came gushing down just as we got into the truck. Whew!
AubreySun - Jun 15, 2008 11:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2008
unexpected beauty
Made a long loop out of this climb. Even though it was relatively easy, it was surprisingly beautiful and incredibly scenic. The summit area offered some fun scampering opportunities as well. After gaining the summit, we heard a couple incredibly loud explosions in the distance (the Army was performing some exercises outside of Custer). Have to admit, those were some loud booms. Louder than I've ever heard. Just added to the unique experience. Anyway, southwestern South Dakota is underrated. Great hiking can be had.
trekker - Jun 14, 2008 1:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2008
Birthday hike
Left Sylvan Lake on trail 9 to summit and returned on trail 4 to visit Cathedral Spires on the way back. Could see storm clouds and rain falling north of the peak, great day. Too many people on top and trail 9, not many at all on trail 4, but still a wonderful and scenic hike to an easy summit.
I like it on top - Jun 12, 2008 1:02 am Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2008
Harney Peak
Last minute decision to head up in observance of Summit for Heroes. Great trail, a little chilly on top with light rain. Completed with Troy and Keith.
Tbacon251 - Jun 10, 2008 4:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2008
Memorial
Made the hike with Keith and Chuck for the 2008 "Cops on Top Summit for Heroes" memorial service. Great day....a little cold.
peakrat76 - Jun 6, 2008 2:59 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2008
Via Sylvan Lake No. 4 Trail
Great hike to a summit with fantastic views. We climbed it early enough in the year to have avoided the hoards of people. I recommend the No. 4 Trail as it is somewhat longer and tends to be a little more remote. Great close up views of the Spires and not so many people.
grabbs146 - Aug 12, 2009 6:24 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2009
sylvan lakegreat hike!! Even with the crowds and the bikers still very enjoyable
Alpinist - Aug 8, 2009 4:34 pm Date Climbed: Jul 31, 2009
Sylvan Lake TrailI hiked up the Sylvan Lake Trail with fellow CMCers Karen, Jason and Al. Harney Peak is a very scenic and enjoyable hike. This is my 29th state HP and the first of three during this trip. We clmbed Granite Peak next and then White Butte.
seanpeckham - Jul 7, 2009 9:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2009
fun trail, cool peakWe took a day after visiting my parents-in-law near Sioux City, to drive across S. Dakota to visit a friend and my sister-in-law in Rapid City, and spend the night there before driving home to Salt Lake. On the way we managed to visit my father-in-law's paleontology lab in Vermillion, drive the Badlands loop, and meet a friend for a late lunch in Rapid City, and finished the day with a spontaneous sundown hike of Harney Peak. I'm really glad I was able to squeeze in the chance to see the Black Hills on foot.
highlandvillager - May 21, 2009 3:11 pm Date Climbed: May 17, 2009
Very scenicWe hiked up the lightly traveled trail 4 from Sylvan Lake, stopping near the Cathedral Spires on the way up to climb some smaller rock formations. While enjoying the summit views, we were surprised to see a mountain goat near the summit. On the return hike, we took the spur trail to the top of Little Devil's Tower. This is a beautiful area. HP22
VermontMike - May 15, 2009 9:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2008
Love The Hills!This was my first high-pointer west of the Mississippi, in the first couple weeks of a 3 1/2 month cross-country trip! Great short hike, great views, great area! Custer is one of my favorite state parks.
gwave47 - May 11, 2009 8:49 pm
HP #33Highpointed along with ND, IA, and OK on a one week road trip.
bblack99 - Apr 23, 2009 1:26 am Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2009
Highpoint #3Drove into Hill City from KC the night before climbing Harney. That was a 12-hour trip in cold rain, but by the time I hit the Sylvan Lake Trail, it was shaping up to be a beautiful clear day in the high 50s. Trail was snow-packed and icy as I went up, and a slushy, muddy mess on the descent. Great views all around!
McCannster - Apr 13, 2009 8:37 pm Date Climbed: Apr 11, 2009
6th state HP!A very fun hike in the snow. Did it in 3 hours RT with lots of snow on the trail, after doing some climbing in the Needles. Very cool view.
damgaard - Mar 21, 2009 4:10 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2005
Harmey PreakWalked up there with my dad on brother on our trip across the US. Passed Little Devils Mtn on the way. Nice little roundtrip
jeffh25 - Feb 10, 2009 2:30 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2008
Harney PeakHighpoint #6 for me was a great trip. The Black Hills are incredible and I went with my Dad during Sturgis. Great views, nice bikes, good times.
distressbark - Dec 17, 2008 1:51 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 2007
from Sylvan LakeI've hiked Harney Peak three times in my life with three different sets of people, and all of my experiences have been very rewarding. Wonderful views from the top. I'd love to try a different route next time; glad I came upon this site!
Haliku - Nov 30, 2008 10:18 pm Date Climbed: Nov 28, 2008
Trail #9Brother Tom and I used this as our post Thanksgiving workout. The trail was snow and icy in places so we didn't run the entire loop. Great views and due to the cold few people.
peerzat - Nov 19, 2008 2:22 pm Date Climbed: Nov 3, 2008
all in good fun!great view, really. highest point from the rockies to the pyranees! hope they don't turn it into a paved trail to get up there one of these days. I have a feeling they might.
Brian Kalet - Sep 15, 2008 1:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2008
#91 hour roundtrip.
merrill - Jul 6, 2008 4:19 pm Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2008
We made it!Chalk up the first state highpoint for my 3 kids, ages 9, 7, and 4. My wife is also 6 months pregnant and did great. We saw 2 mountain goats down the rocks to the West. We got sprinkled on a little on the return and the rain came gushing down just as we got into the truck. Whew!
AubreySun - Jun 15, 2008 11:33 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2008
unexpected beautyMade a long loop out of this climb. Even though it was relatively easy, it was surprisingly beautiful and incredibly scenic. The summit area offered some fun scampering opportunities as well. After gaining the summit, we heard a couple incredibly loud explosions in the distance (the Army was performing some exercises outside of Custer). Have to admit, those were some loud booms. Louder than I've ever heard. Just added to the unique experience. Anyway, southwestern South Dakota is underrated. Great hiking can be had.
trekker - Jun 14, 2008 1:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2008
Birthday hikeLeft Sylvan Lake on trail 9 to summit and returned on trail 4 to visit Cathedral Spires on the way back. Could see storm clouds and rain falling north of the peak, great day. Too many people on top and trail 9, not many at all on trail 4, but still a wonderful and scenic hike to an easy summit.
I like it on top - Jun 12, 2008 1:02 am Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2008
Harney PeakLast minute decision to head up in observance of Summit for Heroes. Great trail, a little chilly on top with light rain. Completed with Troy and Keith.
Tbacon251 - Jun 10, 2008 4:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2008
MemorialMade the hike with Keith and Chuck for the 2008 "Cops on Top Summit for Heroes" memorial service. Great day....a little cold.
peakrat76 - Jun 6, 2008 2:59 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2008
Via Sylvan Lake No. 4 TrailGreat hike to a summit with fantastic views. We climbed it early enough in the year to have avoided the hoards of people. I recommend the No. 4 Trail as it is somewhat longer and tends to be a little more remote. Great close up views of the Spires and not so many people.