Centennial Trail No. 89 – Page 8 – The (Mostly) True Adventures of Lupe

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 241 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Alkali Creek to Fort Meade (12-10-18)

10:11 AM, 35°F – Gates close at dusk? Ridiculous! That’s what the sign said, though. The Alkali Creek trailhead for Centennial Trail No. 89 was huge and totally empty, but days are really short in December. SPHP wasn’t at all certain Lupe would be back before dusk, rendering the trailhead useless.

SPHP found a place to park along Horse Soldier Road. Lupe trotted back to the trailhead. Alkali Creek was the official starting point for today’s Black Hills expedition. Lupe was going to explore Centennial Trail No. 89 all the way N to the Fort Meade trailhead. At only 4.0 miles one way, this is one of the shortest segments between trailheads of the entire 111 mile long Centennial Trail.

Gates close at dusk? Lupe near the entrance to the useless Alkali Creek trailhead. She might or might not be back by dusk! Photo looks E.

Loop at the official starting point for Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 241. Photo looks NW.

Lupe was anxious to get going! SPHP took only a quick peek at the posted trail map. It showed a surprisingly complex trail system in the area. Loop had no patience for it. Leaving the trailhead, the Carolina Dog crossed Horse Soldier Road. She picked up Centennial Trail No. 89 in a field on the other side.

Loop gets underway N of the Alkali Creek trailhead. Photo looks NE.

As Lupe sniffed along, the trail gradually curved N. Soon Bear Butte came into view. The summit of Bear Butte (4,422 ft.) is the official N end of Centennial Trail No. 89. Lupe wasn’t going that far today.

**Bear Butte** (L) starts coming into view as the trail curves N. Photo looks NNE.

0.33 mile from the trailhead, Looper reached a junction at the top of a small rise. Centennial Trail No. 89 went W (L) here passing through a barbed wire fence. The other trail continued N through a long field.

Centennial Trail No. 89 goes W (L) here. Another route continues N through the long field seen ahead. Photo looks N.

From this gate Centennial Trail No. 89 heads W into the forest. Photo looks W.

Beyond the fence, Centennial Trail No. 89 headed W toward a forested ridge Lupe had seen from the trailhead. Before reaching the trees, the Carolina Dog paused for the best view of Bear Butte yet.

**Bear Butte**. Photo looks NNE with help from the telephoto lens.

Once in the forest, Centennial Trail No. 89 wound NW up the E side of the ridge. The steepest part came near the beginning. Even here, the trail wasn’t bad at all. Lupe climbed through a forest of scrub oak and Ponderosa pines.

Loop rounds a bend early on the way up the ridge. Photo looks SE.

Even along the steepest part of the ridge, the trail was quite easy. Photo looks N.

Lupe had a good view from this rock. Photo looks SE.

Higher up, the slope of the terrain was more gradual. The trail trended SW for a while.

Higher up the terrain sloped more gradually. Photo looks SW.

Getting close to the top of the ridge. Photo looks SW.

The ridge the trail was climbing is 0.75 mile long N/S. The W face of the ridge is much steeper than the E slope. Nearing the top of the ridge line, Centennial Trail No. 89 brought Loop very close to the S end of the ridge. Naturally, she stopped to check out the view. To the S, she could see I-90 and the Black Hills National Cemetery.

Loop at the S end of the ridgeline. Photo looks S.

Looking S along I-90 with help from the telephoto lens.

Zoomed in on part of the Black Hills National Cemetery.

Peak 4027 is the high point of the entire ridge Lupe was on. It was only 200 yards N of the extreme S end. Centennial Trail No. 89 headed right for it. The summit proved to be spacious and gently rounded. Flanked by pines to the W and N, the whole area was grassy and open.

Approaching **Peak 4027**, summit of the entire ridge Lupe had climbed. Photo looks N.

Centennial Trail No. 89 didn’t go quite all the way up Peak 4027. Instead it swept around the E side of the spacious summit. Lupe had a great view of the prairies of western South Dakota.

