8:59 AM, 42ºF, Hwy 14A in Spearfish Canyon –
That must be it, Loop! I’ll find a place to turn around.
A mile up Spearfish Canyon from the old brick power plant on Spearfish Creek near the new Devil’s Bathtub trailhead, driving slowly, SPHP had seen a narrow crack in the limestone cliff off to the R. That crack was the entrance to locally famous Eleven Hour Gulch, which neither Lupe nor SPHP had ever been to before.
Turning around, SPHP parked at a small paved pullout on the creek side of Hwy 14A less than 200 feet down the canyon from the crack. Leaping out of the RAV4, Lupe discovered a cute memorial to Les Benth attached to an old tree stump next to the pullout.
Venturing down the steep bank next to the pullout, Lupe had a quick drink from lovely Spearfish Creek, which had excellent flow this fine morning, prior to returning to Hwy 14A.
So, we’re not climbing any Lists of John peaks today, SPHP?
Nope. Well, maybe one, if we have time, Loop. Instead, we’re going to check out Eleven Hour Gulch, although this might not be the best time of year for it. Most of the pictures I’ve seen online have been taken during the winter when it looks like there are some awesome frozen waterfalls.
Might not be much left of them by now, SPHP. Already almost April!
Yeah, I know it, but no time like the present. Let’s have a look, shall we?
Crossing Hwy 14A, Lupe followed the road up to a trail that went past a few trees hiding a narrow gap between vertical limestone walls. The Carolina Dog had barely entered Eleven Hour Gulch when a remnant of a frozen waterfall came into sight ahead.
A small stream running down the gulch presented no big problems, but in the recesses of this narrow slot canyon where the sun rarely shines, quite a bit of ice was mixed in among the jumble of rocks that led up to the frozen waterfall.
The sheets of ice were hard, wet, and super slick, making what should have been an easy little scramble much trickier than it otherwise would have been. Even Lupe with her 4 on the floor could scarcely maintain traction, but exercising a bit of caution, the American Dingo made it up to the base of the frozen waterfall.
Even this late in the season after a dry winter, it was pretty impressive!
Wow! This is awesome, SPHP! We’ve never seen anything quite like this anywhere else in the Black Hills.
I have to agree, Loop. Really different! And so close to the highway, too!
The narrow canyon extended a little beyond the frozen waterfall to a pool of water at the base of a 10 foot drop where a crude wooden ladder led to an as yet unseen upper region. SPHP boosted Lupe nearly to the top of the ladder, where she was able to scramble the rest of the way up to the hidden territory above.
The upper canyon angled slightly toward the R, revealing a massive ice plug beneath a huge boulder lodged between the canyon walls only a short distance ahead. Exploring all the way to the ice plug, daylight could be seen above it from beneath the boulder.
Guess this is it, Loopster. We aren’t going to be able to get past this.
Wonder how far up Eleven Hour Gulch we could go once the ice melts? Don’t you, SPHP?
I do! We’re going to find out, too, Loop!
We are? How, SPHP? You just said yourself that we can’t go any farther.
You’ll see soon enough, Looper. C’mon, let’s head back.
Mystified by SPHP’s cryptic answer, Lupe turned and started back down to the scenic frozen waterfall.
10:04 AM, 54ºF, Hwy 14A, back at the RAV4 – Leaving the pullout, SPHP turned the RAV4 around, driving farther up Spearfish Canyon.
Eleven Hour Gulch was very cool, SPHP, but isn’t very well named. Only took us an hour to explore it! Maybe we can come back sometime in the winter? Really would be a wonderland then, and maybe a little safer with some snow over the ice to provide better traction.
Think you’re right about that, Loop. Explains why I’ve seen only winter photos online. We got just a taste of what Eleven Hour Gulch would be like then this morning, but you’re wrong about Eleven Hour Gulch only taking us an hour to explore. We’ve only seen the short lower gulch so far, no doubt the heart of its scenic splendor, but we’re just getting started.
We are, SPHP?
Yup. We’re going to explore the upper gulch next! All the way back down to the ice plug, if possible. You’re going to be an Eleven Hour Gulch expert, Looper, by the time we’re done today!
11:20 AM, 64ºF, junction of Tinton Road and USFS Road No. 134.2L – Odd. For some reason, USFS Road No. 222 going W past Roughlock Falls from Savoy was closed, forcing a huge detour. A lovely scenic drive, but it had taken an entire hour to get into position to explore the upper reaches of Eleven Hour Gulch. After parking the RAV4, SPHP checked the map.
