We're loving our sojourn in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the past three weeks have been full of outdoor adventure in some incredibly beautiful places. This week we've settled in to Spearfish City Campground for our final stop in the Black Hills.
This spring has been exceptionally wet across the midsection of the US and locals tell us that Black Hills National Forest is about as green and lush as it can possibly get. Streams are flowing high, water is seeping out of the hills, flowers are popping all over the place and trails are barely visible among the thick grasses and shrubs.
As we've moved North through the Black Hills we've noticed the rock change from granite to slate, and now limestone and igneous rock. These hills are a meeting place of different ecosystems, with the Rocky Mountains to the West and the Great Plains to the East the plant life is extremely diverse. A forest hike might include ponderosa pine, spruce, bur oak, aspen and birch.
We've done two hikes since we arrived in Spearfish and the forest seems to be even more abundant and vibrant than we'd seen previously in the Black Hills, though perhaps that's simply due to the crazy growth rate as the weather heats up and the rains continue, just a little less frequently.
Crow Peak is the dominant peak in these parts, topping out at 5,760 feet. The trail winds 3.2 miles to the top with about 1,500 feet of elevation gain. There's an annual trail run here called the Crow Peak Ascent, a local passed us near the top training for the upcoming race...he made it up in 38 minutes, compared to our relaxed hour and a half or so!
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| We were dazzled by the incredible lushness of the forest! |
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| All the rain this spring has been good for the fungus. |
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| About half way up large boulders made an appearance on the hillside. |
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We saw our first nighthawk!
If it hadn't moved we'd never have seen it...it blends in to its surroundings very well! |
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| As we neared the top we found profuse blooms on the hillside. |
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The East side of the mountain was burned some years ago and now provides wide open views...
currently limited by smoke from fires in Canada. |
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| Stark contrast between the burnt and forested sides of the mountain as we make our way off the top. |
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Our nighthawk alerted us of its presence as we passed by on our way down.
What a beauty! |
Our second hike from Spearfish was
Little Spearfish Trail. This is a six mile loop with moderate climbing, extremely thick grasses and shrubs, and a very beautiful section along Spearfish Creek. Best of all, you have to drive through gorgeous Spearfish Canyon to get to the trailhead.
Unfortunately my six month old camera died and I had to use my cell phone on this hike. We'll see if Sony has better customer service/repair than Panasonic did with my last camera...
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| Roughlock Falls is a pretty stop along the road to the Little Spearfish Trail. |
Little Spearfish Trail was exceptionally overgrown, the grasses were so tall and thick in spots we could barely see the trail! It was also very wet from the previous nights rain...we were soaked and muddy within minutes!
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| Flowers lined the trail beckoning us further... |
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| A postcard perfect summer day in the Black Hills! |
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| Chest high Queen Anne's Lace! |
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| Old beaver dam and flowering watercress reflections in crystal clear Spearfish Creek. |
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| Limestone cliffs carved out over millenia by Spearfish Creek. |
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| Watercress flowers shimmer on the creek. |
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There were possibly a dozen old beaver dams along this stretch of Spearfish Creek,
each pond now filled with silt. |
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| Colorful limestone cliffs. |
More adventures from Spearfish coming soon...!
What a beautiful piece of country! Love the two hikes you have done so far Lisa. The pictures of the nighthawk are awesome...I have never seen one before. Love all the green and wildflowers too! Your phone did a good job...hope you get your camera fixed. I think they should give you another one.
ReplyDeleteI sure wish/hope they give me another camera! Panasonic service was miserable...we'll see how Sony does...
DeleteI hiked Crow Peak back in 2012 and your photos brought back memories from that hike. Yes, Spearfish Canyon is gorgeous - especially in the fall. The final scenes of the movie "Dances with Wolves" were filmed here. I'm enjoying seeing my home turf through your eyes.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine how beautiful this whole area is in the fall! I'd love to come back then.
DeleteWow, it is so green and lush out there! I can't wait to be there this Fall. The nighthawk rarely moves that when I first saw it I came closer to make sure its not a decoy. ha ha .
ReplyDeleteI agree with you this is a postcard perfect day, what a beautiful hike!
With all the aspen and birch around, fall is going to be amazing!
