Centennial Trail No. 89 – Page 6 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 235 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Deer Creek to Pilot Knob (9-29-18)

Start – 10:40 AM, 46 °F, Deer Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89

A week had shot by since Expedition No. 234 when Lupe had arrived at the Deer Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 on a warm, sunny afternoon. Now she was back. A cool, light S breeze rustled the newly yellow leaves of the aspen trees. The Carolina Dog was in high spirits! She was eager to continue her explorations along the Centennial Trail.

Lupe returns to the Deer Creek trailhead. The aspen trees were much yellower than they had been only a week ago. Even so, the fall colors didn’t appear to be quite at the season’s height yet.

Lupe lost no time setting off from the trailhead on the spur trail that winds W up a slope to the main trail.

Heading up the spur trail to the main trail. Photo looks W.

Five minutes on the spur trail brought Looper up to the junction with the main trail. She took the branch to the R (N) having already explored to this point from the S a week ago. Centennial Trail No. 89 started out crossing a relatively open area. Loop was still gaining elevation, though more gradually than on the spur trail.

Lupe reaches Centennial Trail No. 89 at the upper end of the spur trail. Here the main trail gains elevation more gradually as it crosses this open area. Photo looks WNW.

As Centennial Trail No. 89 entered the forest beyond the open area, Lupe passed by a small rock outcropping on the R. The trail leveled out here and turned NW roughly paralleling Highway 385. The highway was a good 0.25 mile away down in a broad valley to the E. Lupe could easily hear the traffic, and could sometimes see the busy highway.

After Looper passed by a small rock outcropping on the R (E), Centennial Trail No. 89 leveled out and headed NW.

Not much of a sense of solitude here! Even so, Lupe had a great time. She was having good luck finding squirrels! The American Dingo raced happily through the open forest, stopping frequently to check out trees hoping to spot more squirrels. Running was fun, too! Lupe encountered very little of the usual annoying slash or deadfall timber so common in much of the Black Hills.

Centennial Trail No. 89 bounced along a slope with little net elevation change as Lupe followed it NW. Often the trail was almost perfectly level. Even where it wasn’t, the route was never steep. To the SW, the terrain rose toward an unseen ridge 200 or 300 feet higher than where the trail ran. The forest always kept the ridgeline hidden from view.

Open forest and gently undulating terrain make this one of the easiest areas to explore along the entire Centennial Trail system. Loopster had a fabulous time charging around looking for squirrels.

The 3.8 miles between the Deer Creek and Pilot Knob trailheads is one of the shortest and easiest sections of the 111 mile long Centennial Trail. Lupe made rapid progress. The gently undulating terrain provided little in the way of distant views. Most of the way Lupe was traveling through pine forest. Occasional stands of yellow aspens provided at least some scenic variation.

Although this part of Centennial Trail No. 89 provided little in the way of views, Lupe didn’t care. She was having lots of fun racing around in the forest. Photo looks NW.

Stands of yellow aspens provided at least some scenic variety.

Happy Lupe at one of the prettiest spots.

Loggers had thinned the forest at some point years ago. They had done an unusually nice job of cleaning up any slash and deadfall.

The trail seemed to be slowly drifting farther away from Highway 385, which was sort of nice. After Loopster had gone more than 1.5 miles, though, it curved E. The noisy highway was soon in view again. Nearing the highway, Centennial Trail No. 89 turned N shortly before crossing it.

Approaching Highway 385. The trail crosses the highway here, then heads N near the power line. Photo looks N.

After crossing Highway 385, Centennial Trail No. 89 continued N in a strip of forested land 50 to 150 feet wide between a power line to the E and USFS Road No. 202 to the W. Here, Lupe came to a splendid thistle. It was big and prickly and extraordinarily healthy. The splendid thistle sported a huge, beautiful, purplish pink blossom.

Ordinarily Lupe and SPHP aren’t all that terribly keen on thistles, but this one was truly a splendid specimen!

Lupe was slowly gaining elevation. Before long the trail and power line both crossed USFS Road No. 202. The road subsequently turned E and disappeared into the forest. The trail took Lupe up an open strip of ground beneath the power line toward a minor pass.

Following the power line to a minor pass. Photo looks N.

Cresting the pass revealed steeper terrain ahead. Centennial Trail No. 89 went down an otherwise abandoned dirt road for much of the descent into the Jim Creek valley. Lupe was fast closing in on the Pilot Knob trailhead, now only 0.25 mile away.

Continuing N after cresting a minor pass, Centennial Trail No. 89 follows this dirt road as it begins losing elevation heading down into the Jim Creek valley. Photo looks N.

In the valley, Centennial Trail No. 89 skirted the E edge of a cattle ranch. Pilot Knob (5,440 ft.) was in view off to the WNW. Loopster was more interested in a big black bull standing out in the field beyond the fence.

Down in the Jim Creek valley, Centennial Trail No. 89 skirts the E side of this cattle ranch. **Pilot Knob** (Center) is in view off to the WNW. Lupe was more interested in the big black bull beyond the fence. Photo looks WNW.

For the most part, the trail stayed in the pines a little up the slope E of the fence line as Lupe passed by the ranch. It then led down to a bridge over Jim Creek. USFS Road No. 208 (Merritt Road) could be seen only a short distance beyond the creek.

Crossing Jim Creek. USFS Road No. 208 (Merritt Road) is in sight. Photo looks SW.

After crossing Jim Creek, it took only a few minutes to reach the Pilot Knob trailhead on the other (N) side of Merritt Road.

