From there, you can go back, or go either direction on the Grizzly Bear trail. The Horsethief Lake Trail is 2.8 miles to the end, where you join the Grizzly Bear Creek Trail (Black Hills Trail #7). About a mile down the trail, the Centennial Trail (Black Hills Trail # 89) intersects with the Horsethief Lake Trail, expanding your options for additional hiking. Hikers are required to register (free) at the trailhead for the Black Elk Wilderness. There is camping, picnic areas, and toilets at Horsethief Lake.Ĭenter of the Black Elk WildernessCurrent trail information and regulations are posted at the trailhead sign. Mount Rushmore is approximately 3 miles west of Keystone, South Dakota on Highway 244. Getting ThereThe Horsethief Lake Trailhead is at the far end of Horsethief Lake from Highway 244, just 1l5 miles west of Mount Rushmore. Visitors to the wilderness will find abundant wildlife that includes mountain goats, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, coyotes, foxes, marmots, eagles and a large variety of other birds. Pine Beetle damage has not spared the Black Elk Wilderness and the National Forest Service posts warnings of “snag” dangers, especially for windy days. Trees common in the wilderness include Ponderosa pine, spruce, birch, aspen and a few hardwoods. Because of the elevation, the summer temperatures are a bit cooler than outlying areas of the Black Hills. The elevation at the trailhead is around 5,000 feet and the highpoint of the trail is around 5,600 feet. The rock climbing areas at The Needles/Cathedral Spires and Sunday Gulch are on the opposite side of the Black Elk Wilderness and can be reached by the trail network in the wilderness. The Wrinkled Rock Climbing Area and Old Baldy Mountain are not far away and are also popular destinations for area rock climbers. Granite Tower near the Horsethief Lake trailheadBecause of the towering granite spires in the area around Horsethief Lake and elsewhere in the Black Elk Wilderness, rock climbing is quite popular.

Flume hiking trail south dakota