The Black Hills National Forest is located in western South Dakota and in north eastern Wyoming. It encompasses 1.2 millions acres of land and it has 11 reservoirs, 30 campgrounds, 2 scenic byways, 1,300 miles of streams, 10,000 acres of wilderness, and 353 miles of trails. The hills are called the Black Hills because that is the color of the hills due to the abundance of ponderosa pine. This is an excellent vacation spot where one can see Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Harney Peak. The sign on Harney Peak's lookout tower reads:
The Harney Peak fire lookout, dam and pumphouse were built by the CCC in 1939 and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Harney Peak elevation is 2207 meters (7242 ft); the peak is the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains and west of the Pyrenees Mountains of Europe.
There are several small historic towns in te Black Hills such as Deadwood, Hill City, and Lead. Custer State Park and the Badlands National Park are also located nearby. Check out my trip reports and wildlife information below for additional pictures and general information.