Looking E over the prairies from Peak 4027.

Loopster wasn’t about to bypass the true summit of Peak 4027! She left Centennial Trail No. 89 to tramp through the snow looking for it. There wasn’t any definite absolute high point, but she explored enough ground to be satisfied with her ascent.

On **Peak 4027**. This high ground near a small stand of big pines seemed to be the true summit as far as it could be determined. Photo looks NE.

The scenic highlight from Peak 4027 was Bear Butte rising dramatically like a miniature volcano from the surrounding prairie. Trees blocked any views of the main body of the Black Hills to the W.

Lupe returned to Centennial Trail No. 89. The trail continued N along Peak 4027’s long N ridge. Most of the ridge was forested. What it lacked in views, it made up in squirrels. Looper had a grand time barking and searching for them.

Back on Centennial Trail No. 89, still close to **Peak 4027**. Photo looks NW.

Forest hid the views, but provided a home for squirrels and deer as Lupe continued N. Photo looks N.

Nearly 0.5 mile N of Peak 4027, Lupe came to another grassy area. She was approaching High Point 3983 on the topo map.

Approaching **High Point 3983**. Photo looks N.

At High Point 3983 Lupe reached a fork in the trail. A large post stood next to the fork. Centennial Trail No. 89 stayed to the L.

Lupe at the fork in the trail near **High Point 3983**. Centennial Trail No. 89 continues N passing L of the high ground. Photo looks N.

Beyond High Point 3983 the trail went NNW still following the ridgeline.

Back in the forest NNW of High Point 3983. Photo looks N.

0.25 mile from High Point 3983, Lupe finally reached the N end of the ridge. From rock outcroppings along the edge, the Carolina Dog could see Sturgis, SD to the NW. Peak 3950 and Crook Mountain (4,930 ft.) were in view, too.

At the N end of the 0.75 mile long ridge. **Peak 3950** (Center) is the hill beyond Lupe. Photo looks NNW.

**Sturgis, SD** from the N end of the ridge. **Crook Mountain** is in the distance on the L. Photo looks NW.

Leaving the mountain’s main ridgeline, Centennial Trail No. 89 began a long gradual descent. After a switchback or two, Lupe found herself traveling NNE.

The trail curled clear around to the SW as it entered a large draw.

Lupe spots a squirrel as Centennial Trail No. 89 enters a large draw. Photo looks SW.

The draw drained NE. The trail turned NE again, too. More snow was down here. The draw brought Lupe back to Horse Soldier Road.

Down in the snowy draw. Photo looks ENE.

Lupe reaches Horse Soldier Road again. Photo looks NE.

Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed Horse Soldier Road, but where it went on the other side wasn’t completely clear. Lupe searched for a marker. She found an icy pond off to the NW, but no markers. SPHP finally realized the correct route was the obvious one. Lupe followed a frozen road NE.

Heading NE after crossing Horse Soldier Road.

Having crossed Horse Soldier Road, the first part of Lupe’s journey to the Fort Meade trailhead was over. Until now, she had been up in the forest on the long ridge that was all part of Peak 4027. The remaining trek was lower territory. The trail was about to make several forays E toward the prairie, each time turning W again to re-enter the forest.

Following the frozen road, the American Dingo headed NE out into the grasslands. Centennial Trail No. 89 left the road near the end of a bare ridge, and climbed up onto it. Although this ridge was much lower than the forested ridge where Peak 4027 and High Point 3963 were, Loopster enjoyed unbroken panoramas.

Going up the first low ridge. The much higher forested ridge Lupe had just left is in the background. Photo looks SW.

Bear Butte from the first low ridge. Photo looks NNE.

Looking back. The Alkali Creek trailhead (Center) is way over at the base of the forested hills beyond the snowy grasslands. Photo looks S.

Fort Meade was already in sight only 0.5 mile to the N. The way the trail was going to wind around, Lupe still had a lot farther than that to go to get to the Fort Meade trailhead.

*There’s Fort Meade!* Photo looks NNW with help from the telephoto lens.