Loop arrives at the **Pilot Knob trailhead** along USFS Road No. 208 (Merritt Road). Photo looks NNE.

That was about it. Success! Lupe had completed the entire 3.8 mile long trek from the Deer Creek trailhead to the Pilot Knob trailhead. This easy segment of Centennial Trail No. 89 really hadn’t taken her very long. It was still early afternoon. Instead of simply heading back by the same route, the American Dingo was up for more of a challenge.

Time to get a little peakbagging in while making a loop back to the G6! Pilot Knob (5,440 ft.), was 0.75 mile due W. It would serve nicely as a first objective. Rather than start back S on Centennial Trail No. 89, Lupe continued N, as if she intended to head for the South Boxelder Creek trailhead.

Right away, Centennial Trail No. 89 swung sharply W heading up a slope. It soon curved N again, and Lupe found herself E of another cattle ranch. Pilot Knob was in view beyond a grassy field. At the far end of the field a small cabin nestled at the edge of the pines.

**Pilot Knob** (L) from Centennial Trail No. 89 N of the Pilot Knob trailhead. Photo looks W with help from the telephoto lens.

Lupe continued N. Centennial Trail No. 89 turned E before too long at Boodleman Spring. Just E of the spring, Lupe left the trail turning N yet again. She followed a dirt road up a small valley until she was N of the cattle ranch fence line. The Carolina Dog then scrambled up out of the valley heading W.

Once out of the valley, Lupe was confronted with open forest on rolling terrain. Trying to stay on high ground instead of crossing ravines meant heading more NW than due W. For a while Pilot Knob wasn’t even in view due to all the trees, but Loop eventually caught sight of it again.

In the forest N of the cattle ranch. Photo looks WNW.

At a small clearing, Lupe catches sight of **Pilot Knob** again. Photo looks SW.

The **Pilot Knob** summit with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.

SPHP eventually lost patience with trying to stay on the high ground. Lupe was having to go too far NW to get to Pilot Knob’s N ridge. Simply crossing the last intervening valley was easier and faster. Looper was soon closing in on Pilot Knob’s rocky summit from the N.

Loop reaches the N end of Pilot Knob’s rocky summit ridge. Photo looks SE.

The summit ridge was a good 40 feet high or more. The N end was very steep and not a good place to attempt an ascent. Way back in January, 2016, Lupe had climbed Pilot Knob once before. SPHP remembered that about the only relatively easy way up started at the SW end of the ridge. Lupe headed that way.

Loop on her way S beside Pilot Knob’s vertical W face. Photo looks N.

The Pilot Knob summit ridge is several hundred feet long. On the W side of the ridge near the far S end, Lupe found the way up.

*Come on, SPHP! This is the way up!* About the only easy way to the top of Pilot Knob starts here at the SW corner of the very rocky summit ridge. Photo looks S.

Once up on the lower S end of the ridgeline, a bit of scrambling was required almost immediately to begin heading N toward the still unseen true summit. SPHP thought Lupe might need help at a couple of points, but she always managed to get up all by herself.

The W edge of the ridgeline became a sheer vertical drop. To keep going N, Lupe had to stay toward the E. This route was fine, except for small pines that made it unnecessarily difficult for SPHP to pass.

Lupe up on the summit ridge after the first bit of scrambling. She is just E of the highest rocks where it was possible to continue N. Loop had no trouble at all getting by these small pines, but they slowed SPHP down. Photo looks N.

Once beyond the pines, thorny bushes among lots of jumbled rock kept progress slow. A vertical drop existed to the E, too, but at least there was some room up here to maneuver a little W of the edge.

Getting close to the summit, still E of the highest rocks. Photo looks N.

After fighting through the bushes, another short scramble and Lupe was up! For the first time in more than 2.5 years, the American Dingo stood at the top of Pilot Knob (5,440 ft.).

For the first time in more than 2.5 years, Lupe stands once again on the highest rocks up on **Pilot Knob**. Photo looks N.

*Oh, I made it up here again, SPHP. And without any help from you, I might add!*

*Say, these views are surprisingly impressive aren’t they?*

Pilot Knob’s summit was so rocky there were hardly any trees around. Even though Pilot Knob (5,440 ft.) hadn’t seemed like much of a climb, the views were rather impressive.

Time for a break. A snack while enjoying the scenery was in order. Lupe had water and Taste of the Wild. SPHP munched an apple. Lupe could see and hear the traffic on nearby Highway 385, but it was all far enough below so the mood was still largely one of tranquility up here on Pilot Knob.

On the highest rock. The cattle ranch Lupe had gone past on Centennial Trail No. 89 down in the Jim Creek valley is seen on the L. Hwy 385 is on the R. Photo looks SE.

The rounded forested high point toward the L at the far end of the near ridge (close to Hwy 385) is **Merritt Peak (5,556 ft.)**. Lupe would be heading there next. Rochford Road is on the R. Photo looks S.

This big patch of orange and purple rock gives the summit of **Pilot Knob** a distinctive look. Photo looks NNW.

Looking down the ragged rocky N end of the summit ridge. Photo looks N.

View to the NW with help from the telephoto lens and a peakbagging Carolina Dog.

Rochford Road from Pilot Knob. Photo looks SW with help from the telephoto lens.

Loopster wasn’t going to get better views than this from anywhere else today, so the American Dingo wasn’t in any hurry to leave Pilot Knob. She lingered with SPHP up at the summit for more than 40 minutes. By then it seemed like time move on if Lupe still wanted to get to Merritt Peak (5,556 ft.), her second and final peakbagging objective.

