Kotaho
All who wander are not lost
Kotaho

Black Elk Peak Lookout Restoration Project

Harney Peak is now called Black Elk Peak. Maybe someday when I have nothing else to do, I will revise this page. For Now: Getting to Harney Peak is a lot of fun. There are several routes. My favorite loop is from Sylvan Lake’s trailhead parking lot past Little Devils Tower, the Cathedral Spires and on to Harney Peak. The spur trail to Little Devils Tower and the rock scramble to the top are easy to do and worth the time and effort. The view from the top of Little Devils Tower is great. The trail passes close to the Cathedral Spires with opportunities for some rock scrambling to get views and maybe even see some climbers on the spires. Then it is on to Harney Peak, the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and the Alps. The return trip is via Trail 9 South directly to Sylvan Lake. Trail 9 South goes downhill to the creek, then uphill to a fantastic viewpoint for the peak as shown in the first photo below. Then the trail goes downhill to Sylvan Lake. If you take Trail 9 North for about 200 feet, you will see one of the most important trail signs in the Black Hills.  It says “This is not the Trail to Sylvan Lake” and has prevented many searches for lost hikers since it was installed. Here is a pdf map I made so the trail are approximate.

Harney Trails

In September 2013 and 2014, the Forest Service had week long work projects for some restoration work on HarneyPeak Lookout Tower.  The team of Forest Service employees and volunteers replaced 16 windows in the lower sections of the tower, replaced the observation deck flooring, repaired mortar, painted, and found stairway rocks that had been thrown off the mountain side. The structural supports and deck for the third floor lookout room will be installed and the lookout room windows will be replaced in 2015 if funding is secured.  These are photos of our experience the week of Sept 9 to 13, 2013.

Harney Peak Lookout from trail 9 South
Harney Peak Lookout from trail 9 South
Panorama from trail 9 South
Panorama from trail 9 South
Harney Peak Lookout Tower
Harney Peak Lookout Tower
Amy and Lynn by one of the freshly painted windows
Amy and Lynn by one of the freshly painted windows
Part of the crew in the living area of the tower where the carpentry shop was set up.
Part of the crew in the living area of the tower where the carpentry shop was set up.
Freshly painted windows on the deck of the tower. We had some beautiful weather.
Freshly painted windows on the deck of the tower. We had some beautiful weather.
The window on the lower stairway that Lynn Collund and I installed.
The window on the lower stairway that Lynn Kolund and I installed.
A wine bottle and 1939 newspaper the stone mason found in the rock wall outside the south door of the tower
A wine bottle and 1939 newspaper the stone mason found in the rock wall outside the south door of the tower
The newspaper the wine bottle was wrapped in spoke of the Finns Doll up Helsinki for the Olympic Meet
The newspaper the wine bottle was wrapped in spoke of the Finns Doll up Helsinki for the Olympic Meet
Me on the deck at Harney Lookout for a picture waiving to Carol on our 37th anniversary
Me on the deck at Harney Lookout for a picture waiving to Carol on our 37th anniversary. Many times we are not in the same place on our anniversary.
Panorama looking southwest from the deck of the tower.
Panorama looking southwest from the deck of the tower.
Two Spruce trees planted by DJ in 2005.
Two Spruce trees planted by DJ in 2005.

DJ and I both hauled water to these trees in the fall and spring after they were planted.  DJ pointed out that there appeared to be a path to cut the switchback in the left of this photo.  I placed a bunch of branches across that area to stop people from walking there.  No one had been through there for quite a while, but they will not go there now.