Now that Lupe was up on the ridge, the trail turned back to the WSW.

Having made it up onto the ridge, the trail heads back toward the Black Hills. Photo looks WSW.

The single track became a dirt road as Lupe drew near the forest again. For at least a little way, this was still Centennial Trail No. 89. However, when no more markers appeared, SPHP began to suspect the trail had disappeared somewhere into the forest on the N side of the ridge.

As Lupe got close to the forest again, the single track was evolving into a dirt road. Photo looks W.

For at least some distance, Centennial Trail No. 89 followed the road. Photo looks W.

Lupe wasn’t far from Horse Soldier Road again when she spotted some still green pine slash snaking through the grass N of the snowy road. Upon inspection, it was evident this slash had been deliberately placed on a trail. Maybe Centennial Trail No. 89 had been re-routed? Perhaps this was an officially discouraged shortcut?

*See the green slash? Maybe this is the way back to Centennial Trail No. 89?* Photo looks N.

Lupe and SPHP followed the slash N down a snowy slope. Before long the slash led to another trail that was unobstructed. Continuing N, Lupe spotted a Centennial Trail No. 89 marker on a tree. Exactly where she’d lost the trail in the first place still wasn’t clear, but at least she was back on it again.

*Back on Centennial Trail No. 89 again! See the marker on the tree on the L?* Photo looks N.

The single track went virtually all the way back to Horse Soldier Road, but did not connect to it. Instead, right next to the road and a bit below it, the trail skirted around the W end of a forested ravine.

Once N of the ravine, the trail turned E again. Lupe was on the side of a fairly steep slope.

On the N side of the ravine now. Photo looks W.

The trail left the ravine going N along the E side of a hill. Lupe could see white headstones. Fort Meade National Cemetery was up on the hill. This small cemetery was established in 1878 by surviving members of General Custer’s 7th cavalry.

**Fort Meade National Cemetery** came into view. Photo looks NW.

After skirting the E and N sides of the cemetery, Centennial Trail No. 89 went around the W end of a much larger ravine. Again the trail turned NE following another ridge out toward the prairie.

Heading for the next ridge N of the cemetery. Photo looks N.

Looking ENE along the ridge N of Fort Meade National Cemetery.

The trail went partway down the NE end of the ridge. Lupe enjoyed some nice views along in here.

Nearing the E end of the last ridge. Photo looks ENE.

Once more, the trail looped back around to the W and returned to the forest. Lupe climbed a little, then descended into a valley filled with snow. All these winding loops the trail had made had chewed up a lot of time. Never high in December, the sun was sinking toward the horizon.

The sun was already sinking when Lupe reached this snowy valley. Photo looks SW.

The valley floor was flat and fairly wide. A private home sat a little N of the trail. As Lupe went past it, the trail turned SW. There were tons of footprints in the snow, but Loop hadn’t seen anyone all day.

The far SW end of the valley was narrower. An odd stone building stood near the trail. Beyond it, Lupe could see Horse Soldier Road again. She dropped by the building to sniff around a bit, but discovered nothing of interest. The building looked like it had been abandoned for a long time.

Approaching the stone building. Photo looks W.

Checking out the strange stone building.

The Carolina Dog pressed on. The trail headed N climbing a small hill. Lupe reached a minor pass. At the end of a short spur trail sat another oddity – a large stone fireplace.

This stone fireplace stood at the end of a short spur trail. Photo looks N.

A wooden fence enclosed the ground around the fireplace. No signs or plaques explained how or why the fireplace came to be here. Lupe left it just as mystified as she’d arrived.

Beyond the minor pass, Centennial Trail No. 89 made a long sweeping curve SW down into a snowy field. By the time the trail straightened out again, Looper was heading N. This was the final stretch. The Fort Meade trailhead was just ahead.

On the big curve leading to the final stretch. Photo looks NW.

Almost there! **Bear Butte** (R) comes into view again. Photo looks NNE.

