10-9-25, 12:30 PM – What a ruckus! Both thrilled and amazed, Lupe was barking frantically. Not to be outdone, Cousin Dixie was barking while leaping for joy. Oh, happy day! Uncle Joe, Aunt Andrea and Cousin Dixie had just arrived from Colorado.
Hotel Lupe’s welcome package included ice cream for all. Outdoor fun commenced a short while later with a Geyser Loop romp through the park. Excited as she could be, Cousin Dixie kept dashing in and out of a mucky stream, repeatedly emerging as a black-pawed Aussie.
10-10-25, 10:21 AM – As expected, after getting all settled in at Hotel Lupe yesterday, the main event of every subsequent day that Cousin Dixie was around was destined to feature at least one adventure in the Black Hills. After breakfast, Uncle Joe had asked SPHP for suggestions on something easy, scenic, and not too long to start out with.
How about a hike around Sylvan Lake? This proposition was readily agreed to by all.
Sylvan Lake was an excellent idea! However, upon arrival, unexpected trail maintenance made fully executing the loop plan impossible. The portion of the trail around the lake that went below the dam was closed. No loop for the Loopster, or anyone else, permitted!
Nothing to do but make the best of the situation. A horseshoe pattern would still work! Starting out along the SW side of the lake close to the store’s parking lot, Lupe led everyone NW along the broad gravel path that went to the dam.
After visiting the dam, everyone headed back counter-clockwise almost clear around the lake over to rock formations that weren’t that far from the other end of the dam.
After taking in the view, this end of the horseshoe also had to be retraced clear back to Shadow waiting at the parking lot. Fine and dandy, happily the horseshoe technique had worked. Never really was any doubt about it. However, there had been another drawback to the Sylvan Lake trail. Quite justifiably, a throng of other people and dogs were at this popular destination. Cousin Dixie really would have preferred to be freer to roam and burn off some 2 year old Aussie energy.
So where to? Even having to do nearly the entire Sylvan Lake loop trail twice hadn’t taken long at all. Plenty of time to explore another trail.
Lots of terrific trails are accessible from the Sylvan Lake area, but they would likely be busy, too. No worries! SPHP had the answer – a trek along Centennial Trail No. 89, either N or S, from the Iron Creek Horse Camp trailhead. A bit of a drive, but a very scenic one along Needles Highway No. 87. Wouldn’t take that long to get there, and cousins Dixie and Lupe would own the trail! SPHP was sure of it.
10-10-25, 11:46 AM, Iron Creek Horse Camp Trailhead, Centennial Trail No. 89 – Ahh, yes! This was looking good! Shadow was the only vehicle in the small parking lot at the trailhead. The only question now was, which way? N farther into the Black Elk Wilderness, or S away from it?
N into the wilderness was more scenic – full of big granite formations. On the other paw, S would be easier terrain. Really nothing too difficult either way, and complete privacy was highly likely in both directions.
N it was, by unanimous consent! Following the trail up over a small rise, it then quickly descended to Iron Creek. Dixie promptly waded into a mucky pool upstream of a makeshift bridge. This experience was much to Cousin Dixie’s liking, even if not greeted with the same enthusiasm by Uncle Joe and Aunt Andrea.
Temporarily muddy paws were no big deal. The adventure continued! Some fall colors were on display, although admittedly already past their prime. Centennial Trail No. 89 wound gradually higher through a quiet valley. Soon enough, the trail steepened, climbing into the region of big granite formations.
A short break was taken near one of the smaller rock formations. Uncle Joe provided water, cheese sticks, and energy bars to interested parties. SPHP had apples available. Continuing on, the trail wound past more rock formations, eventually coming to a junction where Centennial Trail No. 89 shared a short stretch ahead with Grizzly Creek Trail No. 7.
It was only a few hundred feet to where the trails parted ways again. At this point there was some discussion of which route to take from here, or whether to simply call this good, and head back?
Sticking with Centennial Trail No. 89 a little farther won out.
0.3 mile led to a minor pass, which became the turnaround point. This pass was nearly to a junction with the Centennial Bypass Trail, which goes to the picnic ground on Iron Mountain (5,451 ft.). However, that destination would have been significantly farther.
On the way back, another stop was made at the granite formation where the rest break had been taken earlier. No food, this time. Instead a bit of scrambling around on the rocks was in order. It was view appreciation time! (End 10-10-25, 2:15 PM)
10-11-25, 10:03 AM – Since Centennial Trail No. 89 had been such a hit yesterday, SPHP suggested another trail, even more remote, for today’s romp in the Black Hills. Nearly a year and a half ago, Dixie, Joe, Andrea and Lupe had set out along Deerfield Lake Loop Trail No. 40L from the Gold Run trailhead, and explored a section of the 11 mile long loop that circumnavigates the entire lake.
Why not pick up from where Dixie and the gang had left off back then? The Deerfield Reservoir dam would be only 2 or 3 miles farther. Lupe had actually been there with her friend Poppy in late April this year. It was an easy trek.