*Hate to leave Pilot Knob, SPHP, but maybe we better get going, if we still want to have time to reach **Merritt Peak** (Center)*. Photo looks S.

After a slow, careful descent off of Pilot Knob’s summit ridge, Loopster headed S through the forest. Down, down! The SW side was the steepest part of the main mountain, but Lupe wanted to get down to Highway 385 as fast as possible. It wasn’t far, only about an eighth of a mile. Near the bottom, a ravine to the W that wasn’t too steep got her there.

The busy highway wasn’t a fun place to be. Lupe and SPHP headed S in the ditch as cars and trucks roared by. Near Merritt Road, Lupe crossed over to the W side of Highway 385. She passed through the parking lots of the Sugar Shack and other businesses. If they would have welcomed Dingoes, Looper would surely have begged SPHP to take her into the Sugar Shack for a burger. Sadly, that wasn’t in the cards.

Loop and SPHP hurried along. After 0.50 mile, it was a relief to reach USFS Road No. 672 and escape all the highway traffic. Peaceful No. 672 wound its way SW steadily gaining elevation.

Lupe was glad to get to USFS Road No. 672, safely away from all the Highway 385 traffic. Photo looks SW.

After 0.5 mile on USFS Road No. 672, Lupe reached an intersection at the top of a pass. From here No. 672 continued S down into Broad Gulch. Loop didn’t need to go that way. Instead, she turned E on Trail No. 6237.

Loop left USFS Road No. 672 here at the top of a minor pass. Trail No. 6237 would take her SE along the ridge leading to Merritt Peak.

Trail No. 6237 quickly brought Lupe up onto a ridgeline leading SE to Merritt Peak. The forest had been thinned in recent years, but the pines were still dense enough to mar any distant views. Even so, traveling along the ridge was fun. Lupe enjoyed looking down the forested slopes on both sides for deer or squirrels.

On the ridge leading to **Merritt Peak**. Photo looks SE.

After following the ridge for 0.25 mile, SPHP figured Lupe had to be getting close to Merritt Peak. However, Trail No. 6237 suddenly made a big curve down to the W leaving the ridgeline. That didn’t seem right at all! Back in January, 2016 when Lupe had climbed Pilot Knob for the first time, she had also come this way and climbed Merritt Peak, too. SPHP didn’t remember the trail leaving the ridge back then. Loop certainly hadn’t.

Instead of following Trail No. 6237 down off the ridge, Lupe continued SE looking for another trail. Almost right away, she found the trail SPHP remembered.

In 2016, the trail had not gone clear up to the top of Merritt Peak, but had passed only 30 or 40 feet below the summit ridge on the E side of the mountain. Sure enough, this trail gained elevation before leveling out E of higher ground. SPHP was certain this had to be it. The Carolina Dog left the trail and climbed the slope to the top. Yes, this was Merritt Peak (5,556 ft.) alright!

Lupe reaches the S end of Merritt Peak’s 200 foot long summit ridge. Photo looks NNW.

Lupe had come up near the S end of Merritt Peak’s 200 foot long summit ridge. The whole ridge was pretty close to level. A small rock outcropping seemed to be the high point at this end. The N end of the summit ridge was rockier and had seemed perhaps slightly higher back in 2016. May as well go check it out again.

Eh. Maybe the N end was a little higher. Still seemed that way, but not super convincingly so. Really not much difference one way or another. Lupe and SPHP sat down together just below the highest rocks to take another break.

The N end of Merritt Peak’s summit ridge might have been a bit higher than the S end. Still seemed that way, but not by much. It was certainly rockier. Photo looks N.

If not the true summit, this is mighty close to it. Photo looks NNE.

*So this is it, isn’t it, SPHP? I’ve bagged myself a 2nd ascent of Merritt Peak, haven’t I? …. Yeah, congratulations Looper, we’re calling this good.*

Lupe had also taken a break at this very same spot in 2016. Even though the forest had been thinned since then, there still weren’t any decent views from Merritt Peak (5,556 ft.). Seemed like there had been at least a fairly good look at Minnesota Ridge (6,240 ft.) off to the NW from here before. Even that view was now marred by a couple of trees that had grown up in the meantime.

Still, SPHP was glad Lupe had returned. More than 2.5 years gone by. Made you think. SPHP hugged Lupe close. For a while Lupe huddled there with SPHP content just sitting and watching.

Time is relentless. That precious commodity was slipping away even as it was being pondered. The sky had been totally overcast all afternoon. It wasn’t possible to tell how close the sun was to setting. No more than an hour from now, maybe less? Lupe still had close to 2 miles to go to get back to the Deer Creek trailhead. SPHP stood up.

Come on, Looper, let’s finish exploring this ridge!

Lupe was on it. She was ready.

The ridge SPHP was referring to wasn’t Merritt Peak’s summit ridge. Lupe had already seen that. However, she had never been any farther on the long ridge extending SE from Merritt Peak. This was the same ridge that had been unseen and higher up to the W during much of the early part of today’s journey along Centennial Trail No. 89.

The American Dingo returned to the nearby trail. The easiest thing to do would have been to head directly down to Centennial Trail No. 89, which couldn’t have been more than 0.5 mile away. Instead, Lupe stuck with the high ground traveling SE along the ridgeline.

A network of seldom traveled trails crisscrossed the ridge. None were marked. Up and down! From one high point to the next the Carolina Dog continued her explorations. For more than a mile whatever trail she was on was in good shape. After that it began to fade. Eventually there didn’t seem to be a trail at all.