Made it! Looper stands at the entrance to the Fort Meade trailhead. Photo looks N.

At the information display. Photo looks W.

Lupe had made it! She had traveled the entire length of Centennial Trail No. 89 between the Alkali Creek and Fort Meade trailheads. It had been a pleasant, mostly easy trek offering a variety of terrain, scenes, and complete solitude.

SPHP had hoped Lupe would have time to climb Peak 3950 on the way back to the G6, but the sun was already way too low for that. Even just retracing her entire route would take longer than desired. Time for a shortcut! Lupe and SPHP left the Fort Meade trailhead heading S on Horse Soldier Road.

The road was icy. After getting past the Fort Meade National Cemetery, a trail left the road heading S. A post said this was Trail No. 10. The trail looked like a shortcut that might lead down to the icy pond Lupe had seen earlier. Why not explore it?

About to leave Horse Soldier Road to venture down Trail No. 10. The end of Peak 4027’s long N ridge is seen on the R. Photo looks S.

Trail No. 10 went E along a steep slope with southern exposure. Sure enough, after 0.5 mile the American Dingo came to the frozen pond.

Looking down on the frozen pond from Trail No. 10. Photo looks SE.

Horse Soldier Road and Centennial Trail No. 89 were close to the pond. Lupe crossed the road. Enough daylight remained to retrace the rest of the trail. Lupe completed a second ascent of Peak 4027 before dark.

**Bear Butte** from the same stump on Peak 4027 that Lupe had been on before. Photo looks NNE.

Light was fading by the time Lupe made it down off Peak 4027. It was dusk when she went past the Alkali Creek trailhead.

Gates still open! Could have parked there! Oh, well. A cold N breeze blew as Lupe and SPHP trudged along Horse Creek Road in silence. Didn’t matter. Not much farther to the G6 anyway. (4:49 PM, 33°F)

Bear Butte from Centennial Trail No. 89, 12-10-18

Notes – Horse Soldier Road goes from I-90 Exit 34 near the Alkali Creek trailhead to Hwy 34/79 a mile E of Sturgis near the Fort Meade trailhead. This road is also known as the National Back Country Byway or Cemetery Drive (N part) or Old Stone Road (S part).

Links:

Next Black Hills Expedition Prior Black Hills Expedition

Next Trail Section North:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 149 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Fort Meade to Bear Butte Lake (12-19-15)

Next Trail Section South:

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 274 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Elk Creek to Alkali Creek (4-10-21)

Centennial Trail Map & Brochure

Fort Meade Recreation Area

Bear Butte State Park

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Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 238 – Centennial Trail No. 89: South Boxelder Creek to Dalton Lake (10-28-18)

Start – 8:53 AM, 28°F, South Boxelder Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 one mile W of Nemo, SD

Chilly. Frost on the grass. Lupe didn’t mind the brisk morning air at all. She was eager to begin a big day of adventures exploring another section of Centennial Trail No. 89. Dalton Lake, her objective, was 6.1 miles away. If the Carolina Dog got off to a good start, she ought to have time enough to visit a few minor Black Hills peaks along the way, too.

As soon as SPHP was ready, Lupe set off on a level path heading NW by the main road. The path quickly led to a ford of Boxelder Creek. Since SPHP didn’t feel like fording Boxelder Creek on a cold morning, Lupe skipped the ford, too. Two bridges along the road got Lupe and SPHP over the creek twice in rapid succession.

Beyond the second bridge was an ATV trail on the R. A sign indicated the ATV trail also served as part of Centennial Trail No. 89. Loop followed it into the forest.

Lupe at the 2nd bridge over **Boxelder Creek**. This bridge is a short distance upstream of the South Boxelder Creek trailhead. Photo looks SW.

Leaving the main road. **Boxelder Creek** is on the R. Photo looks NE.

Centennial Trail No. 89 headed N gaining elevation at an easy pace. Lupe passed through a fairly dense pine forest featuring occasional stands of white-barked aspens.

Following the ATV trail through the first stretch of forest. Photo looks N.

