Activity Black Elk Wilderness, Black Hills
Black Elk Peak Trail
An activity in Black Elk Wilderness, Black Hills, free to visit and worth about 4 hours. Best time to go: Morning.
Why go
7-mile round trip from Sylvan Lake to a stone fire tower on South Dakota's highest point.
It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Black Hills, alongside 3 activities, 3 sights and 2 places to eat. The closest of our other picks is Sylvan Lake, 0.2 mi away as the crow flies. Set aside about 4 hours here; it works best as the anchor of a day rather than a quick stop.
- Type
- Activity · Adventure
- Neighborhood
- Black Elk Wilderness
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 4 hr
- Best time
- Morning
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Black Hills, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1Sylvan Lake
Granite-ringed lake with an easy 1-mile shoreline loop and boulder scrambles.
Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line - 2Crazy Horse Memorial
Ongoing mountain carving honoring the Lakota leader, with the Indian Museum of North America.
Sight · 3.2 mi straight-line - 3Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Four presidents carved in granite, with the Presidential Trail at the base.
Sight · 5.8 mi straight-line - 4Purple Pie Place
Purple-painted pie shop in Custer known for rhubarb and berry pies.
Food · 6.1 mi straight-line - 5Naughti Wines
Hill City tasting room on Hwy 385 pouring its own wines plus Sick-N-Twisted beers, with a patio and firepit.
Drinks · 7.0 mi straight-line - 6Needles Highway
14-mile road through granite spires and one-lane tunnels, including the Needles Eye.
Activity · 7.5 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Black Elk Peak Trail is a stop on our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More things to do in Black Hills
2 more curated activities in Black Hills. See the full Black Hills guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Black Hills run from 30°F in December to 83°F in July; May is usually the wettest month. For Black Elk Peak Trail itself, we suggest: Morning.
Modelled monthly averages for Black Hills from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Black Hills weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Black Elk Peak Trail, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- Sylvan Lake - Harney, Keystone, SD 57751, USA
- Coordinates
- 43.84657, -103.56012
- Destination
- Black Hills, South Dakota
Black Elk Peak Trail: quick answers
How much time do you need at Black Elk Peak Trail?
Plan on about 4 hours at Black Elk Peak Trail. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Black Elk Peak Trail?
Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Start early in summer to avoid afternoon storms.
Is Black Elk Peak Trail free?
Yes, we list Black Elk Peak Trail as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Where is Black Elk Peak Trail?
Black Elk Peak Trail is at Sylvan Lake - Harney, Keystone, SD 57751, USA, in Black Elk Wilderness. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include Black Elk Peak Trail?
Black Elk Peak Trail appears on Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Black Elk Peak Trail to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Black Hills.
Plan Black Hills
- Black Hills travel guide 10 places
- Best time to visit Black Hills weather by month
- Black Hills to Badlands National Park 64 mi straight-line
- Medora to Black Hills 217 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Black Hills
- State Game Lodge Food
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.