DeleteI can really tell that you grew up in the west. All those overgrown paths and treed trails do nothing for me. I really enjoyed when you got to the wide open part that had been burned with huge views. Can you tell I grew up in the tree covered, no view east! But both hikes looked like lots of fun:) I do believe Hans could do the loop in the race in 38 mins, also:) Is that coralroot in your one photo? I've never heard of it until someone just posted the other day. Too bad the watercres was flowering, I might have been tempted to pick some...yum! That nighthawk truly became one with the branch. So glad you got two great photos! Beautiful! Sure sounds like you had great weather for your visit. If the weather is good the second half of August, we will probably head that way as we move west. Thanks for lots of great info! Glad you enjoyed SD:)
ReplyDelete:-) I do get tired of trails that are entirely in the trees blocking the views, but most every trail we've hiked here has had some open space for views. I guess it helps though that I also really love plants! I agree though, wide open vistas are AWESOME! :-)
DeleteHans says there is not a chance he could have run up that mountain!!!
I beg to differ with him! I have followed behind him on many trails. He can really cut the rug, so to speak, on the trail. The man has mountain goat blood:)
DeleteHee hee! I call him mountain goat all the time!
DeleteGorgeous place! Your photos are wonderful. I've never seen flowering watercress. BTW, nice photo of Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea), the tall red and yellow stalk-like flower which like all those lovely mushrooms is a parasitic plant that depends on the soil funghi connecting to the roots of the pines.
ReplyDeleteThanks for naming that fungus for me!
DeleteAnother stunning couple hikes. All that greenery is so beautiful! Love the hawk, can't imagine how lovely they must be in flight. Those sparkling watercress are really pretty - nice catch with the phone :-) I'm still amazed at the diversity of this area compared with what I envisioned. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI think the Black Hills are an anomaly in all of South Dakota....but I have fallen in love with them!
DeleteGorgeous hike! And you are so fortunate to have seen a nighthawk on the ground. They are so unique. I've only seen them flying. I love the soft grassy undergrowth of the Black Hills. It's like nowhere else I've seen. Boy I wish some of that rain would come up here to Montana. We're parched up here!
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering where the rainy section stops and the dry part of the country begins! I guess it'll get browner as we head West...
DeleteYour post brought back such great memories for me as we stayed in Spearfish for a few days last year and bicycled up Spearfish Canyon -- challenging on the way up but so much fun on the way down -- and gorgeous in both directions! We also biked through the very pretty campground where you are staying. Loved Spearfish! And the Black Hills are spectacular. Other highlights included riding the Michelson Trail (the part you rode is the prettiest!) and hiking to the summit of Harney Peak. Such great memories. Thanks for the blog posts and photos that brought it all back!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! We have really loved our time here!
DeleteGreat photos and narrative. I love the hawk! Sorry your new camera has died. Maybe Sony will be helpful in this matter. We've enjoyed your trip in SD, had no idea it was that pretty. All we've ever done is dart in, get a driver's license and flee. Next time, we'll have to spend some time there.
ReplyDeleteThe Black Hills is certainly worth the time...I don't know what the rest of the state is like!
DeleteSuch gorgeous country, especially with everything so lush and green! I am bookmarking these hikes for a return trip to the Dakotas. I don't believe I have ever seen a nighthawk. What a great capture! My Panasonic is dying on me and you are the second person who has said something less than positive about their customer service. I have had the camera less than a year and our point-and-shoot just died recently. :(
ReplyDeleteI had to send my Panasonic in twice for the same problem in less than a year (dark spots on the photos). The second time took many weeks and many phone calls and bad attitude and information from customer service. I'll probably never buy another Panasonic product.
DeleteSo sorry your camera croaked -- but you did a great job with your phone! Your photos are wonderful, Lisa. How cool that you found and photographed a nighthawk! You're right, they blend in with their surroundings -- they look just like a pile of leaves. :-) Your adventures in the Dakotas are moving this area up high on our list.
ReplyDeleteThe Black Hills is so worth a visit, spring is clearly gorgeous but I believe fall would be just as spectacular.
DeleteThese are two great hikes. What amazing nighthawk pictures you got. You are for sure one up on me. I would hope that Sony will come thought if your camera is fairly new. David had a horrible experience with Panasonic too and swore he'd never buy another one. I have a canon, fingers crossed for me and for you with Sony. I love overgrown trails, tiny skinny little paths lined with wildflowers. So thanks for the picture. Hope they don't have ticks in S.D because that's where they would be. Sox over the pant legs is what I do. Great waterfall, great fungus, great post!
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly we only got ticks that one time near Jewel Cave...not a one since!
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