Finally, Lupe saw Silver City Road just ahead down at Pass 5307. Time to begin her descent. Loop headed E off the ridge. It wasn’t dark yet, but certainly dim when she reached Centennial Trail No. 89 at the edge of the pines by the rock outcropping where the trail had first leveled out this morning.

Lupe’s big loop on and off Centennial Trail No. 89 today was complete. Ten more minutes of sniffing would bring her back to the Deer Creek trailhead and the G6. Another day, a fun one, gone forever. At least her precious time had been well spent. End – 6:21 PM, 42°F

On some of the highest rocks near the N end of Merritt Peak. 9-29-18

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Next Trail Section South

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 234 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Rapid Creek to Deer Creek (9-22-18)

Next Trail Section North

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 237 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Pilot Knob to South Boxelder Creek (10-18-18)

Centennial Trail No. 89 brochure & map

Want more Lupe adventures? Check out Lupe’s Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 234 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Rapid Creek to Deer Creek (9-22-18)

Start – 10:42 AM, 69 °F, Rapid Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89

Sad to say it, but Lupe’s many adventures on 3 separate Dingo Vacations during the grand summer of 2018 were over. It was officially fall now, and the American Dingo had been back at home for a whole week. That was more than enough time to get all rested up and start missing those long summer days spent exploring magnificent far away places.

When SPHP suggested it might be time to check out another section of Centennial Trail No. 89 in the Black Hills, Loopster was excited at the prospect of getting back into action. Oh, yeah! She could hardly wait!

Loop had explored some of the 111 mile long Centennial Trail No. 89 back in the spring. It seemed only natural to pick up from where she’d left off at the Rapid Creek trailhead below the Pactola Reservoir dam. The plan was to follow the next section of the trail N all the way to the Deer Creek trailhead, a distance of 5.0 miles.

Lupe happy to be back at the Rapid Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 for the first time since spring.

Leaving the trailhead, Centennial Trail No. 89 goes a short distance W before crossing Rapid Creek on Pactola Basin Road. Instead of crossing the creek right away, though, Lupe continued upstream for a look at the pond at the base of the Pactola Reservoir dam.

Lupe drops by for a look at the scenic pond below the dam. Photo looks WSW.

A couple of ducks flew away as the Carolina Dog approached. At the pond’s outlet, a footbridge provided a way over Rapid Creek. Lupe and SPHP lingered a few minutes admiring the scenic pond before following the creek downstream back to Pactola Basin Road. Along the way, Loop cooled her paws off and helped herself to a drink.

Cooling off in Rapid Creek. The footbridge Lupe had crossed by the pond is in view. Photo looks SW.

Once back at Pactola Basin Road, Lupe followed it NW. The road soon curved to the L (W) to start winding steeply up to the top of the dam. Centennial Trail No. 89, however, took a side road NW up a small valley. Sticking with the trail, Lupe passed by several cabins.

Sticking with Centennial Trail No. 89 after leaving Pactola Basin Road, Lupe passes by the last cabin along a side road. Photo looks W.

Beyond the last cabin, Centennial Trail No. 89 continued NW. The trail was well marked and easy to follow.

Heading up the valley. Part of Pactola Reservoir dam is seen on the L (W).

The trail was clearly marked and easy to follow even though the road soon began to fade. Photo looks N.

The road faded away. Centennial Trail No. 89 was now a single track trail, which began to climb more steeply. Lupe quickly reached the top of a small ridge. The Carolina Dog was now high enough to see Highway 385 and part of Pactola Reservoir off to the W & SW.

The steepest part of Centennial Trail No. 89 the American Dingo would encounter today was just ahead. Even so, the rate of climb remained moderate. The trail snaked up a long slope, passing near a utility line. Higher up, a view began to open up back to the S.

Continuing higher. This next section was the steepest part of Centennial Trail No. 89 that Lupe would encounter today. Photo looks NW.

As Lupe gained elevation, a view to the S began to open up.

After passing through a meadow, Loopster reached a high point where Centennial Trail No. 89 leveled out. The Carolina Dog had gained 500 feet of elevation, and was now 0.75 mile from the Rapid Creek trailhead. This was the end of the first big climb. Directly ahead the trail entered the forest.

Although Lupe had gotten a late morning start, SPHP figured she had plenty of time to get to the Deer Creek trailhead and back before dark. In fact, Lupe probably had enough time to leave the trail and do a little peakbagging. Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.) was less than a mile E.

Centennial Trail No. 89 levels out and enters the forest 0.75 mile NW of the Rapid Creek trailhead. This is the end of the steepest climb on this section of the trail. Photo looks N.

Lupe left the trail setting out for Perrin Mountain. She gained another 100 feet of elevation climbing a forested slope to the NE. This brought her up onto Perrin Mountain’s WNW ridge. The Carolina Dog traveled NE across a broad thinly forested saddle to a big rock formation.

Off trail now, Lupe approaches a big rock formation on her way to Perrin Mountain. Photo looks NE.

From the big rock formation, Lupe followed the ridge SE. She passed over several high and low points on the way to Perrin Mountain, but the elevation changes weren’t dramatic. She soon came to a large power line. The clear cut area along the power line provided the best view of Pactola Reservoir thus far.

Looking S toward Pactola Reservoir from the power line that crosses Perrin Mountain’s WNW ridge.

The rest of the way to Perrin Mountain, Lupe caught only tree-broken glimpses of the lake. Closing in on the summit, Lupe came to a short stretch of dirt road beyond which a single track trail led to the odd “Hurt Locker” sign at the top of the mountain. The true summit was a small rock outcropping 30 feet to the N.