Over less than 0.5 mile, Lupe gained 200 feet of elevation before arriving at a minor pass. Looper simply ignored an intersection with a dirt road and went straight on over the pass. The trail lost elevation before turning E toward more open country.

After going over a minor pass, Centennial Trail No. 89 heads for more open country. Photo looks E.

Lupe passed through a big meadow where several dirt roads intersected the trail. Just E of this meadow a small rise led up to another section of forest. The trail leveled off, curved SE, then began dropping again.

Temporarily on higher ground after crossing the big meadow. Photo looks SE.

Lupe wasn’t far from Nemo. She started seeing buildings through the trees. However, instead of going on into Nemo, Centennial Trail No. 89 turned sharply N. The trail crossed over to the E side of Nemo Road, then went N 200 yards to a junction with Vanocker Canyon Road.

Just off Centennial Trail No. 89 near Nemo. Photo looks ENE.

Lupe reaches the junction of Nemo Road & Vanocker Canyon Road. **Peak 5237**, which she hoped to climb a little later in the day, is on the R. Photo looks N.

The trail now turned NE following Vanocker Canyon Road. After going over a small tributary of Boxelder Creek, the road curved N. Centennial Trail No. 89 continued to parallel the road for a little way, but then began angling E up a large forested draw. Lupe gained elevation steadily again on her way up to a second, somewhat higher pass.

Looking S down a minor tributary of Boxelder Creek from Vanocker Canyon Road. This was the last water Lupe would come to before reaching Dalton Lake.

On the way up to the second pass after leaving Vanocker Canyon Road. Photo looks S.

At the second pass Centennial Trail No. 89 ran alongside USFS Road No. 144, which also headed E just S of the trail.

Going over the 2nd pass. USFS Road No. 144 is on the R. Photo looks E.

Once over the pass, the trail lost a bit of elevation before turning N away from USFS Road No. 144. Centennial Trail No. 89 made a long sweeping curve up a large draw, eventually rounding a sharp bend leading up to much flatter ground.

Lupe was now on a long ridge she would be following for the next 1.5 miles. This was the start some of the most remote country she would travel through today. Along the way she could expect a couple of minor peakbagging opportunities and occasional distant views.

Lupe reaches the high ground of a long ridge she would be following NW & N for the next 1.5 miles. Photo looks NNW.

Centennial Trail No. 89 headed NW. Loop was still gaining elevation, but very slowly. The forest in this area had been thinned by loggers. It was possible to see quite a bit of local territory between the remaining pines. This first part of the ridge was very broad and flat. The trail stayed far from the unseen edge.

After going 0.33 mile NW, it appeared that Lupe might be nearing the W end of the ridge. Her first peakbagging objective, Peak 5237 couldn’t be far from here, yet there didn’t seem to be any higher ground around. What could be seen of the terrain was almost perfectly level. SPHP called a brief halt to check the topo map.

Thinking Lupe couldn’t be too far from Peak 5237, yet seeing nothing but flat terrain, SPHP called a brief halt here to check the map. Photo looks SW.

The map showed that Peak 5237 was likely still a good 0.25 mile away. Before Lupe would get there, the trail ought to swing N a short distance then turn WNW crossing a much narrower and slightly lower section of the ridge. When the ridge started widening out again, Peak 5237 should be close by off to the SW.

It all worked out just as the map foretold. Within minutes of returning to the trail, Lupe did come to a decidedly narrower part of the ridge. She crossed it quickly, and as the ridge began to widen out again, the roar of engines was heard. ATV’s were approaching from the N. A forested slope with considerable deadfall timber and slash rose toward the SW.

Crossing the narrower part of the ridge. Photo looks WNW.

Lupe reaches the point where the ridge widens out somewhat again. Peak 5237 is close by up the slope to the L.

Lupe and SPHP left Centennial Trail No. 89, disappearing up the slope before the ATV’s arrived. It wasn’t far to the highest ground, maybe 200 yards. Lupe found the top of Peak 5237 covered with slash. Not pretty, but a minor peakbagging success nonetheless.

