{"id":8140,"date":"2023-09-21T22:59:17","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T14:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/?p=8140"},"modified":"2024-04-20T10:28:32","modified_gmt":"2024-04-20T02:28:32","slug":"20230921black-elk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921black-elk\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 3 of Autumn 2023 Trip to Mountain States, Black Elk Peak, Highest Point of South Dakota"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The third day of my autumn 2023 trip to the mountain states. I focused the day on Custer State Park, hiked to Black Elk Peak, South Dakota&#8217;s highest peak, in addition to checking out Needles Highway, a scenic mountain road in the park.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7935.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7935.jpg\" alt=\"Black Elk Peak from Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Elk Peak from Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide.min.2.4.21.js\"><\/script>\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/splide-skyblue.min.css\">\n<script>\ndocument.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function () {\n\tvar secondarySlider1 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-1', 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{\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider19 = new Splide( '#splide-major-19', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider19.sync( secondarySlider19 ).mount();\n\tvar secondarySlider20 = new Splide( '#splide-thumb-20', {\n\t\tfixedWidth:100,height:67,gap:10,\n\t\tfocus:'center',keyboard:'focused',\n\t\tcover:true,isNavigation:true,\n\t\tbreakpoints :{'600':{fixedWidth:57,height:38,pagination:false,arrows:false,gap:5,}},\n\t} ).mount();\n\tvar primarySlider20 = new Splide( '#splide-major-20', {\n\t\ttype:'fade',pagination:false,arrows:false,\n\t} );\n\tprimarySlider20.sync( secondarySlider20 ).mount();\n} );\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>At an elevation of 2208m (7244ft), Black Elk Peak was the highest natural point of South Dakota, and (to spice things up) the highest between Rocky Mountains in western US and Pyrenees Mountains that border France and Spain. At the same time, its summit was relatively easy to access, through a 11.4km\/7.1mi loop trail that presented no technical challenges. The trail went through the heart of the Black Hills area, featuring eroded granite shaped like pillars and spires, that was locally referred to as &#8220;needles&#8221;.  For this reason, a trip to Black Elk Peak had always been on my radar.<\/p>\n<p>I planned to spend 3 nights in the Airbnb in Rapid City, giving me two days to explore the Black Hills. Weather forecast indicated chances of rain the next day, so I decided to take the hike to Black Elk Peak today.<br \/>\nAfter leaving my Airbnb room at a leisurely 9am, I grabbed breakfast along the road, and made my way to Custer State Park. Along the way, I decided to take a detour to Pactola Lake, which was created by a reservoir and part of Rapid Creek, the namesake of Rapid City.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7805.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7805.jpg\" alt=\"Pactola Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pactola Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7808.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7808.jpg\" alt=\"Pactola Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pactola Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7807.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7807.jpg\" alt=\"Island in Pactola Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Island in Pactola Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7809.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7809.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Pactola Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains beyond Pactola Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7810C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7810C11.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Scruton Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Scruton Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On top of which was Bullock Lookout Tower.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-1\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7805.jpg\" alt=\"Pactola Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7808.jpg\" alt=\"Pactola Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7807.jpg\" alt=\"Island in Pactola Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7809.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Pactola Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7810C11.jpg\" alt=\"Scruton Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-1, #splide-thumb-1 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of Pactola Lake.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7805.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7805.jpg\" alt=\"Pactola Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Pactola Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7808.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7808.jpg\" alt=\"Pactola Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Pactola Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7807.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7807.jpg\" alt=\"Island in Pactola Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Island in Pactola Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7809.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7809.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains beyond Pactola Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains beyond Pactola Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7810C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7810C11.jpg\" alt=\"Scruton Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Scruton Mountain<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On top of which was Bullock Lookout Tower.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Wind created some wrinkles on the lake, but otherwise it&#8217;s a peaceful scene to start the day.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Black_Elk_Peak_Loop_Trail\">Black Elk Peak Loop Trail<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Since I didn&#8217;t know how long the hike to Black Elk Peak would take, I decided to reach its trailhead near Sylvan Lake from the west, so that I would drive down the scenic (eastern) part of Needles Highway after the hike. With that, I reached the trailhead past 10:30am. The trailhead had a sizable overflow parking lot. After some warmup, I started my hike at 10:50am.<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The trailhead was located within Custer State Park, which charged 20 dollars per vehicle per week admission. It&#8217;s arguably the only state park in South Dakota that&#8217;s worth visiting.<\/div>\n<p>The trails in the area were succinctly named in numbers. The loop trail<a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/explore\/trail\/us\/south-dakota\/black-elk-peak-and-little-devils-tower-loop?mobileMap=false&#038;ref=sidebar-static-map\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(AllTrails link)<\/a> that I took consisted of trail 9 (upper-left) and 3&#038;4 (lower-right). Between the two, trail 9 had better views (of Black Elk Peak and its surroundings). Since I started sort of late in the day, I decided to take 9 first, so as to enjoy the views with the best lighting conditions.<\/p>\n<p>And here&#8217;s GPS tracking:<\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:6\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=167877428&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"desktop-hide\" style=\"width:100%;aspect-ratio:3\/5;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wikiloc.com\/wikiloc\/spatialArtifacts.do?event=view&#038;id=167877428&#038;measures=on&#038;title=off&#038;near=off&#038;images=off&#038;maptype=H\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7819.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7819.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7823.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7823.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_110528.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_110528.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7821.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rocky Hill<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7822.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7822.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rocky Hill<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-2\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7819.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7823.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_110528.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7821.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7822.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-2, #splide-thumb-2 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the trail.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7819.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7819.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7823.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7823.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_110528.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_110528.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7821.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rocky Hill<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7822.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7822.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rocky Hill<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>The trail started out as a comfortable stroll through sparse forest (above), where the earliest signs of foliage were visible on some of the trees. 1.2km into the hike, the trail reached an intersection with &#8220;Lost Cabin Trail&#8221;, where for the first time Black Elk Peak popped into view.<br \/>\nWhile the view at the intersection was sort of obstructed, 360m later the trail passed a proper overlook with wide open views. A feast of all the granite with their impressive vertical textures and cracks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7825.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7825.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the intersection of Trail 9 and Lost Cabin Trail, a preview of what\u2019s to come next.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7827.