Lupe arrives at the odd “Hurt Locker” sign on **Perrin Mountain**. Photo looks E.

At Perrin Mountain’s true summit. Photo looks NE.

Perrin Mountain was too heavily forested to see much of anything. Lupe took a short break near the summit before returning to Centennial Trail No. 89 via the same route. The Perrin Mountain (5,212 ft.) side trip was Lupe’s only peakbagging success of the day. From now on she would stick to the trail.

Heading back to Centennial Trail No. 89 along Perrin Mountain’s WNW ridge. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe made it back to Centennial Trail No. 89 at the same point she’d left it. She now followed the trail N into the forest. It remained level for a little while, before curving W and beginning to lose elevation steadily. Going down a fairly steep forested ravine, Lupe soon reached Highway 385. SPHP helped Lupe cross the busy highway safely.

Starting down toward Highway 385 after reaching Centennial Trail No. 89 again. Photo looks W.

Approaching Highway 385 after losing nearly 300 feet of elevation. Photo looks W.

W of Highway 385 the trail lost a bit more elevation. Lupe could soon see the inlet where the N boat launch on Pactola Reservoir is located. The trail got quite close the lake, but stayed 30 feet above the water.

Lupe enjoys some fall colors along Centennial Trail No. 89 after crossing Hwy 385. Photo looks W.

Looking toward the N boat launch on Pactola Reservoir. Photo looks S.

Beyond the N end of the inlet, Centennial Trail No. 89 headed NW up a shallow valley. This was the start of the second notable climb along the trail. This climb was much longer than the first one, but quite gradual the whole way. Occasionally it was interrupted by level or short downhill sections.

After crossing the paved road leading down to the N boat launch, the trail turned back toward the SW. Eventually the boat launch could be glimpsed below to the E. Although Lupe wasn’t far from the main body of Pactola Reservoir here, she couldn’t see it due to the forest. The trail now curved toward the W on high ground SE of Boarding House Gulch.

Where the trail turned N again, Lupe came to a bit of open ground from which she could see part of Pactola Reservoir. This was a good spot to take another break.

Lupe on a bit of grassy high ground SE of Boarding House Gulch with a partial view of Pactola Reservoir. This was a good spot to take a second break. Photo looks SW.

Lupe wasn’t quite halfway to the Deer Creek trailhead yet, so this second rest break was also fairly brief. Upon resuming her trek, Centennial Trail No. 89 wound around high up on a mostly forested slope on the NE side of Boarding House Gulch.

The trail was fairly level along in here. SPHP liked this area since higher ground to the NE screened most of the traffic noise from Hwy 385. Lupe liked it because she was having success finding squirrels to bark at.

Lupe liked racing along level sections of the trail near Boarding House Gulch like this one looking for squirrels.

After winding around quite a bit, Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed over to the other side of Boarding House Gulch. Here the trail was no longer single track. For about a mile it followed a much straighter dirt road climbing slowly, but steadily NW.

Lupe approaching the end of the single track trail in **Boarding House Gulch**. Just ahead Centennial Trail No. 89 crosses to the other side of the valley and starts following a dirt road. Photo looks NW.

Going up **Boarding House Gulch**. Photo looks NW.

Nearing a minor pass at the upper end of **Boarding House Gulch**. Photo looks NNW.

Lupe reached a minor pass at the upper end of Boarding House Gulch. A few buildings could be seen off to the NE. Centennial Trail No. 89 left the dirt road here, heading WNW into Smoker Gulch. The trail reverted to single track once again. Lupe passed through beautiful secluded stands of aspens that were just beginning to show fall colors.

Lupe on the single track trail leading into **Smoker Gulch**. The aspens were just beginning to show some fall colors. Photo looks NW.

Heading W into **Smoker Gulch**. This relatively short section of single track trail was one of the prettiest and most secluded areas Lupe came to.

Leaving most of the aspens behind, the trail soon curved NNW again as it entered the upper portion of Smoker Gulch. For a while the trail closely paralleled yet another dirt road.

Beyond most of the aspens heading farther up **Smoker Gulch**. Photo looks NNW.

Smoker Gulch was only a third as long as Boarding House Gulch had been. Lupe was soon approaching another minor pass at its upper N end. At about 5150 feet, this pass was the high point of the entire section of Centennial Trail No. 89 the Carolina Dog was traveling today. She had gained about 550 feet of elevation from where she’d left the inlet of Pactola Reservoir near the N boat launch.

At this pass, Lupe discovered a clearly marked junction with Deerfield Trail No. 40, which heads W for 23 miles to Deerfield Reservoir. Looper wasn’t going that way today. Instead, she continued N over the pass on a section of trail shared by both Centennial Trail No. 89 and Deerfield Trail No. 40. It wasn’t much farther to Silver City Road.

Lupe reaches a junction with **Deerfield Trail No. 40** at the N end of Smoker Gulch. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe continus N on a section of single track trail shared by both Centennial Trail No. 89 & Deerfield Trail No. 40. She passed by the house seen on the R on the way to Silver City Road. Photo looks N.

Loop arrives at **Silver City Road**. Centennial Trail No. 89 & Deerfield Trail No. 40 both cross the road here. Photo looks NW.

100 yards after crossing Silver City Road, Lupe reached another junction, this time with the spur trail leading to the Deer Creek trailhead. SPHP didn’t immediately recognize the junction for what it was. Lupe stayed to the L continuing N on Deerfield Trail No. 89. She didn’t get far before SPHP realized the mistake.