*So this is it, SPHP? The towering summit of **Peak 5237**? Not too impressive, but I’ll take credit for another peakbagging success anyway!* Photo looks W.

Peak 5237’s actual high point might not have been much to look at, but only a few 10’s of feet away to the S and W were small cliffs from which Lupe could get some fairly nice views. The Carolina Dog could see SSW toward Nemo. To the NW she had a good look at Green Top (5,360 ft.).

*Hey, SPHP! I can see the intersection of Nemo & Vanocker Canyon roads from here! We were down there just a little while ago!* Photo looks SSW toward the Nemo area.

**Green Top** (Center) from Peak 5237. The more distant high point a bit to the L of **Green Top** is **Terry Peak (7,064 ft.)**. Photo looks NW.

After a short break by the cliffs, Lupe and SPHP returned to Centennial Trail No. 89. The trail wound down a steepish slope to the N losing 100 feet of elevation before reaching a saddle. This was the lowest point along the ridgeline. Almost immediately, the trail began regaining all the elevation it had just lost.

Before topping out, Lupe came to a rock platform along the W edge of the ridge. This platform was very close to the trail and provided another good look at a broad expanse of territory to the W.

Lupe discovers another viewpoint Just W of the trail. Photo looks WSW.

After a quick look, Lupe continued N. She soon reached the next high ground along the ridge. The Carolina Dog was virtually as high as she had been at Peak 5237. This region was quite broad and flat again for 0.25 mile. Near the N end, the ridge narrowed and began to drop slightly. Across a wide valley, Lupe caught glimpses of cliffs near the S end of her next peakbagging objective.

Continuing N, Lupe caught glimpses of this line of small cliffs near the S end of her next peakbagging objective. Photo looks WNW.

This next objective, which SPHP planned on naming Mile High Plateau, sat more than 0.25 mile off to the W of Centennial Trail No. 89. That was within reason. Mile High Plateau might be a fun place to explore. Lupe wouldn’t be able to head toward it, though, until she got to High Point 5217 where the ridge she was following more or less ended, and split off into branches going E and W.

High Point 5217 wasn’t much farther. The American Dingo was soon there. A power line went over the edge of the ridge here, producing an opening where Loop had a view to the N.

Lupe reaches the power line in the vicinity of **High Point 5217**. The ridge Lupe had been following N ended here, splitting into branches that went E or W. Photo looks NE.

Centennial Trail No. 89 turned E here, but Mile High Plateau was W. Looper left the trail, and picked up a faint road going NW. She gained a little elevation. Pretty soon the road curved W and leveled out near the N end of a spacious, level, open forest interspersed with meadows.

SPHP was about to congratulate Lupe on reaching Mile High Plateau when a check of the topo map showed that the name didn’t fit. The highest contour was actually only 5,260 feet, a smidgen short of being a mile high. Well, phooey! Welcome to “Peak“ 5260 then, Looper!

Even “Peak” 5260 didn’t seem like such an apt name for this pancake flat region, but SPHP wasn’t going to call it Plateau 5260. In any case, it was what it was.

Lupe arrives at **“Peak” 5260** more than 0.25 mile WNW of High Point 5217 and Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks SW.

Lupe seemed perfectly happy with Peak 5260. She roamed SSW looking for an obvious high point, a big boulder or anything recognizable as the true summit. Nothing. Eventually the ground began to slope away.

No discernible true summit. Not even any views without dropping down to wherever the cliffs might be along the edge. While Lupe headed back N across the plateau, SPHP hatched another plan. A little farther NW of Peak 5260 was another slightly higher mountain. Since Lupe was in the vicinity, why not climb it, too?

An initial look at Peak 5300 was encouraging. Lupe could climb it easily enough. Shouldn’t take too long.

An initial look at **Peak 5300** from Peak 5260 was encouraging. Lupe could climb Peak 5300 easily enough. Photo looks NW.