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7827.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the intersection of Trail 9 and Lost Cabin Trail, a preview of what\u2019s to come next.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7828C10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7828C10.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the proper overlooking along Trail 9. The summit observation tower of Black Elk Peak.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7829.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7829.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the proper overlooking along Trail 9.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7842.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7842.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the proper overlooking along Trail 9.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7843.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7843.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the proper overlooking along Trail 9.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7845.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7845.jpg\" width=\"96.5%\" alt=\"Distant Mountains\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Mountains<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">After leaving the overlook, taken from a clearing of the trail with western part of Black Hills National Forest in view.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7846.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7846.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Further into the trail. With vertical texture, like many &#8220;needles&#8221; were forming.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-3\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7825.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7827.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7828C10.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7829.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7842.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7843.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7845.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountains\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7846.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-3, #splide-thumb-3 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7825.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7825.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the intersection of Trail 9 and Lost Cabin Trail, a preview of what\u2019s to come next.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7827.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7827.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the intersection of Trail 9 and Lost Cabin Trail, a preview of what\u2019s to come next.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7828C10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7828C10.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the proper overlooking along Trail 9. The summit observation tower of Black Elk Peak.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7829.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7829.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the proper overlooking along Trail 9.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7842.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7842.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the proper overlooking along Trail 9.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7843.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7843.jpg\" alt=\"Black Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">From the proper overlooking along Trail 9.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7845.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7845.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountains\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Mountains<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">After leaving the overlook, taken from a clearing of the trail with western part of Black Hills National Forest in view.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7846.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7846.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Further into the trail. With vertical texture, like many &#8220;needles&#8221; were forming.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7831_DSC_7841-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7831_DSC_7841-11.jpg\" alt=\"View of Black Hills along Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View of Black Hills from Overlook along Trail 9<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Continuing on, views of granite hills turned into forest in autumn colors as the trail entered Black Elk Wilderness.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_111907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_111907.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_112136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_112136.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_112645.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_112645.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_113445.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_113445.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_114010.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_114010.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_114256.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_114256.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7847C10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7847C10.jpg\" width=\"94.3%\" alt=\"Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Looking back, I found an impressive rock cliff. Upon checking the map I learned it\u2019s Little Devil\u2019s Tower, which I would visit later today.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_115521.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_115521.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_115725.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_115725.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-4\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_111907.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_112136.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_112645.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_113445.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_114010.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_114256.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7847C10.jpg\" alt=\"Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_115521.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_115725.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-4, #splide-thumb-4 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_111907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_111907.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_112136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_112136.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_112645.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_112645.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_113445.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_113445.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_114010.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_114010.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_114256.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_114256.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7847C10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7847C10.jpg\" alt=\"Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Looking back, I found an impressive rock cliff. Upon checking the map I learned it\u2019s Little Devil\u2019s Tower, which I would visit later today.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_115521.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_115521.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_115725.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_115725.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>At 12:15pm, I reached the intersection with Trail 3. After that, it&#8217;s a 800m spur to the summit of Black Elk Peak.<br \/>\nA not-so-pleasant feature was that, after the intersection, portions of the trail had animal droppings scattered around.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7850.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_7850.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires and Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7910.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/DSC_7910.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Views along the trail before reaching summit.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_132044.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_132044.jpg\" width=\"77.7%\" alt=\"Trail under Rocks\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail under Rocks<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Since the nearby Needles Highway was so famous for tunnels, it\u2019s only appropriate that the trail to Black Elk Peak also featured one.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_123439.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_123439.jpg\" width=\"79.8%\" alt=\"Spiral Stairs\" \/><\/a><\/br>Spiral Stairs<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">After the rock tunnel there was this set of spiral stairs, helping hikers overcome a steep cliff.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_131920.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_131920.jpg\" width=\"83%\" alt=\"Stairs\" \/><\/a><\/br>Stairs<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_130836.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_130836.jpg\" width=\"83%\" alt=\"Interior of Black Elk Peak Fire Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Interior of Black Elk Peak Fire Tower<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_130606.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_130606.jpg\" alt=\"Top Floor of Fire Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Top Floor of Fire Tower<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The highest publicly accessible point of South Dakota. While it featured windows on all sides, unfortunately the views weren\u2019t as the boardwalk didn\u2019t cover the entire top floor. In addition, the windows were sort of dirty.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-5\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_132044.jpg\" alt=\"Trail under Rocks\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_123439.jpg\" alt=\"Spiral Stairs\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_131920.