Lupe reaches the junction with the relatively short spur trail to the Deer Creek trailhead. SPHP didn’t immediately recognize this junction for what it was, mistakenly leading Lupe to the L continuing N on Centennial Trail No. 89.

Going the wrong way! Lupe continuing N on Centennial Trail No. 89 when she should have been on the spur trail going E down to the Deer Creek trailhead. She didn’t get much farther than this before turning around. Photo looks NW.

It only took a minute or two to get back to the spur trail. The spur trail itself was only a 5 minute trek down a slope to the E. At the bottom Lupe finally reached the Deer Creek trailhead, her objective for the day.

Lupe reaches the Deer Creek trailhead, her objective for the day. This is the official E end of Deerfield Trail No. 40, as well as an access point for Centennial Trail No. 89.

Except for the empty parking lot, there wasn’t much to see at the Deer Creek trailhead. Lupe didn’t stick around for long. She now had to head S retracing her entire 5.0 mile long trek on Centennial Trail No. 89 back to the Rapid Creek trailhead where the G6 was parked.

Ready to head back! Lupe sits at the start of the spur trail at the Deer Creek trailhead. Photo looks SW.

Back at the junction of the spur trail and Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks S.

The return trip was pleasant and easy. Except for the big climb after crossing Highway 385, it was mostly downhill. Lupe sniffed and ran. She barked at squirrels. She saw several deer and even a couple of elk. She did not revisit Perrin Mountain, staying on Centennial Trail No. 89 the whole way.

The sun was about to disappear by the time the American Dingo reached the Rapid Creek trailhead again. (End – 6:51 PM, 63 °F) It had been a fun day on Centennial Trail No. 89, but Lupe was ready to head home. She hopped into the G6. SPHP drove up Pactola Basin Road to the junction with Highway 385 near the N end of the dam.

Lupe’s return home had to be delayed! From the dam, a gorgeous sunset could be seen over Pactola Reservoir. SPHP drove across the highway to a viewpoint overlooking the lake. Together Lupe and SPHP watched until the blazing display faded to gray.

*Oh, I guess we better hang around for this!*

*That was quite a show! You don’t see many sunsets like this one. SPHP and I are going to hang around a while longer. Thanks for joining us on Centennial Trail No. 89! Bye for now!*

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Next Trail Section S:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 229 – Centennial Trail No. 89 – Brush Creek to Rapid Creek & Perrin Mountain (5-14-18)

Next Trail Section N:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 235 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Deer Creek to Pilot Knob (9-29-18)

Centennial Trail No. 89 brochure & map

Want more Lupe adventures? Check out Lupe’s Black Hills, SD & WY Expeditions Adventure Index, Master Adventure Index, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures!

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 228 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Spring Creek to Samelius (5-6-18)

Start: 9:09 AM, 58°F, Spring Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89

Lupe was back! For the second week in a row, she was starting her day’s adventures at the Spring Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89. Last week she had gone all the way N to Twin Sisters (5,244 ft.) and the Brush Creek trailhead. This time around, she was going to explore Centennial Trail No. 89 all the way S to the Samelius Peak trailhead.

Like last week, the first order of business was to follow the spur trail from the trailhead up Spring Creek. The spur trail would join the main trail at the Sheridan Lake dam. The Carolina Dog didn’t mind repeating this easy, scenic stroll at all.

Starting up the spur trail along **Spring Creek**.

Spring Creek canyon on the way to Sheridan Lake.

Shortly after crossing the first of three beam bridges over Spring Creek, Lupe heard a rush of water over and above the usual noise made by the creek. She soon came to the source of this noise. A tremendous waterfall was sending a spray of water not only down into Spring Creek, but even raining down upon the opposite shore.

A tremendous waterfall was raining down not only upon Spring Creek, but completely over it! Only a week ago, this waterfall hadn’t even been here.

Lupe had been on this spur trail lots of times. No waterfall had ever been here before! Only a week ago, it hadn’t been here, either. How strange! Loop went closer to investigate.

Hmm. This wasn’t a real waterfall, at least not a natural one. Water was shooting out of the side of the canyon from halfway below the ridgeline above. Must be a pipe or some other man made source up there.

*A horizontal waterfall! Now that’s something you don’t see everyday!*

The horizontal waterfall made quite an impression. Lupe liked cooling off in its spray. Once she was cool and wet enough, she continued up the spur trail.

Crossing the 2nd beam bridge over **Spring Creek**.

Continuing up the canyon. The trail is nearly level almost all the way to Sheridan Lake.

Crossing the 3rd and final beam bridge. Part of the Sheridan Lake dam is now in view ahead. Photo looks WNW.

The spur trail joins the main Centennial Trail No. 89 at the S end of the Sheridan Lake dam. Last week Lupe had gone N across the dam. This time she didn’t. Instead, she left the dam going W across a brushy area, part of the seldom needed lake overflow channel. She quickly reached the S shore of Sheridan Lake.

On the S shore at the far E end of **Sheridan Lake**. The rounded hill at Center beyond the lake is **Clark Mountain** **(5,267 ft.)**.

Looking back at **Sheridan Lake dam**. Photo looks NE.

A sign about Sheridan Lake was nearby. The sign mentioned the trail system and showed a map of Flume Trail No. 50. Centennial Trail No. 89 and Flume Trail No. 50 are the same trail along the SE shore of Sheridan Lake, but they split here near the dam. Centennial Trail No. 89 continues N across the dam, but Flume Trail No. 50 goes E.