Loop and SPHP headed down into the saddle leading to Peak 5300. The easiest route up the mountain appeared to be a forested slope right in the middle of the SE face flanked by small cliffs on either side.

Lupe would have headed straight for this slope, but a huge long pile of logs stacked across the saddle forced her clear around the NE end. The Carolina Dog consequently wound up taking on a steeper portion of the slope more toward the NE.

A steep, but relatively short climb brought Lupe up onto flat, forested ground near the true summit of Peak 5300.

**Peak 5300** (Center) from Peak 5260. **Green Top** is on the L. Photo looks NW.

Loop makes it to the top of **Peak 5300**, the highest mountain she would climb today. Photo looks E.

The top of Peak 5300 wasn’t nearly as vast as the top of Peak 5260 had been, but this smaller summit was also quite flat. Although Lupe had come up near the highest end of the mountain, once again no one point stood out as the exact location of the true summit.

Peak 5300 was as high as Loopster was going to get today, but she still couldn’t see much due to the forest. The one fairly decent view was of Vanocker Canyon Road off to the NW.

Vanocker Canyon Road (R) from the N end of Peak 5300. The ridge toward the L is part of **White Mansion (5,340 ft.)**. Photo looks NW.

The topo map showed more high ground only slightly lower than the summit near the S end of Peak 5300. Lupe and SPHP headed that way in search of better viewpoints. The Carolina Dog found some, too! She came to a good spot to take another short break along the W edge.

**Green Top** (L) & **White Mansion** (R) from close to the S end of Peak 5300. **Custer Peak (6,804 ft.)** is much more distant between them. Photo looks W.

Lupe near the W edge of of **Peak 5300** where she took a short break. This was a nice spot. Photo looks SSW.

It was the usual fare. Lupe had Taste of the Wild. SPHP consumed an apple. Contemplating the views W of Peak 5300 was relaxing. However, Lupe still had a long way to go to get to Dalton Lake. Better get a move on. Before leaving Peak 5300, Loop went to the far S end. This was a somewhat lower area, but featured the most dramatic viewpoint.

Lupe on a limestone outcropping at the far S end of **Peak 5300**. Photo looks S.

Having explored the top of Peak 5300 from one end to the other, Lupe left the mountain by the easiest route down the middle of the SE slope. She traversed the saddle leading back to the N end of Peak 5260, ultimately returning to Centennial Trail No. 89 near High Point 5217.

Loop on her way back to **Peak 5260**. Photo looks SE.

The time for peakbagging and any other dillydallying was over. Lupe headed E on Centennial Trail No. 89. To SPHP’s surprise, the trail did not stay on the high ground of the ridge to the E, but dropped into the forest a little down the N side.

Back on Centennial Trail No. 89 descending into the forest on the upper N slope of a long ridge going E. Photo looks E.

The trail quickly led to a cool gap between limestone formations. Lupe emerged from the gap seemingly back on top of a ridge. However, the trail almost immediately made a very sharp turn to the NW and started a long descent. This jog NW proved to be a single long switchback. At the lower end, Centennial Trail No. 89 veered sharply E again.

Passing through the limestone gap. Photo looks E.

Centennial Trail No. 89 maintained a course heading ENE for more than a mile. Still well up on a vast forested slope, Lupe lost net elevation only gradually. She could occasionally see the top of the ridge to the S as little as 100 feet higher than the trail. Little Elk Canyon was off to the N, but the forest seldom permitted more than a glimpse.

Centennial Trail No. 89 stayed well up on the N side of a ridge for more than a mile, but Lupe couldn’t see much due to the forest. Photo looks ENE.

A glimpse of the upper end of **Little Elk Canyon**. Photo looks NW.

A partial view across **Little Elk Canyon**. Photo looks N.

Mid-afternoon was approaching, the busiest part of the day. Several groups of ATV’s went by. Eventually the trail split. ATV’s were routed onto a lower track. Lupe and SPHP continued ENE on the upper track.

The trail went on and on. Sometimes ATV’s went by. Photo looks E.

