The Black Hills are one of the best places in the country to live and play while enjoying an unheard of quality of life and the secret is slowing getting out to the rest of the world!
The latest issue of National Geographic Adventure magazine has named Rapid City one of the 50 “Next Great Adventure Towns.” As the article tag line suggests,
“The next great adventure towns aren’t just the best base camps for outdoor pursuits, they’re smart investments.”
Click this link to read this year’s entire list … http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/weekend-getaways/best-places-to-live/central-text
But this isn’t the first time a Black Hills city has received this honor of being named one of the best places to live and play, last year’s issue added Spearfish to the list highlighting it’s incredible hiking, biking, climbing, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing opportunities.
Check out last year’s article… http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/relocating/best-places-to-live-2007/small-town/spearfish-south-dakota.html
The Black Hills is a beautiful place to explore and there are tons of hiking trails that make the exploring something anyone can do! But in the wake of the first hiker death in the Black Hills in decades, it is important to remember some very important safety rules.
- Check out the trail’s difficulty level and determine whether it fits your ability level.
- Take a trail map and/or a GPS device.
- Wear sturdy hiking shoes.
- Take plenty of water (one gallon per person per day).
- Hike with a partner or in a group. The more the merrier!
- If you have questions about where you’re at, ask other people on the trail.
- Let people know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
- Take a cell phone with you.
- Take matches or a lighter.
It was designated a scenic byway in February, 1989. As the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway cuts through the Black Hills, it melds all elements of the Black Hills legacy into a single experience.
Slowly carved from the rock as the last great ocean receded from the face of North America, Spearfish Canyon features nearly vertical cliffs with stone in Neapolitan shades of brown, pink, and gray. The narrow 11th Hour Gulch has such high walls that it only gets one hour of sunlight per day, and by mid-fall a large pillar of ice already begins crystallizing. Plants from four different regions of North America share the Spearfish Canyon area, with mountain pines and northern spruces standing alongside aspen and prairie grasses. You might not strike it rich in Spearfish Canyon today, but an autumn drive will still give you plenty of gold when the aspen are in full color.
One of the more beautiful spots along the route is Bridal Veil Falls. With the abundant rainfall we’ve enjoyed this year, it stands out as a must see. And no drive along the canyon is complete without a stop at Roughlock Falls. Take the hiking trail from Savoy up to the falls, relax in the picnic area and enjoy the peacefulness and beauty of the Black Hills.
Bicycling Magazine has named Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway as one of the top 50 scenic bike paths in the country, and the four-foot shoulders easily accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians.
The Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway lets you experience the nature, history, and adventure of the Black Hills
http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/10761/stories/65820
Every year on the first weekend of June, as many as 15,000 people hike to the the outstretched arm of Crazy Horse Memorial. It’s one of my favorite annual events in the Hills and every year it continues to grow in popularity. For only $3 and a suggested donation of three cans of food per person, you can seize the opportunity to see this work of art up close and personal, as well as check out the Indian Museum of North America, the Sculptor’s Studio, and the Cultural Center featuring the arts and crafts of Native American artists in the Crazy Horse Visitor Complex. No preregistration is required, so grab your hiking boots or trailing running shoes and make the drive to Custer. I’ll see you there!
Check out the official event website: http://crazyhorse.org/events/volksmarch.shtml
|
Black Hills Area Bird-watching |
|
|
The rugged uplands of what is now eastern South Dakota were called Coteau des Prairies by 19th-century French fur traders. These “prairie hills” were pushed up by glaciers in the last ice age, and today this forested region, an anomaly in the midst of rolling grassland, can be explored at Sica Hollow State Park, a favorite destination to find nesting birds of deciduous woodland. To reach it, drive west from Sisseton 11 miles [17.7 kilometers], turn north, and drive 5 miles [8 kilometers]. Here in a forest of basswood, ash, oak, elm, and maple, look for Broad-winged Hawk, Ruby-throated Hummingbird (a rare nesting bird in this region), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Willow and Least Flycatchers, Yellow-throated Vireo, Veery, Black-and-white Warbler (a scarce breeder in the state), Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Wood Thrush has been found nesting in the area, and might be looked for, too. The half-mile [0.8-kilometer] Trail of the Spirits is productive for birding and provides a good introduction to park flora.
Black Hills
Encompassing the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, South Dakota’s Black Hills offer the traveler a chance at a number of high-country birds in forests of aspen, ponderosa pine, and spruce. One of the most popular birding routes in the region is the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US 14A) in Black Hills National Forest, which runs south from Spearfish 20 miles [32.2 kilometers] to Cheyenne Crossing. This superb drive is very popular with nonbirders, too; traffic will be lighter on an early morning visit.