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_130836.jpg\" alt=\"Interior of Black Elk Peak Fire Tower\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_130606.jpg\" alt=\"Top Floor of Fire Tower\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-5, #splide-thumb-5 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_132044.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_132044.jpg\" alt=\"Trail under Rocks\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail under Rocks<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Since the nearby Needles Highway was so famous for tunnels, it\u2019s only appropriate that the trail to Black Elk Peak also featured one.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_123439.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_123439.jpg\" alt=\"Spiral Stairs\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Spiral Stairs<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">After the rock tunnel there was this set of spiral stairs, helping hikers overcome a steep cliff.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_131920.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_131920.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Stairs<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_130836.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_130836.jpg\" alt=\"Interior of Black Elk Peak Fire Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Interior of Black Elk Peak Fire Tower<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_130606.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_130606.jpg\" alt=\"Top Floor of Fire Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Top Floor of Fire Tower<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The highest publicly accessible point of South Dakota. While it featured windows on all sides, unfortunately the views weren\u2019t as the boardwalk didn\u2019t cover the entire top floor. In addition, the windows were sort of dirty.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"Black_Elk_Peak_Summit\">Black Elk Peak Summit<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Finally, I reached the summit of Black Elk Peak at 12:35pm.<\/p>\n<p>On top of the summit was a fire tower that was constructed in 1938 and in use until 1967. Much of the tower was still in good shape and open to hikers as a vista or emergency shelter. The tower was visible from much of the Black Hills region, and thus helped me easily identify Black Elk Peak during the rest of my trip.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7892.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7892.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fire Tower<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7865.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7865.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fire Tower<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_125610C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_125610C9.jpg\" width=\"89.5%\" alt=\"Pond\" \/><\/a><\/br>Pond<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">To the west of the fire tower. There\u2019s a small building\/room next to it. I guessed this pond provided water supply when the fire tower was in operation.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-6\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7892.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Tower\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7865.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Tower\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_125610C9.jpg\" alt=\"Pond\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-6, #splide-thumb-6 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the fire tower atop Black Elk Peak.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7892.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7892.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fire Tower<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7865.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7865.jpg\" alt=\"Fire Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fire Tower<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_125610C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_125610C9.jpg\" alt=\"Pond\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Pond<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">To the west of the fire tower. There\u2019s a small building\/room next to it. I guessed this pond provided water supply when the fire tower was in operation.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>To the north and west of the fire tower, the granite fields were relatively flat, allowing people to spread out and appreciate the views.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7852.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7852.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Cathedral Spires, Little Devils Tower and other Rock Formations<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_131507.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_131507.jpg\" width=\"82.2%\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Cathedral Spires, Little Devils Tower and other Rock Formations<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7890.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7890.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South beyond Prayer Flags\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields to the South beyond Prayer Flags<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7907.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7906.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7906.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7879.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7879.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northeast\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northeast<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7864.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7864.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the North\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields to the North<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-7\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7852.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_131507.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7890.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South beyond Prayer Flags\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7907.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7906.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7879.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northeast\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7864.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the North\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-7, #splide-thumb-7 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from the summit of Black Elk Peak.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7852.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7852.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Cathedral Spires, Little Devils Tower and other Rock Formations<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_131507.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_131507.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Cathedral Spires, Little Devils Tower and other Rock Formations<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7890.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7890.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South beyond Prayer Flags\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields to the South beyond Prayer Flags<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7907.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7906.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7906.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the East\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the East<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7879.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7879.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northeast\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northeast<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7864.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7864.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields to the North<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7886.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7886.jpg\" alt=\"Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7885.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7885.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cathedral Spires<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7893.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7893.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Hills<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7887.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7887.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Rock Formation\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Formation<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the south of the fire tower. I shall call it &#8220;Mini Devil&#8217;s Tower&#8221;.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7905.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7905.jpg\" width=\"88%\" alt=\"Mount Rushmore\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mount Rushmore<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The square-shaped hill in the center of this photo. Without the head statues it\u2019s not as identifiable. Its parking lot to the right of this photo.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7862.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7862.jpg\" alt=\"Elkhorn Mountain\" \/><\/a><\/br>Elkhorn Mountain<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7881C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7881C9.jpg\" width=\"88%\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Western part of Black Hills National Forest. Saint Elmo Peak indicated by the red arrow, which I would climb tomorrow.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-8\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7886.jpg\" alt=\"Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7885.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7893.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7887.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Formation\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7905.