"It's definitely a good idea to pack those protein bars and bring plenty of water! It's a decently long hike with some spots with respectable elevation gain. Some rocky parts of the trail may require longer strides or a walking stick if you need it. The trail does afford you plenty of breathtaking views as well as spots to rest and appreciate them, which rewards a challenging yet equally satisfying work out! My friend and I had an out and back total time of 3 hours on the trail, so make sure that you plan accordingly. All that said, and enjoyable experience I could see myself coming oack for many more times!" — HillClimbsMountains813 • Sep 15, 2025

"Quick three day road trip, Iowa Hawkeye Point , along with both the Dakota's Black Elk Peak and White Butte. almost 3 thousand miles round trip. Was a long one but beautiful. Drove up from Black Elk, and was able to knock this one and the same day, nice little hike to the top. Took us some time to find the actual trail head and car park, but in the end was great to have these three completed. " — CravinoCrew • Jul 26, 2025

"I should have saved my ascent once I finished since I can't recall the GPX file from when I finished 🙃😅😫🤦 I made summit here one time before, and it was rewarding then as it was now! The Flume Trail from the right side of the trailhead started things out with some nice elevation gain & thus a solid workout, which is one of the things I was looking for 👌 I think that was a different starting route that I took the last time because I remember hitting Boulder Hill Road sooner/from a different direction. Once you reach the boulders this summit is known for, the scrambling you do is quite the adventure, and once you hit the peak, it's a 360°view all around. I picked an incredible day to do it since the weather was sensational & the trail was quiet the whole way through. The flume trail at the beginning was narrow, slightly overgrown and a bit buggy, so be cautious with that. " — HillClimbsMountains813 • Apr 15, 2025

"This was my first evening hike/summit of Buzzard's Roost, and the first summit of this peak for a friend of mine from work. Evening hikes under a full moon can be breathtaking, but you still will need a flashlight coming down the switchbacks of the Jack's Upper trail - you've got plentiful tree cover and you will also need to look out for the rocks of varying shape and size along the trail. As seen in the picture, though, those trees create quite the foreground for a dramatic moon shot. Speaking of visuals, the views all the way along the Rim Trail are incredible, but I highly recommend heading to the summit for a breathtaking 270° view, taking in the Hisega/Johnson Siding area all the way through Black Elk and neighboring peaks right down into Rapid City. The night views are incredible, but it's much more recommendable, safer, and even more exhilarating in the daytime!" — HillClimbsMountains813 • Apr 11, 2025

"Climbed all 10 mountains in the Rapid City 10 peaks challenge in 24 hours Buzzards Roost 3/28 10:50; Boulder Hill 3/28 11:50; Little Devils Tower 3/28 13:13; Black Elk Peak 3/28 14:15; Custer Peak 3/28 17:20; Terry Peak 3/28 18:30; Mount Theodore Roosevelt 3/28 19:31; Cowboy Hill 3/28 21:16; Crow Peak 3/29 07:50; Bear Butte 3/29 10:03" — SchlongsPeak • Mar 28, 2025