Black Elk Peak via Willow Creek and Lost Cabin Trail

Black Elk Wilderness, Black Hills National Forest (near Hill City)

Black Elk Peak, the high point of South Dakota, rises from the middle of the Black Elk Wilderness in the Black Hills National Forest. Most hikers reach it as a day trip from Sylvan Lake, but Travel South Dakota suggests a quieter overnight from the north side, starting at Willow Creek and making a loop of about 10 miles.

Camping is dispersed: there are no designated sites, and you pick a spot that follows the wilderness rules.

The hike

Travel South Dakota’s route starts at the Willow Creek Trailhead, at Willow Creek Horse Camp south of SD Highway 244 and west of Mount Rushmore. Felix Wong, who began a longer 2016 loop from the same lot, describes it as across from the Mount Rushmore KOA, about seven miles west of Rushmore, and says he took Trail 8 from the parking lot and reached Trail 9 after about 1.5 miles. Sign in at the trailhead first; Travel South Dakota says a free backcountry registration is required there.

The climb follows Trail 9 (signs may still say Harney Peak Trail) past Elkhorn Mountain to the summit at 7,244 feet. Travel South Dakota calls the five miles up “fairly strenuous,” and We’re in the Rockies, which lists this north route at 10 miles round trip with about 2,480 feet of gain, notes it is a popular horseback route. Expect some scrambling and water crossings.

The final approach is shared with the busier routes from Sylvan Lake. Live and Let Hike describes a long staircase, a narrow notch, a short tunnel, and a spiral staircase leading up to the summit and its lookout tower, which the Forest Service calls the Historic Harney Lookout. Camping is banned within a quarter mile of the summit and inside the lookout.

The descent follows Lost Cabin Trail 2, about five miles back toward Willow Creek, and Travel South Dakota calls it the easier half. It suggests spreading the trip over two or three days, about 15 hours of walking in all, and rates it for experienced backpackers.

Expect deadfall. Travel South Dakota says mountain pine beetles have left many downed trees, and the Forest Service warns that trees in the wilderness can fall without warning and that cleared trails can be blocked again after storms. Felix Wong found signs “lacking or confusing” in many places, so carry a map. Late spring and summer bring strong thunderstorms, and Travel South Dakota names spring and fall as the best seasons; winter trails stay open but can be icy.

For a longer trip through the same wilderness, see the Black Elk Wilderness loop via Grizzly Bear Creek.

Tips

Register at the trailhead and carry your copy, per the Custer State Park trail guide.
Carry plenty of water. Travel South Dakota says filter sources are scarce on the higher trails.
Plan on a stove. Open fires are restricted (see the notice above).
Start early in summer to get off the summit before afternoon storms.
Bring a map. Signs are confusing in places, and blowdown can hide the trail.

Camping

The Black Elk Wilderness has no designated backcountry sites. Under Forest Service Order 159, you may not camp within a quarter mile of the Black Elk Peak summit or in the lookout, or within 100 feet of a water source, and groups are capped at 25 people; the Forest Service FAQ recommends groups of 10 or fewer. Bicycles, strollers, carts, and other vehicles are prohibited, and gear can’t be left for more than 72 hours. The wilderness rules allow open fires only in designated sites, and the forest’s fire restrictions go further (see the notice). Dogs must be leashed or under strict voice control.

Some sources add a quarter-mile no-camping buffer along Trail 9 (see the needs_review notes). Until the Forest Service confirms, plan to camp at least a quarter mile from both the summit and Trail 9.

Inside Intel: No camper accounts recommending a specific site on this loop were found. On a 2024 trip, Post Bulletin columnist Steve Lange’s group camped one night at an overlook ringed by tall rock outcroppings, noting there were no designated sites, but the column doesn’t say which trail it was on.

Trail facts

Distance: About 10 miles (Travel South Dakota; We’re in the Rockies)
Route type: Loop (Trail 9 up, Lost Cabin Trail 2 down)
Difficulty: Strenuous
High point: Black Elk Peak, 7,244 feet
Campsites: Dispersed; none within 1/4 mile of the summit or 100 feet of water
Water: Scarce on the high trails; carry plenty and treat any you find
Permits: Free self-registration at the trailhead
Group size: 25 maximum; 10 or fewer recommended
Fires: Restricted; stove only
Dogs: Leashed or under strict voice control
Trailhead: Willow Creek Trailhead (Willow Creek Horse Camp), off SD 244
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Afternoon storms over Black Elk Peak:

Travel South Dakota warns of strong summer thunderstorms on this climb, so pitch a tent you trust before the clouds build. See the backpacking tents testers like.

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Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.