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Rushmore\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7862.jpg\" alt=\"Elkhorn Mountain\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7881C9.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-8, #splide-thumb-8 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from the summit of Black Elk Peak.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7886.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7886.jpg\" alt=\"Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7885.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7885.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cathedral Spires<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7893.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7893.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Hills<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7887.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7887.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Formation\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Formation<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the south of the fire tower. I shall call it &#8220;Mini Devil&#8217;s Tower&#8221;.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7905.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7905.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Rushmore\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mount Rushmore<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The square-shaped hill in the center of this photo. Without the head statues it\u2019s not as identifiable. Its parking lot to the right of this photo.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7862.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7862.jpg\" alt=\"Elkhorn Mountain\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Elkhorn Mountain<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7881C9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7881C9.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Northwest<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Western part of Black Hills National Forest. Saint Elmo Peak indicated by the red arrow, which I would climb tomorrow.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7853_DSC_7861-9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7853_DSC_7861-9.jpg\" alt=\"View from Black Elk Peak towards the Southwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View from Black Elk Peak towards the Southwest<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Portions of this photo, near the left one-fourth point, were generated from content-aware fill.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7866_DSC_7878-13.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7866_DSC_7878-13.jpg\" alt=\"View from Black Elk Peak towards the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7894_DSC_7904-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7894_DSC_7904-11.jpg\" alt=\"View from Black Elk Peak towards the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>View from Black Elk Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Towards the north (top) and east (bottom).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Wind was relatively strong on top of Black Elk Peak (and later today on Little Devil&#8217;s Tower). But with an abundance of boulders around, it wasn&#8217;t hard to find a spot on the downwind side as shelter.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, I spent about 45 minutes at the summit of Black Elk Peak, before starting my descent around 1:20pm. Past the intersection, I continued onto Trail 3 to finish the loop. The initial part of Trail 3 had little scenic value, to make things worse, I was bothered by some non-biting bugs at the higher elevations, so it was the least enjoyable part of the hike. (It was cloudy in the morning but largely sunny in the afternoon, which could partly explain why the bugs were more active.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_135119.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_135119.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_135202.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_135202.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_135708.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_135708.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_142321.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_142321.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_152626.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_152626.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_143803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_143803.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Trail to Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-9\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_135119.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_135202.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_135708.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_142321.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_152626.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-9, #splide-thumb-9 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_135119.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_135119.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_135202.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_135202.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_135708.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_135708.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_142321.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_142321.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_152626.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_152626.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_143803.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_143803.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail to Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Not long after the intersection of Trail 3\/4, I found some boulders (p1 below) a short detour from the trail. After finding a path through the boulders (that required minimal bushwacking), I reached a vista of Cathedral Spires (p2-3 below). Had it been in the morning, the rocks of Cathedral Spires would be in the light, which would make them look more picturesque.<\/p>\n<p>After that, on both OpenStreetMap and AllTrails Map, there was a turnoff from Trail 4 serving as a shortcut to &#8220;Cathedral Spires Trail&#8221;. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(OpenStreetMap marked it as &#8220;Old Harney Peak Trail&#8221;.)<\/span> This would come in handy if I decide to check out &#8220;Needles Other Eye&#8221;. I scouted around the area, set a few steps into the bushes, but I couldn&#8217;t identify that trail. Even if it existed, I concluded the trail would be overgrown and hard to travel on. As a result, I remained on the main trail.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_140421.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_140421.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7914.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7914.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Hills<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7915.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7915.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cathedral Spires<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7920.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7920.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cathedral Spires<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Later along the trail, closer to Little Devils Tower, viewed from a different angle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-10\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_140421.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7914.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7915.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7920.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-10, #splide-thumb-10 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_140421.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_140421.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7914.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7914.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Hills<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7915.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7915.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cathedral Spires<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7920.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7920.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cathedral Spires<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Later along the trail, closer to Little Devils Tower, viewed from a different angle.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Figuring there was still enough daylight left, I decided to check out Little Devil&#8217;s Tower, adding 1.2km to my hike. (Here came another advantage of the clockwise hike as I reached the spur to Little Devil&#8217;s Tower after summitting Black Elk Peak, so I could decide on whether to take on Little Devil&#8217;s Tower based on how I felt.)<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"Little_Devil8217s_Tower\">Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/span><\/h4>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7927C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7927C11.jpg\" alt=\"Deer near Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Deer near Trail<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">There were a few others deeper into the bush, this was the only one that showed the slightest interest in my camera.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_144709.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_144709.jpg\" alt=\"Trail to Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail to Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">The final part of the trail to Little Devil&#8217;s Tower involved some scrambling, which I would rate as YDS class 2 (only one of the moves might be pushing YDS class 3). This was one of the (more) technical spots where one had to fit through the gap between boulders.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7930.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7930.jpg\" alt=\"Rocks\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rocks<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Along the trail. Maybe they were some mineral given their lovely pink colors.