Hmm. Guess I could have driven a little farther, Looper, we actually want USFS Road No. 222.2F. Ought to be just up the hill.
Taking a primitive road paralleling Tinton Road NNE for 0.1 mile, Lupe quickly reached the top of a rise where they merged. On the other side of Tinton Road, several inches of slushy snow were melting away in a big open flat region. USFS Road No. 222.2F left Tinton Road here, angling sharply back to the S.
Instead of taking No. 222.2F, which was mucky, Lupe followed a drier open corridor that went SSW through the forest. This corridor was quite scenic. Lupe stuck with it a little way, but soon returned to No. 222.2F near an open gate.
Following No. 222.2F S from the gate, the road wasn’t as soft as it had been back at the start. Going gradually downhill, Lupe soon came to a fork. No. 222.2F climbed slightly as it veered off toward the SE, but Loop stuck with the other branch of the fork, which continued SSW, still going downhill. Before long, this more primitive road bottomed out. SPHP had another look at the map.
Loopster needed to turn SE here to get back to No. 222.2F. Leaving the primitive road, she gained just a little elevation following a faint trail through a forest of young aspens. By the time she reached a field at the end of the aspens, the terrain was sloping gently downhill. Terry Peak (7,064 ft.) was visible on the horizon.
OK, Loop! We’re now in the uppermost reaches of the Eleven Hour Gulch drainage.
Wow! This could hardly be any more different from the low end, SPHP.
That was for sure! USFS Road No. 222.2F was off toward the L side of the field along the base of a pine-covered hill. Angling toward it, Lupe was soon trotting easily down No. 222.2F again.
Continuing down the valley, more and more large patches of snow were seen melting away among the trees on the N slopes. Lupe finally came to a big patch right on the road. The snow was only a few inches deep, but that was plenty to frolic on while cooling off.
Following No. 222.2F for another 0.67 mile, Lupe came to a fork. Signage indicated that both branches were part of Loop D of the Big Hill cross country ski trail system.
Going uphill, USFS Road No. 222.2I curved off to the S (R) here. Lupe stuck with No. 222.2F, which went NE (L), continuing down the valley. A tiny creek soon appeared next to the road.
The downhill trek was super easy. Didn’t take long to go another 0.6 mile from the fork where Lupe had reached Loop D. At a slight bend in the road, the Carolina Dog came to a clearing where there was another junction. A map posted here showed that the trailhead for the Big Hill trail system was off to the NW.
The Big Hill trailhead might actually have been a closer starting point. Loop A came down to this junction through another part of the upper Eleven Hour Gulch drainage, but SPHP hadn’t known how easy these cross country ski trails were to follow.
Maybe Lupe could do some exploring that way during the return trip? For the time being, though, she just needed to keep following USFS Road No. 222.2F down the valley.
No. 222.2F headed ESE from this junction. According to the Big Hill Trail map, this stretch of the road was considered part of both Loops C and D. They parted ways only 0.33 mile ahead. There was a second map at this next junction, basically the same as the first one, except for the location of the “You Are Here” star.
This time, it was USFS Road No. 222.2F that veered off to the R (SE), now only part of Loop D again beyond this point. Looper finally left it here, taking No. 222.2L instead, which went straight ahead as part of Loop C.
No. 222.2L continued ESE for a little way before curving NE. The valley was narrower here, and no longer quite as shallow as before. Lupe soon came to a sign that wasn’t at any junction.
After snaking SE for a bit, a good 0.75 mile from where Lupe had left Loop D, No. 222.2L bottomed out at a clearing. Turning N, the road started uphill.
Alrighty, Loopster! This is where things get interesting. No roads or trails the rest of the way! Let’s hope we can do this.
Abandoning the road, Lupe entered the Eleven Hour Gulch wilderness.
Lupe had already gone a good 3 miles since leaving the RAV4. According to the topo map, the wild upper reaches of Eleven Hour Gulch went on for another 0.67 of a mile. Whether the American Dingo would come to impassable drops or other obstacles was a complete unknown.
Started out alright, but Eleven Hour Gulch soon narrowed after a turn to the W. Lupe came to a couple of feet of snow in this region. There were sudden drops, but only minor ones. Plenty of trees, rocks, and bushes to wind through. Progress was now very slow, but there was always a way through it all.
The snowy stretch wasn’t very long. Most of the snow vanished once Eleven Hour Gulch turned SW. A fair amount of deadfall was the main obstacle here. Sort of a mess, but it was still possible to make progress.
