Little Devils Tower
Another of my “Top Ten” summits in the Black Hills, is the Little Devils Tower, near Black Elk Peak, Cathedral Spires and Sylvan Lake. It is best accessed by the Little Devils Tower Trail, a spur trail from Trail 4. It works out to be about a 2 mile hike from the Sylvan Lake Trail 4 trailhead or 1.7 miles from the Little Devils Tower trailhead on the Needles highway (87), and hikers will see over 800 feet of elevation gain that will include some Class 3 rock scrambling at the summit. This hike is probably best rated as intermediate. And, if you still have some energy left, the trail junction for Trail 4 & the Little Devils Tower Trail is quite close to the trail junction with the Cathedral Spires Trail – a relatively easy hike if you approach it from this end. To keep it easy, this option should just be an “out-and-back” to view the spires.
The views from the summit rival those at the summit of Black Elk Peak, only a mile north. If you have binoculars or a good telephoto on your camera, you can usually see people walking around the summit area of Black Elk Peak. Other peaks clearly in view include Sylvan Peak, 4 miles to the west; Mount Coolidge to the south, Old Baldy Mountain behind Mount Rushmore, plus the back side of Mount Rushmore. The town of Custer is clearly in view to the south.
To get to Little Devils Tower from Custer, take Highway 89 seven miles north to the Sylvan Lake Trail 4 trailhead, or 1 mile further on Highway 87 to the Little Devils Tower trailhead. From Hill City, take Highway 16 south for 3 miles, then 6 miles on Highway 87 to the Sylvan Lake trailhead for Trail 4, or another mile to the Little Devils Tower trailhead. If you are parking at the Sylvan Lake Day Use Area, Trail 4 starts at the southeast corner of the day use parking lot. A route map is included among the photos below. Custer State Park offers a pdf downloadable trails guide and map. You can download your copy by clicking here:
Custer State Park Trails Guide
The views from the summit rival those at the summit of Black Elk Peak, only a mile north. If you have binoculars or a good telephoto on your camera, you can usually see people walking around the summit area of Black Elk Peak. Other peaks clearly in view include Sylvan Peak, 4 miles to the west; Mount Coolidge to the south, Old Baldy Mountain behind Mount Rushmore, plus the back side of Mount Rushmore. The town of Custer is clearly in view to the south.
To get to Little Devils Tower from Custer, take Highway 89 seven miles north to the Sylvan Lake Trail 4 trailhead, or 1 mile further on Highway 87 to the Little Devils Tower trailhead. From Hill City, take Highway 16 south for 3 miles, then 6 miles on Highway 87 to the Sylvan Lake trailhead for Trail 4, or another mile to the Little Devils Tower trailhead. If you are parking at the Sylvan Lake Day Use Area, Trail 4 starts at the southeast corner of the day use parking lot. A route map is included among the photos below. Custer State Park offers a pdf downloadable trails guide and map. You can download your copy by clicking here:
Custer State Park Trails Guide
Hope says: My hiking ability has greatly diminished since spring of 2010 and I must say I miss much of what I once enjoyed. If you are able, and, while there is still access…be it no natural catastrophes or acts of congress that have removed free access to the public…I encourage all to enjoy the more difficult routes we have highlighted on this site.
Little Devil’s Tower is one of these: This is a trail (not quite as difficult as Harney Peak, but very close), which I fear I will not be on again; yet in 2009, after one big attack of my MS and some loss of mobility but before the 2010 flare-up which took a toll on my eyes’ light sensitivity as well as more of my balancing abilities…the areas of Little Devil’s Tower, Harney Peak and Cathedral Spires were always a joy to get into the heart of. Now, I am thankful it is still a beauty to behold with the eyes…and very, very thankful for the pictures and memories so that I do not need to fight traffic or the sun during the height of the longest viewing and hiking days! We do not know what the days ahead will have for us; I am encouraged to take advantage of each moment I’ve been given. Today is truly a gift from God!
Little Devil’s Tower is one of these: This is a trail (not quite as difficult as Harney Peak, but very close), which I fear I will not be on again; yet in 2009, after one big attack of my MS and some loss of mobility but before the 2010 flare-up which took a toll on my eyes’ light sensitivity as well as more of my balancing abilities…the areas of Little Devil’s Tower, Harney Peak and Cathedral Spires were always a joy to get into the heart of. Now, I am thankful it is still a beauty to behold with the eyes…and very, very thankful for the pictures and memories so that I do not need to fight traffic or the sun during the height of the longest viewing and hiking days! We do not know what the days ahead will have for us; I am encouraged to take advantage of each moment I’ve been given. Today is truly a gift from God!
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6