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Named after its bigger brother in Montana (which I would visit in 2 days), Little Devil&#8217;s Tower only resembled a rock tower when looked from the north, and hence the word &#8220;little&#8221; in its name. But while Devil&#8217;s Tower in Montana required proper climbing gear \/ technique to summit, Little Devil&#8217;s Tower took just a simple hike <del>(with minimal scrambling)<\/del> to reach its top. Nonetheless, the scramble was the most technical part of the loop hike (which showed how easy it was to reach Black Elk Peak), so it wasn&#8217;t nearly as popular as Black Elk Peak. During my visit, I only shared Little Devil&#8217;s Tower with one other group.<\/p>\n<p>As for the views, Little Devil&#8217;s Tower sure had some to rival the ones from Black Elk Peak. From its summit, Black Elk Peak towered above various granite rocks to the north, and Cathedral Spires were the prominent presence to the south. In my opinion this detour was totally worthwhile.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7949.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7949.jpg\" alt=\"Black Elk Peak from Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Elk Peak from Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7950.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7950.jpg\" alt=\"Black Elk Peak from Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><\/br>Black Elk Peak from Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7952.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7952.jpg\" alt=\"Hills to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hills to the Northwest<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7966.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7966.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cathedral Spires<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7932.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7932.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Hill<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the North of Cathedral Spires.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7934.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7934.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A giant gap to the west of Cathedral Spires,<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7967.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7967.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders to the West<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7968.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7968.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7970.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7970.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-11\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7949.jpg\" alt=\"Black Elk Peak from Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7950.jpg\" alt=\"Black Elk Peak from Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7952.jpg\" alt=\"Hills to the Northwest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7966.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7932.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7934.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7967.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7968.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7970.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-11, #splide-thumb-11 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Little Devil&#8217;s Tower.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7949.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7949.jpg\" alt=\"Black Elk Peak from Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Elk Peak from Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7950.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7950.jpg\" alt=\"Black Elk Peak from Little Devil's Tower\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Black Elk Peak from Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7952.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7952.jpg\" alt=\"Hills to the Northwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hills to the Northwest<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7966.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7966.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cathedral Spires<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7932.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7932.jpg\" alt=\"Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Hill<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the North of Cathedral Spires.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7934.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7934.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hills\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Hills<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A giant gap to the west of Cathedral Spires,<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7967.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7967.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders to the West<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7968.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7968.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the West\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the West<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7970.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7970.jpg\" alt=\"Mountains to the Southwest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Mountains to the Southwest<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7936_DSC_7948-13.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7936_DSC_7948-13.jpg\" alt=\"View from Little Devils Tower to the North\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7955_DSC_7964-10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7955_DSC_7964-10.jpg\" alt=\"View from Little Devil's Tower to the East\" \/><\/a><\/br>View from Little Devil&#8217;s Tower<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">To the North (top) and East (bottom).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p>After about 25 minutes at Little Devil&#8217;s Tower, I started to head back. Foliage colors were abundant, but apart from that the remainder of the trail offered few views.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_153328.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_153328.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"Forest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Forest<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_153740.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_153740.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_153800.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_153800.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"Forest\" \/><\/a><\/br>Forest<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_154033.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_154033.jpg\" width=\"94%\" alt=\"Meadow and Boulders\" \/><\/a><\/br>Meadow and Boulders<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_153423.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_153423.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_155137.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_155137.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Unlike earlier today, the views weren&#8217;t as great along this part of the trail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7971.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7971.jpg\" width=\"93.7%\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Towards the end there were some giant boulders close to the trail. This one was particularly interesting as there was a small &#8220;needle hole&#8221; in the upper-right.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7974.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7974.jpg\" width=\"96.8%\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Towards the end there were some giant boulders close to the trail.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-12\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_153328.jpg\" alt=\"Forest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_153740.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_153800.jpg\" alt=\"Forest\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_154033.jpg\" alt=\"Meadow and Boulders\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_153423.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7971.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7974.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-12, #splide-thumb-12 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_153328.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_153328.jpg\" alt=\"Forest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Forest<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_153740.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_153740.jpg\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Trail<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_153800.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_153800.jpg\" alt=\"Forest\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Forest<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_154033.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_154033.jpg\" alt=\"Meadow and Boulders\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Meadow and Boulders<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_153423.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_153423.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_155137.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_155137.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Trail\" \/><\/a><\/br>Trail<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Unlike earlier today, the views weren&#8217;t as great along this part of the trail.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7971.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7971.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Towards the end there were some giant boulders close to the trail. This one was particularly interesting as there was a small &#8220;needle hole&#8221; in the upper-right.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7974.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7974.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Towards the end there were some giant boulders close to the trail.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>In the end, I got back to the trailhead at 4:05pm, finishing the hike in just over 5 hours.