Loopster was more than halfway down the wild, upper section of Eleven Hour Gulch when the canyon curved SE. At this point, the valley became absolutely choked with large deadfall full of branches. No way through! Practically impossible.
The sides of the canyon were quite steep here, but staying toward the L, even SPHP was able to climb above the horrendous deadfall. Traversing the slope above the worst of it for several hundred feet, Lupe managed to get by. Returning to the valley floor, there was still some deadfall to contend with, along with some ice, but it was nothing compared to what she’d just circumvented.
Near the end, in an area full of brush, an odd sight appeared ahead. In the middle of seemingly nowhere, Lupe discovered a lamp post.
Why is this here, SPHP?
Beats me, Looper! Incredibly strange!
The lamp post was straight and tall. Looked to be in good condition, but did it work? Who knew? Seemed unlikely, to say the least. What would be the point, anyway?
Even before reaching the lamp post, a faint use trail had been detectable in some spots. It now became more distinct, winding among big rock formations. And then, suddenly, there it was!
A frozen waterfall was directly ahead. Not the tall, skinny waterfall Lupe had seen before down in the lower part of Eleven Hour Gulch. This frozen waterfall was wider, but shorter. It dropped down to the boulder Lupe had seen the ice plug beneath at the upper end of the lower gulch.
2:44 PM, overlooking the lower, more famous end of Eleven Hour Gulch –
This is it, SPHP! We’ve made it to the lower end of Eleven Hour Gulch! I can see the top of the tall frozen waterfall from here. That makes it about time for a chocolate coconut bar, doesn’t it?
Yup! Let’s go take a look at the tall frozen waterfall first, Loop, see what the lower gulch looks like from above. Then we’ll split a chocolate coconut bar, and you can have some Taste of the Wild, too.
Lupe’s Eleven Hour Gulch break spot was certainly unique. Where else can you see a frozen waterfall in the Black Hills? Maybe a few places along some creeks in the winter, but none as impressive at this one.
Wonder how many Dingoes have even been here, SPHP?
You mean up here looking down on the lower part of the gulch, Looper? Hard to say. Might not be all that difficult to get here from below once all the ice melts. Or maybe it isn’t that easy? Who knows? One thing for sure, there can’t be too many Dingoes that have ever explored the entire length of Eleven Hour Gulch!
After a leisurely rest break, the American Dingo had a little more to do here before starting back up the gulch. Loopster posed for a photo on the upper frozen waterfall prior to having another good look at the tall one. Sniffing around in the forest, she went far enough to look down on Hwy 14A and Spearfish Creek in Spearfish Canyon.
45 minutes after reaching the lower gulch overlook, Lupe started back up Eleven Hour Gulch. Her return route was exactly the same all the way back to the clearing at the bend in the road where all the Big Hill Loop trails met. At that point she left USFS Road No. 222.2F to explore parts of Loop A and Loop B.
The sun was sinking, but it was a beautiful evening. After leaving Loop A, Loop B eventually topped out at a flat region 0.33 mile SE of where the RAV4 was parked. Lupe stuck with it only until the trail curved NE and started downhill.
6:24 PM, 63ºF, junction of Tinton Road and USFS Road No. 134.2L – Rather than taking USFS Road No. 222.2F when she finally came across it again, Lupe continued off-trail straight for the RAV4. The gently rolling, thinly forested terrain was fun and easy to explore, but the American Dingo’s wonderful Eleven Hour Gulch adventure was now just about over. Nothing left but the beautiful drive home.
Well, wha’dya think, Loop? Made a day of it, didn’t we?
I had a great time, SPHP! Kind of a different Black Hills Expedition since we didn’t climb any peaks today, but we sure saw some unusual sights in the narrow slot canyon of the lower gulch. Eleven Hour Gulch is a Black Hills treasure hidden right off the highway!
Satisfied then, Loopster? Not feeling cheated, are you? Even counting driving time between the lower and upper gulches, Eleven Hour Gulch only took us a little shy of 9.5 hours. You didn’t get your full 11 hours in.
Oh, but I will, SPHP! Didn’t you say we could come back to the lower gulch sometime in the winter when it’s all snowy and the frozen waterfall is at its most glorious? We’ll finish our 11 hours then!
Sounds like a plan, sweet puppy!
Good! Let’s go home then, SPHP! I’m famished and ready for dinner.
Lupe treasures collected – 4 plastic bottles, 4 aluminum cans
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