This sign about Sheridan Lake is posted near the divergence of Centennial Trail No. 89 and Flume Trail No. 50.

Lupe followed the dual Centennial/Flume trail SW along the SE shore of Sheridan Lake. The ground right along the shoreline was fairly steep. The nearly level trail stayed 30 to 40 feet above the lake. A Ponderosa pine forest permitted only tree broken views.

The joint Centennial/Flume trail stays 30 or 40 feet above the SE shore of Sheridan Lake. Photo looks SW.

0.5 mile from the dam, Lupe was getting close to Blue Wing, a residential resort community where the Flume Trail begins. The lakeshore wasn’t as steep here, so she went down to take a look at the Blue Wing inlet. The lake was smooth as glass. A red-wing blackbird was singing from a perch on a cattail. Shouldn’t it have been a blue-wing blackbird?

Lupe visits the **Blue Wing inlet** of **Sheridan Lake**. Photo looks NNW.

A footbridge led across an orange creek into the resort community of Blue Wing. The Flume trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 was close by. This was the W end of Flume Trail No. 50.

A footbridge leads across an orange creek as Lupe reaches the resort community of **Blue Wing**. This is the W end of Flume Trail No. 50.

Centennial Trail No. 89 skirted the N end of Blue Wing on a curving stretch of paved road. After only a few hundred feet, the trail left the road heading W into open forest. It soon turned S. Looper was gaining elevation steadily now. The trail began passing small rock formations.

SW of Blue Wing, Lupe reaches small rock formations along Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks S.

0.5 mile from Sheridan Lake, Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed a gravel road. The trail now began to steepen. Switchbacks appeared. Lupe started getting glimpses of Sheridan Lake again.

After gaining several hundred feet of elevation, the trail turned W. It passed just S of a couple of big rock formations N of High Point 5412. Lupe left the trail to climb up onto the lowest one. Part of Sheridan Lake was in view a mile away. (topo map)

On the lower of two big rock formations N of the trail. The higher one is on the L. Part of Sheridan Lake is in view. Photo looks N.

Lupe didn’t bother climbing the highest of the two rock formations. It wasn’t until the Carolina dog returned to the trail and went a bit further that she saw that the higher rock formation was already occupied! Way up near the top, a couple of turkey buzzards sat surveying the scene.

Turkey buzzards were already in possession of the rock formation Lupe hadn’t climbed.

Continuing on, Centennial Trail No. 89 went down a few switchbacks and crossed a saddle leading toward High Point 5624. The trail then turned SSW passing E of High Point 5624. Here the trail bounced up and down along the mountainside. Lupe kept gaining elevation only to lose it again. Forest permitted only tree broken views of Calumet Ridge (5,601 ft.) to the ENE, and Mount Warner (5,889 ft.) to the S.

Beyond High Point 5624, Centennial Trail No. 89 left the pine forest. Lupe descended into a valley of aspens and open ground.

Lupe reaches the valley S of High Point 5624. Photo looks SW.

The trail began following a grassy abandoned road which went W up the valley. Lupe ended up back in the pine forest on a saddle at the top of a ridge. For the first time, she had tree broken views of distant ridges and mountains to the SW.

The American Dingo had reached the main ridgeline leading to Mount Warner. For the next 0.75 mile, Centennial Trail No. 89 stayed high on the ridge climbing steadily SSW toward the summit. At the top of the mountain, the trail passed 50 feet N of the true summit.

Light rain showers were sweeping in out of the N when Lupe reached the highest rocks on Mount Warner (5,889 ft.).

At the summit of **Mount Warner** 50 feet S of Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks W.

Lupe and SPHP took shelter from the rain along the S side of a line of rocks at the summit. Time for a break, anyway! Lupe wasn’t hungry yet, but she was ready for water. SPHP had an apple. Half an hour went by simply relaxing. The rain showers moved on and the sun came out.

Trees hid the views from Mount Warner in most directions. From down the S slope a little way, Lupe was able to get a fairly good look at both Samelius Peak (5,856 ft.) and more distant Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.).

**Samelius Peak** (L) and **Black Elk Peak** (Center) from **Mount Warner**. Photo looks SW.

Lupe still had a lot of exploring to do. She returned to Centennial Trail No. 89, which now lost elevation heading SE. The trail quickly brought her to a rock shelf providing a less obstructed view of Samelius Peak.

From the rock shelf, Centennial Trail No. 89 began curving E. Loopster entered a more level area where the forest was full of deadfall timber. Pine bark beetles had taken a heavy toll here. This stretch wasn’t long, however. Soon the forest was looking better again. Lupe briefly went to check out the views from a rock outcropping 100 feet N of the trail.

*Hey! Guess what? I can still see a tiny piece of Sheridan Lake from here!* Photo looks N.

The view to the N wasn’t bad. Lupe could still see a sliver of Sheridan Lake, but this was the last time she would see it. Lupe returned to the trail. It went E a little way, then turned N losing elevation more rapidly again. The terrain leveled out at a saddle between Mount Warner and High Point 5636.

At the broad saddle between Mount Warner and High Point 5636. Photo looks SE.

From the saddle, Centennial Trail No. 89 turned SE and proceeded clear around the SE end of Mount Warner. At first, Lupe was losing elevation at an easy pace. Later on the trail wound along the mountainside going both up and down with little net elevation change.

Going around the SE end of Mount Warner. Photo looks SSE.

