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Post by Coolkat on Aug 1, 2017 5:06:06 GMT -8
I just had a friend take his family on a trip out west and on their way they stopped in the Black Hills National Forest. He came back to me with reports of a 125mile north/south backpacking trail but couldn't remember the name of it.
Does such a trail exist and if so does it have it a name?
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Post by Campfires&Concierges on Aug 1, 2017 6:35:46 GMT -8
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Post by cweston on Aug 1, 2017 6:46:32 GMT -8
There is some beautiful potential BP terrain in the Black Hills. Unfortunately, the climax area (near Mt. Rushmore) is mobbed all the time, but I've especially always thought a trip south of there (Wind Cave NP, Custer SP) could be really nice.
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Post by Coolkat on Aug 1, 2017 7:25:27 GMT -8
I think it's the centennial trail? It could be. I'll do some looking. I know that the Centennial Trail exists. I didn't realize it was in the Black Hills. but I've especially always thought a trip south of there (Wind Cave NP, Custer SP) could be really nice. I am not familiar with the area but my friend told me it was incredible. Maybe there is a patchwork of trails that could be made into a nice 5 to 7 day hike?
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Post by oc6088 on Aug 4, 2017 12:38:03 GMT -8
It is the Centennial Trail. It is also called the "89" trail because it's was made in 1989 to celebrate the states centennial. I have done a bunch of research on it. It was my goal of hiking the whole thing. A couple of things I have found is, it basically has no water source (there are creeks but they dry up in the summertime and the trail heads usually are a parking lot and that's it) in the northern part. I have considered hiding gallon water jugs beforehand along the trail. There is not much in the way of "towns" it goes through for resupply. I have also not seen much in the way of shuttle services. Although I am sure you could figure something out. It seems like it would be a great tourist attraction if there was a group dedicated to promoting it, providing maps, providing shuttles, and water sources. (Even a tank of some sort) I haven't found that yet. If someone does, please let me know. There are a couple of good maps on Amazon. (It's under Black Hills National Forest)
HOWEVER, the trail itself (I have done day hikes on it) is beautiful! Black Elk (formally known as Harney's Peak) is one of the most beautiful trails I have done.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Aug 4, 2017 15:47:04 GMT -8
I visited the Black Hills once, and just day hiked, The trail up to Harney Peak, then looping around to pass through an area with huhe vertical shafts of rock compared to Tolkein's Middle Earth ranks among my all time favorite day hikes.
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Post by tallgrass on Aug 5, 2017 20:34:46 GMT -8
I visited the Black Hills once, and just day hiked, The trail up to Harney Peak, then looping around to pass through an area with huhe vertical shafts of rock compared to Tolkein's Middle Earth ranks among my all time favorite day hikes. Yep. Starting out at Sylvan Lake and hiking up to Black Elk Peak and back through the Little Devil's tower area is a spectacular walk
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Hungry Jack
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Post by Hungry Jack on Aug 7, 2017 7:43:26 GMT -8
I am headed there in late September to cycle (road bike). Very excited about that. Will probably take an afternoon to hike Harney Peak per Woody's note.
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Post by cadesun on Aug 8, 2017 7:07:21 GMT -8
I visited the Black Hills once, and just day hiked, The trail up to Harney Peak, then looping around to pass through an area with huhe vertical shafts of rock compared to Tolkein's Middle Earth ranks among my all time favorite day hikes. Yep. Starting out at Sylvan Lake and hiking up to Black Elk Peak and back through the Little Devil's tower area is a spectacular walk My wife and I backpacker this area. Highly recommended but water was difficult to come by as mentioned. Blog post on it: cadeandmolly.com/2011/06/06/south-dakota-and-wyoming/
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null
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Post by null on Aug 13, 2017 12:37:51 GMT -8
One more thing. If you hike the Centennial Trail through Custer State Park, there is a lot of road walking. It wasn't always this way, but it's due the mass infestation of the pine beetle. They've put a lot of roads into the area to access the trees that succumbed making the trail a long road walk.