<br \/>\nWith enough daylight left, I decided to check out Sylvan Lake, located next to the trailhead. The loop trail around the lake was just over 1 mile long, a perfect option for those that were not into more strenuous hikes.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"Sylvan_Lake\">Sylvan Lake<\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7818.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7818.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken before my hike in the morning. The light was better looking west.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_161123.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_161123.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7976.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7976.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_162526.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_162526.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_163332.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_163332.jpg\" width=\"82.8%\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Its southern shore wasn&#8217;t as rocky.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7981.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7981.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hill along Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Hill along Sylvan Lake<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-13\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7818.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_161123.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7976.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_162526.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_163332.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7981.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hill along Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-13, #splide-thumb-13 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of Sylvan Lake.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7818.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7818.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Taken before my hike in the morning. The light was better looking west.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_161123.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_161123.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7976.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7976.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_162526.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_162526.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_163332.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_163332.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Its southern shore wasn&#8217;t as rocky.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7981.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7981.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Hill along Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Hill along Sylvan Lake<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Portions of the lake&#8217;s shore, particularly the northern and northwestern part, were made of boulders that extended into the lake (like peninsulas). I found it a pleasure to rest on these boulders while enjoying the glittering wrinkles of the lake (together with my snacks).<\/p>\n<p>Some striking boulders (p1-2 below) defined the western boundary of the lake, beyond which it fed into Sunday Gulch Creek. In my opinion this was supposed to be controlled by a dam (p4 and p6 below), but interestingly, a small crack in the boulders (p3 below) allowed some water to escape.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7979.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7979.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders along Sylvan Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Some giant boulders formed the western bank of Sylvan Lake.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7993.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7993.jpg\" width=\"96%\" alt=\"Boulders along Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders along Sylvan Lake<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">In the center of this photo was a tiny gap between the boulders. I believed some water was leaking out behind that gap, forming a waterfall.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_162815.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_162815.jpg\" width=\"47.6%\" alt=\"Small Waterfall\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_162801.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_162801.jpg\" width=\"47.6%\" alt=\"Small Waterfall\" \/><\/a><\/br>Small Waterfall<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Behind the boulders that formed the western bank of Sylvan Lake, where some water was leaking out. Viewed up-close (right) and from a distance (left).<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_162942.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_162942.jpg\" width=\"95.5%\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake Dam\" \/><\/a><\/br>Sylvan Lake Dam<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_163051.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_163051.jpg\" width=\"47.6%\" alt=\"Small Rock Tunnel\" \/><\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_163134.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_163134.jpg\" width=\"47.6%\" alt=\"Small Rock Tunnel\" \/><\/a><\/br>Small Rock Tunnel<\/br>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">I could fully appreciate how popular the region was with tunnels, the short loop trail around Lake Sylvan featured one.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_163257.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_163257.jpg\" width=\"95.5%\" alt=\"Overlooking Sylvan Lake Dam\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Sylvan Lake Dam<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-14\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7979.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7993.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_162815.jpg\" alt=\"Small Waterfall\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_162942.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake Dam\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_163134.jpg\" alt=\"Small Rock Tunnel\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_163257.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Sylvan Lake Dam\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-14, #splide-thumb-14 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the boulders surrounding Sylvan Lake.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7979.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7979.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders along Sylvan Lake<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Some giant boulders formed the western bank of Sylvan Lake.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7993.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7993.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders along Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders along Sylvan Lake<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">In the center of this photo was a tiny gap between the boulders. I believed some water was leaking out behind that gap, forming a waterfall.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_162815.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_162815.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Small Waterfall\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_162801.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_162801.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Small Waterfall\" \/><\/a><\/br>Small Waterfall<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">Behind the boulders that formed the western bank of Sylvan Lake, where some water was leaking out. Viewed up-close (left) and from a distance (right).<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_162942.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_162942.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake Dam\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sylvan Lake Dam<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_163051.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_163051.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Small Rock Tunnel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_163134.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-m\/20230921_163134.jpg\" width=\"49%\" alt=\"Small Rock Tunnel\" \/><\/a><\/br>Small Rock Tunnel<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">I could fully appreciate how popular the region was with tunnels, the short loop trail around Lake Sylvan featured one.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_163257.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_163257.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Sylvan Lake Dam\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Sylvan Lake Dam<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7982_DSC_7992-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7982_DSC_7992-11.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvan Lake\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Sylvan Lake<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"Needles_Highway\">Needles Highway<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Just before 5pm, I left Sylvan Lake and started driving east along Needles Highway. Below is a timelapse video from my windshield-mounted GoPro, recording my entire drive through Needles Highway for the day, starting from Pactola Lake in the morning.<\/p>\n<p><video controls width=\"100%\" poster=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/Needles_Thumb.jpg\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/Needles_Highway_2160p30_H265_14Mbps.mp4\"><\/video><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: x-small;\">12 minutes and 49 seconds, 2160p30fps, H265 only, 14Mbps\/1.4GB.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left;line-height: 100%\">\n<li>0:00 Leaving Pactola Lake Visitor Center.<\/li>\n<li>2:33 Hill City<\/li>\n<li>3:23 Entering Needles Highway from the west (US385).<\/li>\n<li>4:58 Hood Tunnel<\/li>\n<li>5:42 Ticket booth of Custer State Park, near Sylvan Lake.<\/li>\n<li>The video continues after my hike to Black Elk Peak, as I continued east along Needles Highway.<\/li>\n<li>6:13 Needles Eye Tunnel. The only part of the video that&#8217;s not sped up.<\/li>\n<li>7:34 Cathedral Spires Trailhead<\/li>\n<li>8:23 Needles Scenic View. The last scenic overlook along Needles Highway (if heading east).