So that became the plan. Dixie was thrilled to be off-leash in the Black Hills again! Trails close to where she lives in Colorado are much more restrictive.
Starting near Deerfield Cove Road (USFS Road No. 607), Deerfield Lake Loop Trail No. 40L was a gentle downhill stroll virtually all the way to Castle Creek. A tiny stream that was easily rock-hopped a couple of times was the only obstacle along the way.
Castle Creek went through a culvert, so there was no need to ford it. Just beyond Castle Creek, a short stint on USFS Road No. 307 led to a view of the Deerfield Reservoir discharge pipes from the gaging station at the base of the dam. Water shot out of the duel pipes with impressive force.
A steepish side road with a single big switchback provided easy access to the top of the dam.
The best view of Deerfield Reservoir was over at the SE end of the dam. An open slope nearby was a good spot to take a break.
Once again, Uncle Joe provided cheese sticks and energy bars. SPHP still had apples available, plus water and Taste of the Wild for the dogs. Not entirely satisfied, Lupe and Dixie selfishly conspired to devour most of SPHP’s cheese stick, too.
Back in April, when Lupe had been here with Poppy, HV & LV, she’d gone as far as the end of the N bay, which really wasn’t all that much farther. Today, when the rest break was over, everyone headed back across the dam in that general direction, but only went as far as the first hill NW of the dam. From there, a circle was made back to the E in order to pick up Deerfield Lake Loop Trail No. 40L again.
Starting the trek S back to Shadow, this part of the trail went right by a terrific view of the Deerfield Reservoir dam with Castle Creek below it. (End, 10-11-25, 12:51 PM)
Once back at Shadow, that was it for today’s adventure in the Black Hills, but Uncle Joe had another plan up his sleeve. He’d brought his portable ham radio, and wanted to make some ham contacts from Dinosaur Hill (3,673 ft.) in Rapid City.
Evidently, Cousin Dixie and Aunt Andrea weren’t much into ham radio. They preferred spending the rest of their day relaxing at Hotel Lupe. However, fondly remembering the glory days of Uncle Joe’s ham radio adventures from various Black Hills peaks with Summits on the Air, Lupe and SPHP tagged along.
Dinosaur Hill wasn’t the best ham radio spot. Farther S along Skyline Drive, the ridge Dinosaur Hill was part of was even higher. Better yet, there was even a parking lot right up on the crest of the ridge.
After attaching a 17 foot long telescoping antenna to the top of his car with a magnetic base, it wasn’t long before Uncle Joe was ready to start transmitting and receiving.
Unfortunately, no Summits on the Air operation today. Years ago, Uncle Joe had lost his ability to log into that system under his old account for some unknown reason. That meant no huge radio traffic jam of other ham operators trying to make contact with him. Nevertheless, Joe did make successful Morse Code contacts with other ham radio operators in Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, and California.
While Joe entertained himself with the radio, Lupe and SPHP admired the views of Rapid City and the Black Hills.
10-12-25, 1:33 PM – How time flies when you’re having fun! Cousin Dixie’s last day in the Black Hills before having to head back home to Arvada, Colorado had already arrived. A scenic jaunt from the Spring Creek trailhead up to Centennial Trail No. 89 at the Sheridan Lake dam was on tap this afternoon as Dixie’s final adventure of this visit.
The trail to Sheridan Lake began with a bit of rockiness along Spring Creek, but once past that one spot, this was another super easy route.
Most of this spur trail wasn’t that close to Spring Creek as it wound up a deep valley. However, it did cross the creek at several points along the way. Lupe and SPHP hadn’t been here in a while, and were surprised to see new, gently arched bridges with handrails at each crossing.
Part of Sheridan Lake dam was already visible from the last bridge over Spring Creek. Once up to it, everyone crossed the dam to return to a spot previously reached along Centennial Trail No. 89 while coming from the Dakota Point trailhead during Cousin Dixie’s last visit in October, 2024.
Heading back across the dam, the plan was to continue S on Centennial Trail No. 89 along the SE shore of Sheridan Lake. Actually, somewhat above it. Most of the time, the trail stayed 20 to 30 feet above lake level.
The whole pack got almost to the Flume trailhead at Blue Wing before turning back. And that was it for Cousin Dixie’s adventures in the Black Hills with Lupe on this visit. One last evening of fun and togetherness at Hotel Lupe remained, but farewells were destined to take place shortly after dawn tomorrow morning. (End 10-12-25, 3:47 PM)
Oh, it had all been such fun! Lupe and SPHP look forward to hosting Uncle Joe, Aunt Andrea, and Cousin Dixie at Hotel Lupe again.
Links:
Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition
Lupe & Cousin Dixie’s GPS Tracks:
CT No. 89 N from the Iron Creek Horse Camp (10-10-25)
Deerfield Reservoir Dam (10-11-25)
Spring Creek to Sheridan Lake (10-12-25)
Centennial Trail No. 89 Map & Brochure
Deerfield Trails No. 40 & No. 40L Map & Brochure
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