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Post by ecocentric on Sept 9, 2017 6:57:21 GMT -8
I'm just back from a month of camping in the greater area. I have a whole new appreciation for the Niabrara River and Badlands of Nebraska, Medicine Rocks on the eastern border of Montana, and Roosevelt NP in North Dakota. The Cathedral Spires of Custer State Park and Devils Tower were rock climbing destinations that I've become very fond of over the years. Wind Cave National Monument is as good of a destination for wildlife as the Custer State Park without the crowds. The caves in this area are geologic wonders.
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Hungry Jack
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Post by Hungry Jack on Oct 5, 2017 18:01:11 GMT -8
I too had a great time in the Black Hills. Cycled the Needles Highway, around Rushmore, and Spearfish Canyon. Also hike Black Elk peak / Needles loop and visited Wind Cave. Custer is a neat little town. Will certainly go back to ride more and visit the Badlands and Bear Lodge area. Lots to and beautiful terrain.
Also had the unfortunate experience of finding a body of a driver who had been ejected in a rollover accident. We were about 10 miles out of Hot Springs around dusk when we saw an F150 flipped over in a ditch. Stopped, called 911 and went to investigate the truck. About 15 ft into the sage, I nearly stepped on the body. Not fun.
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Post by Coolkat on Oct 6, 2017 7:22:13 GMT -8
Ummm... I wasn't there but I'll second that.
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RedDoug
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Post by RedDoug on Mar 30, 2018 6:50:49 GMT -8
I did the Centennial Trail around 2000, give or take a few years either way. I hiked with 3 other women. Great trip. We did it the end of April/early May over 10 days. I think that would be the ideal time for that trip. I do remember:
1. some areas had lots of ticks 2. Stalked by a BIG male bison. We got through a backpacker gate just in time. 3. Mountain lion tracks on the trail 4. some really great views 5. Side connecting trail in to Mt Rushmore and a great Cafeteria. Very low visitor day so I was able to do a lot of clean-up in the men's room. 6. Large variety of birds. Saw a lot of yellow wing blackbirds. 7. We started at Wind Cave NP. Great place to start from. 8. Saw deer, bison, big horn sheep, 9. Water was fairly plentiful. There were a few places we were a bit dry for awhile. 10. I do not remember meeting any other backpackers but I almost got run down by some bikers. Why can't bikers call out when approaching backpackers on the trail from behind? 11. Ran into snow falling one day. 12. I learned the phrase "Better living through chemistry" from one of the ladies in our group. 13. Pack harness broke on a downhill around day 6. One of the ladies was very good with needle and thread which I always carry in my misc bag. 14. We were warned to watch for rattle snakes around French Creek area where we camped but never saw any. 15. French Creek had a good water flow. Women told me to make myself scarce while they washed up. I stayed in my tent and read until I got the all clear from them. 16. I realize how many names of places along the way I have forgotten. And I no longer have my CT map. 17. We were able to spot my car at the half way point and on day 5 I was able to run into Rapid City and get a couple of pizzas and bring them back out. Also one of the ladies needed to replace her water filter so it was an important stop for us. Big lake/campground there. 18. One of the ladies was... well... I watched her dip her water bottle into some stagnate water and come up with a large mouth bottle with many wigglers in it. She just poured her iodine drops in, waited the 30 min or whatever, and drank it right now. Amazing! I could never have done that. 19. Scenery was GREAT the entire trip with lots of variation and surprises. 20. Did I mention the ticks? Just in some area.
21. We ended at Bear Butte. Local Indians stuff money into plants and rocks along the trail to the summit. There is some religious significance to doing that but I was not sure what it was so I picked up enough dollar bills on the climb to the top and back to pay for lunch that day.
22. Hiking thru Custer State Park was a great experience. I heard there has been a forest fire in that area recently so probably not as grand as when I went through the area.
23. Hiking early in the year like we did we met a number of turkey hunters who were very helpful providing trail conditions and other valuable information.
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Post by oc6088 on Apr 23, 2018 14:55:00 GMT -8
I know this is an older thread but I just saw that a new book is published about this trail. I have no affilation to the book but I was also looking for information. Cent Trail Map
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