Elevation

7,242 ft / 2,207 m

#1 in South Dakota

#18,641 in United States

Prominence

2,922 ft / 891 m

#1 in South Dakota

#424 in United States

Climbs

215 climbs

#1 in South Dakota

#159 in United States

Top climbing months

August   20%

July   19%

September  12%

Most climbed route

Sylvan Lake

7.3 mi • 1,370 ft gain

Highlights

  • Black Elk Peak is the highest peak in South Dakota.
  • It is also the highest summit in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.
  • Black Elk Peak is located within the Black Elk Wilderness area within Black Hills National Forest.
  • The summit can be reached by following the trails either from Sylvan Lake, Camp Remington, Highway 244, Palmer Creek Road, Mount Rushmore, or Horse Thief Lake.
  • An abandoned fire lookout tower is on the summit.
67 climbs • 7.3 mi • 1,370 ft gain • 4 hr 9 min
5 climbs • 6.9 mi • 1,193 ft gain • 3 hr 59 min
2 climbs • 10.1 mi • 2,126 ft gain

Awards

Challenges