Harney Peak North Trail in Wind Cave National Park

Harney Peak North Trail

This is the harder and less-traveled route up Harney Peak.

Plan Around Harney Peak North Trail

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Harney Peak North Trail Details

This is the harder and less-traveled route up Harney Peak, the highest point in South Dakota. The trail starts at the Willow Creek Horse Camp, off Highway 244, beginning at an elevation of 5,100 feet and climbing nearly 2,100 feet up a rocky ridgeline to gain the summit. You'll get great views of Elkhorn Mountain and the backside of Mount Rushmore along the way. The trail is 4.4 miles each way.

Difficulty

High

Distance

8.8 miles

Estimated time

4 hours

Region

N/A

Nearby Parks Around Harney Peak North Trail

Compare nearby parks around Harney Peak North Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

79.7 mi away

Badlands

National Park · SD

208.5 mi away

Theodore Roosevelt

National Park · ND

265.4 mi away

Rocky Mountain

National Park · CO

351.0 mi away

Yellowstone

National Park · WY

359.1 mi away

Grand Teton

National Park · WY

427.8 mi away

Black Canyon

National Park · CO

Nearby Points of Interest Around Harney Peak North Trail

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Harney Peak North Trail while the map context is still fresh.

2.1 mi away

Horsethief Lake Campground

This lakeside campground is very popular, especially during the summer.

2.8 mi away

Keystone, S.D.

Of all the towns nearby Mount Rushmore, Keystone is the closest.

3.1 mi away

State Road 244

State Road 244 is the only road that leads right to the entrance of Mount Rushmore.

3.3 mi away

The 1880 Train

This scenic railroad makes a 20-mile round trip from Hill City to Keystone and back.

3.3 mi away

Hill City, S.D.

Hill City is known as the geological and archaeological center of the Black Hills.