<\/li>\n<li>9:36 Iron Creek Tunnel<\/li>\n<li>11:14 Leaving Needles Highway and onto South Playhouse Road (as I headed back towards Rapid City). A deer along the road causing some traffic jam.<\/li>\n<li>11:27 Spotted another deer crossing the road.<\/li>\n<li>The video ends shortly after I headed onto North Playhouse Road from US 16A.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While I drove the portions of Needles Highway from US16 to Sylvan Lake in the morning, the highlight of Needles Highway was immediately to its east, at a place called &#8220;Needles Eye&#8221;.<br \/>\nHere an elongated opening appeared in one of the &#8220;needles&#8221;, resembling the shape of a sewing needle and hence the name. If looked from the right angle (p3 below), one could find an additional smaller &#8220;eye&#8221; next to the big &#8220;eye&#8221;.<br \/>\nNext to the &#8220;Needles Eye&#8221; was &#8220;Needles Eye Tunnel&#8221;. This was the longest of three tunnels along Needles Highway; it also had the highest &#8220;needles&#8221; surrounding it. Given the popularity of &#8220;Needles Eye&#8221; it&#8217;s prone to traffic jams. Towards its west was a small parking lot where &#8220;Needles Eye&#8221; was just a few steps away.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8000.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8000.jpg\" alt=\"Needles Eye Tunnel\" \/><\/a><\/br>Needles Eye Tunnel<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7996.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7996.jpg\" alt=\"Needles Eye Tunnel\" \/><\/a><\/br>Needles Eye Tunnel<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7999.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7999.jpg\" width=\"96.4%\" alt=\"Needles Eye\" \/><\/a><\/br>Needles Eye<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">There was a second smaller eye next to the big eye.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-15\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8000.jpg\" alt=\"Needles Eye Tunnel\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7996.jpg\" alt=\"Needles Eye Tunnel\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_7999.jpg\" alt=\"Needles Eye\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-15, #splide-thumb-15 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the Needles Eye and Surrounding Tunnel.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8000.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8000.jpg\" alt=\"Needles Eye Tunnel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Needles Eye Tunnel<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7996.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7996.jpg\" alt=\"Needles Eye Tunnel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Needles Eye Tunnel<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_7999.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_7999.jpg\" alt=\"Needles Eye\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Needles Eye<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">There was a second smaller eye next to the big eye.<\/span><\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After crossing through Needles Eye Tunnel, there was an overlook to view its entrance from the east. Interestingly, I identified a few small openings in the surrounding boulders (p2-3 below).<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8002.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8002.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Needles Eye Tunnel\" \/><\/a><\/br>Needles Eye Tunnel<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Viewed from the east.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8003.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8003.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Another tiny needle eye in the upper-right.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8005.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8005.jpg\" width=\"92.5%\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><\/br>Boulders<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The area just wasn&#8217;t short of holes in boulders. There was one in the upper-left.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8004.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8004.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Fields to the South<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-16\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8002.jpg\" alt=\"Needles Eye Tunnel\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8003.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8005.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8004.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-16, #splide-thumb-16 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8002.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8002.jpg\" alt=\"Needles Eye Tunnel\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Needles Eye Tunnel<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Viewed from the east.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8003.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8003.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Another tiny needle eye in the upper-right.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8005.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8005.jpg\" alt=\"Boulders\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Boulders<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The area just wasn&#8217;t short of holes in boulders. There was one in the upper-left.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8004.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8004.jpg\" alt=\"Fields to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Fields to the South<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Next, I made a stop at &#8220;Cathedral Spires Trailhead&#8221;. If one was only interested in Cathedral Spires (not the full loop that I took today) then this was the most convenient trailhead. But it had very limited parking.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-17\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8009.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8009.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires and Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cathedral Spires and Rocky Hill<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8010.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8010.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><\/br>Cathedral Spires<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8011.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8011.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rocky Hill<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8007.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8007.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Spires\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rock Spires<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-17\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8009.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires and Rocky Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8010.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8011.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8007.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Spires\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-17, #splide-thumb-17 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from Cathedral Spires Trailhead.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8009.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8009.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires and Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cathedral Spires and Rocky Hill<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8010.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8010.jpg\" alt=\"Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Cathedral Spires<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8011.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8011.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rocky Hill<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8007.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8007.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Spires\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rock Spires<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>A few mountain goats were standing on top of one of the boulders, drawing a sizable crowd. This was the first time that I saw wild goats in years, so I naturally switched on my telephoto lens and joined the crowd. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">The following photos were cropped to 850mm equivalent.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-18\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8013C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8013C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/a><\/br>Goats<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8014C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8014C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/a><\/br>Goats<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8015C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8015C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/a><\/br>Goats<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8016C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8016C11.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/a><\/br>Goats<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-18\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8013C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8014C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8015C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8016C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-18, #splide-thumb-18 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the goats near Cathedral Spire Trailhead.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8013C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8013C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Goats<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8014C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8014C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Goats<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8015C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8015C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Goats<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8016C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8016C11.jpg\" alt=\"Goats\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Goats<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Leaving Cathedral Spire Trailhead, my final stop along Needles Highway was &#8220;Needles Scenic View&#8221;. In my opinion, this was the last (first if coming from the east) overlook with scenic views along Needles Highway. <span style=\"font-size: small;\">The views were sort of far as the following photos were still taken with my telephoto lens.