"Correction to Elevation gain /loss data: the total climb on the way up is at least 863 ft over 1 mi, so a decently steep hike. Total out and back time is about an hour to an hour and a half. This was an awesome peak-bagging for the fourth installment of HIll's Hills, a character-filled adventure that I host for KOTA Territory News (KOTA and KEVN, ABC and FOX stations, respectively) in Rapid City. Speaking of characters, photographer Brad Walton, Renae Remmele and I were joined by Lupe and her dog-father, Steve! Lupe is a famous American Dingo (or Carolina Dog) from Rapid City known for her hundreds of adventures as one of the Earth's top mountain-climbing dogs, The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe & featured by not only us but also South Dakota Public Broadcasting!" — HillClimbsMountains813 • Dec 6, 2025

"With an 8.3% grade over about 3/4 of a mile, I made the summit of M Hill, a sister to Cowboy Hill. This was done as part of covering the whitewashing of the "M" by South Dakota Mines students and alumni for their homecoming week, also known as "Rocker Days" or "M-Week." It was a solid workout given the rather stout camera I use to film stories for a local news station, along with its tripod that I had, the pack the camera & gear go in! It was a great time sharing the climb with the Mines students!" — HillClimbsMountains813 • Sep 26, 2025

"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