CROW PEAK BHNF TRAIL #64

Crow Peak Black Hills National Forest Trail #64
Spearfish, SD
Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/blackhills/recarea/?recid=62797
Know Before You Go: This trail is tough even for experienced hikers, featuring 1400 feet of elevation gain over 6.5 miles – very steep! Some hikers – including the furry, four-legged kind – may not like the scree fields close to the top. There is no water along this trail.
Length: 6.5 miles out and back.
Time: 3 hours round trip.
Difficulty level: Difficult.
Terrain: Grass and dirt in the beginning. Scree field close to the top.
Dog-friendly: Yes, depending on mileage and difficulty your dog can handle. One of my friends reported that his dog refused to walk across the scree field close to the top of the peak, forcing my friend to carry his pooch for quite a ways.
Kid-friendly: Yes, depending on mileage and difficulty your kids can handle.

Many hikers say this is one of the best hikes in the Black Hills of South Dakota. At 5760 feet, Crow Peak is one of three peaks surrounding the gorgeous Spearfish valley, providing a dramatic backdrop for the city of Spearfish. According to VisitSpearfish.com, the Sioux tribe called it “Paha Karitukateyapi”, which translates to “the hill where the crows were killed”. The name stems from a battle between Sioux and Crow Indians in which the Sioux were victorious.

To get there, follow Forest Service Road 214 out of Spearfish for approximately 7 miles to a fairly large parking lot. Go through the gate to find the trailhead.

This hike is breathtaking for two reasons: because of the difficulty and because of the views. It travels up, up and up through pine forest, offering awesome views of the surrounding hillsides through frequent breaks in the trees. The constant uphill can be tough, but if you take frequent water breaks you can catch your breath and firm up your resolve to conquer the top.

The trail is mostly shaded until you get half a mile from the top. At that point, you encounter a large scree field that leads to a brush-covered peak. Not all dogs will walk across scree. One of my friends had to carry his pooch across the scree on this very peak.

Once you reach the top, plan to take some time to recover from the hard hike by enjoying the stunning panoramic views of nearby plains and peaks – including Bear Butte. Keep an eye out for the crows.