<\/span> From this angle, the Cathedral Spires looked like distinct rock slabs, instead of a continuous group of towering boulders as seen earlier today.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-19\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8018C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8018C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Black Elk Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Black Elk Peak<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8017.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8017.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Cathedral Spires<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8020.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8020.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Cathedral Spires and Nearby Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Cathedral Spires and Nearby Rocky Hill<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8019.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8019.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><\/br>Rocky Hill<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-19\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8018C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Black Elk Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8017.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8020.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Cathedral Spires and Nearby Rocky Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8019.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-19, #splide-thumb-19 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos from &#8220;Needles Scenic View&#8221;.<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8018C11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8018C11.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Black Elk Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Black Elk Peak<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8017.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8017.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Cathedral Spires\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Cathedral Spires<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8020.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8020.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Cathedral Spires and Nearby Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Cathedral Spires and Nearby Rocky Hill<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8019.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8019.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky Hill\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Rocky Hill<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>After that, I made my way back to Rapid City. It&#8217;s about sunset time as I approached its outskirts. To the southwest of downtown Rapid City, a road (Skyline Drive) followed a mountain ridge. So I turned onto that road and found an overlook (Stonewall Overlook Trailhead), with views of various rolling hills to the west. Unfortunately, clouds were thick this afternoon so I didn&#8217;t see the actual sun setting behind the mountains.<\/p>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-major-20\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8023.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8023.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Black Elk Peak\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Black Elk Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Almost 32km\/20mi away, but I could still tell the distinctive shape of its fire tower.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8024.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8024.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><\/br>Distant Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The clouds felt rather thick from this angle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8039.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8039.jpg\" alt=\"Ellsworth Air Force Base\" \/><\/a><\/br>Ellsworth Air Force Base<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Not that hard to be a spy from Rapid\u2019s City\u2019s Skyline Park.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_184759.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_184759.jpg\" width=\"95.7%\" alt=\"Twilight Glow on Eastern Horizon\" \/><\/a><\/br>Twilight Glow on Eastern Horizon<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_185333.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_185333.jpg\" width=\"89%\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A break in the ridgeline between which Rapid Creek flew through.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_185347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_185347.jpg\" width=\"95.7%\" alt=\"Baken Park Shopping Plaza\" \/><\/a><\/br>Baken Park Shopping Plaza<\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_185337.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_185337.jpg\" width=\"95.7%\" alt=\"Overlooking Western Rapid City\" \/><\/a><\/br>Overlooking Western Rapid City<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"splide\" id=\"splide-thumb-20\">\n<div class=\"splide__track\">\n<ul class=\"splide__list\">\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8023.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Black Elk Peak\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8024.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountains to the South\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/DSC_8039.jpg\" alt=\"Ellsworth Air Force Base\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_184759.jpg\" alt=\"Twilight Glow on Eastern Horizon\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_185333.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_185347.jpg\" alt=\"Baken Park Shopping Plaza\" \/><\/li>\n<li class=\"splide__slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails-s\/20230921_185337.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Western Rapid City\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><br \/>\nJavascript not enabled, unable to display slideshow.<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#splide-major-20, #splide-thumb-20 { display:none; }\n<\/style>\n<details>\n<summary>Click here to display photos of the slideshow<\/summary>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8023.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8023.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Black Elk Peak\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Black Elk Peak<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Almost 32km\/20mi away, but I could still tell the distinctive shape of its fire tower.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8024.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8024.jpg\" alt=\"Distant Mountains to the South\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Distant Mountains to the South<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The clouds felt rather thick from this angle.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8039.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8039.jpg\" alt=\"Ellsworth Air Force Base\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Ellsworth Air Force Base<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Not that hard to be a spy from Rapid\u2019s City\u2019s Skyline Park.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_184759.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_184759.jpg\" alt=\"Twilight Glow on Eastern Horizon\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Twilight Glow on Eastern Horizon<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_185333.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_185333.jpg\" alt=\"Valley\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Valley<\/br><span style=\"font-size: small;\">A break in the ridgeline between which Rapid Creek flew through.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_185347.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_185347.jpg\" alt=\"Baken Park Shopping Plaza\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Baken Park Shopping Plaza<\/p><\/div>\n<p><div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921_185337.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/20230921_185337.jpg\" alt=\"Overlooking Western Rapid City\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>Overlooking Western Rapid City<\/p><\/div><br \/>\n<\/details>\n<p><\/noscript><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 615px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/DSC_8025_DSC_8031-7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/huangyizhou.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/2023\/09\/21\/thumbnails\/DSC_8025_DSC_8031-7.jpg\" alt=\"View from Stonewall Overlook\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><\/br>View from Stonewall Overlook<\/br><\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size: smaller;text-align: left\">I didn\u2019t want to change lens, so this panorama was taken with my telephoto lens at its widest 150mm, which was still a lot farther than what I was used to. As a result, only half of the panorama was shown here (south to east). The other half (east to north) lacked overlap between individual photos.<\/div>\n<p><\/p><\/div>\n<p>After that, I grabbed dinner along the way and concluded the day.<br \/>\nEND<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The third day of my autumn 2023 trip to the mountain states. I focused the day on Custer State Park, hiked to Black Elk Peak, South Dakota&#8217;s highest peak, in addition to checking out Needles Highway, a scenic&#8230; <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/21\/20230921black-elk\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[621,427,2],"tags":[623,625],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8140"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8140"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8749,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8140\/revisions\/8749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.huangyizhou.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}