Once around the end of the mountain, Centennial No. 89 turned NW and began climbing toward the still unseen saddle between Mount Warner and Samelius Peak. Another 1.5 miles on the trail would bring Lupe to the Samelius Peak trailhead.

However, Lupe had been on this part of the trail before. Maybe it was time for something a little different? A bit of peakbagging was in order! Lupe and SPHP left Centennial Trail No. 89 heading SE down a valley. After wandering for 0.25 mile, Loopster turned SW and began climbing. Another 0.25 mile brought her to the saddle between Hardesty Peak (5,562 ft.) and Samelius Peak (5,856 ft.).

Off trail in the saddle between Hardesty Peak & Samelius Peak. Photo looks WSW.

Lupe paused in the saddle for another water break, but was soon on her way up the NNW slope of Hardesty Peak. The climb from the saddle was steep, but involved only 200 feet of elevation gain. Loop went up near the E edge of a boulder field. Before long, she was on Hardesty Peak’s E/W running summit ridge.

The true summit was only a little E of where Lupe came up. Although forest hid the views in almost every direction, both Samelius Peak and Mount Warner could be seen from here.

At the true summit of **Hardesty Peak**. **Mount Warner** is on the L. Photo looks NE.

*Oh, we’ve come a way from **Mount Warner** (Center), SPHP! **Samelius Peak** (L) is close by, though. Are we going there next?* Photo looks N.

**Samelius Peak** from **Hardesty Peak**. Photo looks NW.

Time was marching on. Lupe needed to as well. Nearby Samelius Peak was her last peakbagging destination for the day. The American Dingo went back down to the saddle leading to Samelius Peak the same way she had come up.

On the way back down to the saddle leading to **Samelius Peak** (R) Lupe stayed R (E) of this boulder field. Photo looks NW.

The climb up Samelius Peak was longer than going up Hardesty Peak had been. Lupe gained more than 500 feet of elevation following a SE ridge to a S ridge, which led to the summit. Close to the summit were a few minor high points and saddles, but nothing posed any real difficulty along the way.

The weather had changed again, however, by the time Lupe reached the top. Rain showers were passing through once more. Loop discovered a crude Dingo shelter at the top of Samelius Peak. Unfortunately, it was so primitive it really didn’t provide any protection from the rain.

At the summit of **Samelius Peak**. Rain showers are sweeping through once more. The lower hill at Center is **Humbolt Mountain (5,722 ft.)**. **Storm Hill (5,656 ft.)** is on the L. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe discovers a crude Dingo shelter at the top of **Samelius Peak**.

*Would you mind calling a roofing contractor, SPHP? This really isn’t much help.*

The Dingo shelter didn’t amount to much, but oh well. Lupe decided she was hungry! As rain sprinkled down, she devoured all of her Taste of the Wild. SPHP ate the last apple. After a while, the rain diminished as the showers moved off.

Although the top of Samelius Peak was forested, there were more openings between the trees here where Lupe could see the views than either Mount Warner or Hardesty Peak had provided.

**Black Elk Peak (7,231 ft.)** from **Samelius Peak**. Photo looks SW.

**Black Elk Peak** with help from the telephoto lens.

Loop on Samelius Peak’s highest rock. **Humbolt Mountain** is beyond her on the L. **Five Points (6,221 ft.)** is on the R. Photo looks NW.

**Custer Peak (6,804 ft.)** is the distant pointy peak on the L. **New Year’s Eve Peak (6,046 ft.)** is the highest point on the R. Photo looks NW with help from the telephoto lens.

After 45 minutes at the top of Samelius Peak, Lupe was ready to move on. She had a last look around the summit area, then headed down the mountain.

The Samelius Peak trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 was only 0.4 mile away to the SW. Lupe headed WSW to intercept the trail only a little N of the trailhead. For a long way, this route was quite steep, but it finally started leveling out to some degree. Lupe soon intercepted Centennial Trail No. 89 as expected.

**Samelius Peak** summit area. Photo looks NE.

**Samelius Peak** summit again. This time looking SW.

Starting down the mountain. Photo looks E back up toward the summit.

Back on Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks SW.

The Samelius Peak trailhead wasn’t far from here. Even though it was the wrong direction considering the time of day, Lupe went all the way to it.

*Climbed 3 mountains and made it all the way to the Samelius Peak trailhead. Pretty good, huh?*

Centennial Trail map. As the trail goes, it’s 8 miles one way between the Spring Creek & Samelius Peak trailheads.

It was evening. No time to dilly dally here at the trailhead. The sun would still be up for at least an hour, maybe close to two. However, Lupe faced an 8 mile long return to the Spring Creek trailhead. Somewhere along the way, it was going to get dark.

Almost as soon as she reached the Samelius Peak trailhead, Lupe started back. This time she would take Centennial Trail No. 89 the whole way.

*Oh, a long beautiful evening stroll ahead. Maybe we’ll see some deers?*

The sun was still up, but on the horizon when Lupe reached the summit of Mount Warner for the second time. She no more than tagged the true summit before hurrying on. Sunlight disappeared from the mountains. Dusk, then darkness. The flashlight came out before Loop reached Blue Wing. No moon, but the sky was clear and the stars were brilliant.

A black night, but reflections of starlight sparkled in Sheridan Lake as Lupe trotted by well above the shoreline. In inky darkness, she crossed the beam bridges over Spring Creek. Lupe heard, but did not see, the odd horizontal waterfall still spraying from the mountainside.

The G6 sat alone at the Spring Creek trailhead when Lupe arrived. It had been a long day, but another good one on Centennial Trail No. 89. (10:28 PM, 47°F)