Some of the species to look for as you start up the canyon in late spring and summer include Ruffed Grouse, White-throated Swift (common around cliffs), Lewis’s Woodpecker (scarce), Red-naped Sapsucker (in aspen and mixed woodland), Western Wood-Pewee, Dusky and Cordilleran Flycatchers, Pinyon Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Canyon Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Veery, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, and Cassin’s Finch. American Dipper can be seen along Spearfish Creek, but it’s most likely found at Roughlock Falls, reached by turning west on Forest Road 222 at Savoy, about 15 miles [24.1 kilometers] up the canyon.
As you ascend through the spruce and pinewoods of the Black Hills, some of the possibilities include Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker (scarce), Plumbeous Vireo, Gray Jay, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Townsend’s Solitaire, Swainson’s Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco (the white-winged race), Red Crossbill, and Pine Siskin.
Stop and explore recreation areas along the scenic byway, as well as along Forest Road 222 west of Savoy, such as Timon Campground at 5,600 feet [1,706.9 meters]. If you continue past Cheyenne Crossing, you can turn south to Hanna Campground (5,600 feet; 1,706.9 meters), a productive spot for many high-elevation species. Three-toed Woodpecker is a possibilit y here; it’s easiest to find in spring when males are “drumming.” To reach Black Fox Campground, another favorite birding site, drive west from Cheyenne Crossing on US 85 for 13 miles [20.9 kilometers] to O’Neill Pass, turn southeast on Forest Road 231, and drive 11 miles [17.7 kilometers].
One more note about the Black Hills region: A population of Virginia’s Warbler nests in Boles, Roby, and Redbird Canyons in the southwestern part of the national forest, reached by taking Forest Road 117 north from US 16 at the Wyoming state line. The canyons are located along the first 10 miles [16.1 kilometers] from US 16, but continuing north will take you along a beautiful drive good for many Black Hills birds, far less traveled than Spearfish Canyon.
To the south of Wall, Badlands National Park is a place of striking and stark beauty, where weirdly eroded sedimentary rocks rise up from arid grassland. If you can take your eyes off the landscape (and occasional pronghorn and bison), simply driving park roads might turn up nesting species such as Northern Harrier, Swainson’s and Ferruginous Hawks, Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Upland Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, White-throated Swift, Loggerhead Shrike, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Bluebird, and Lark Bunting. Exploring roadsides and trails, you could find Say’s Phoebe, Bell’s Vireo, Rock Wren, and Lark and Grasshopper Sparrows.
For varied birding, take a walk along the trails near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center at the eastern end of the park. The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, steep but only a half-mile [0.8-kilometer] loop, traverses an oasislike area of vegetation, while the longer Castle Trail passes through mixed-grass prairie and badlands formations. Be sure to take the time to drive the Sage Creek Rim Road in the western part of the park to Roberts Prairie Dog Town, where you might find Burrowing Owls.
Courtesy: National Geographic
Another excellent link is: http://sdakotabirds.com/
Kick-off the summer season at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial tonight at 9:00pm with the first evening program of the season. No matter how many times you have visited Mt. Rushmore if you haven’t seen the sculpture at night, attending an evening program is a must! The lights add a whole different dimension to this huge work of art and the park rangers might just tell you something you never would have guessed!
All weekend long (8am Friday to 11pm Sunday) no entrance fees will be charges at any South Dakota state park or recreation area. This open house weekend is meant to celebrate the upcoming summer season and many state parks have special events planned. Visit Custer State Park to enjoy hikes, hay rides, cowboy cook-outs, gold panning demonstrations, pancake feeds, and the infamous buffalo chip throwing contest. Click here for a link to Custer State Park’s schedule of events http://www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Regions/Custer/OpenHouseWeekend.pdf
As part of this special weekend… fishing licenses are not required on South Dakota waters. Get out and enjoy the beautiful weather - 77 degrees Saturday and 84 degrees forecasted for Sunday!
Black Hills golf courses twist deep into pine forests, cross rushing trout streams and open up to distractingly spectacular mountain vistas. Many Black Hills golf courses, including The Golf Club at Red Rock near Rapid City, Southern Hills Golf Course in Hot Springs, Devils Tower Golf in Hulett, Wyo. and Hart Ranch Golf Course in Rapid City have been listed by Golf Digest among the top courses in America.
There are 19 golf courses in the Black Hills. You’ll also find golf courses in Buffalo, Philip, Newell, Sundance, Hulett and Newcastle, Wyo. Course difficulty and cost varies. Most courses require a tee time, especially on holidays and weekends.
All are great courses and offer their own unique challenges. While most are 9-hole courses, there are a few with18 holes. Some are easily walked, while others offer real challenges with the dramatic changes in elevation. My home course is Boulder Canyon Country Club. This semi-private club is just a few scenic miles from Sturgis along US Highway 14. It offers a fairly challenging 9 holes with great scenery and is easily walked.
My favorite courses for the beauty and challenge are the Devils Tower Golf Club in Hulett, Wyoming, The Golf Club at Red Rock in Rapid City and Southern Hills Golf Course in Hot Springs. All beautifully groomed, all offering varying degrees of difficulty depending on which tees you play.
For more information on golfing in the Black Hills, try either of these links.