Centennial Trail No. 89 eventually divided. Motorized vehicles were directed onto the lower track on the L. Lupe & SPHP stuck with the upper track on the R. Photo looks E.

The trail went on and on without losing much elevation. Dalton Lake was down in Little Elk Canyon, and couldn’t be much farther E. Finally, just beyond a No Motorized Vehicles sign, Centennial Trail No. 89 left the roadbed it had been following and veered L (NE) down into the forest.

Centennial Trail No. 89 heads down into the trees on the L just beyond this sign. This is where the real descent to Dalton Lake begins. Photo looks NE.

For the first time today, Centennial Trail No. 89 was a single track trail instead of an ATV trail. The descent into Little Elk Canyon now began in earnest. The trail wasn’t really steep, but Lupe was losing elevation a lot faster than before. She descended a series of tight switchbacks. Lower down the switchbacks were longer and more gradual.

Loop begins the descent into Little Elk Canyon on the single track trail. Photo looks NE.

Getting close to the bottom. Photo looks NW.

The American Dingo passed through a gate as Centennial Trail No. 89 emerged from the forest. This was it, Little Elk Canyon! To Lupe’s R (E) was an outhouse. Ahead was USFS Road No. 224. On the other (N) side of the road was the Dalton Lake trailhead.

Of course, having come all this way, Lupe wanted to see more than just the trailhead. She wanted to see Dalton Lake itself, which was 500 feet farther W. Loop and SPHP trudged up USFS Road No. 224 to the Dalton Lake campground.

Loop arrives at the Dalton Lake campground along USFS Road No. 244. Photo looks W.

A walking path led to an arched bridge over the Dalton Lake spillway. Emerald green Dalton Lake sparkled in the afternoon sunlight.

Lupe crosses the bridge over the Dalton Lake spillway. Photo looks SSE.

Dalton Lake is small, a glorified pond really. Several docks exist along the shore. Lupe and SPHP headed for the dock on the N side of the lake intending to take another short break.

*Well, we made it! All the way to Dalton Lake!* Photo looks E.

As low as the sun was getting, it was clear that Lupe couldn’t stay at **Dalton Lake** very long before beginning her journey back to the South Boxelder Creek trailhead. Photo looks WSW.

Lupe didn’t take much of a break at the dock. A chipmunk among the cattails along the N shore caught her attention. She spent the rest of her break time puzzling over how to get at that tricky, tiny squirrel. Meanwhile, SPHP enjoyed the lake.

Looking toward the S shore from the N dock. Photo looks SE.

The sun was sinking. SPHP encouraged the American Dingo to abandon her unsuccessful chipmunk quest. Before leaving the area, Loop and SPHP took a stroll through the empty campground on the S shore.

Lupe at the **Dalton Lake campground**. The campground was closed and empty this time of year, but looked like a fun place to stay. Photo looks WSW.

Cattails near the W end of **Dalton Lake**. Photo looks NW.

Late afternoon. 6.1 miles back to the South Boxelder Creek trailhead. Lupe and SPHP headed back to Centennial Trail No. 89.

With the exception of the peakbagging side trips, Lupe had to retrace her entire route. The Carolina Dog made great progress. The sun was still up when she went through the limestone gap shortly before reaching High Point 5217.

Back at the limestone gap. Photo looks W.

The sun had just set as Loop reached Peak 5237 again. Thinking there might be a great sunset, SPHP led Looper back to the summit, then on to the nearby W-facing cliffs. However, the sun had disappeared behind a bank of clouds. The whole sky was gray.

Lupe returns to **Peak 5237** at sunset, but the sky is gray. Photo looks SW.

Rather than wait to see what would happen, Lupe and SPHP returned to Centennial Trail No. 89. May as well use the fast diminishing twilight to get as far as possible before having to bring out the flashlight.

10 or 15 minutes later, the forest back to the W was on fire. An orange glow highlighted the dark pines. The sunset had developed after all. Should have waited. Oh, well.

Darkness descended upon the Black Hills. By the time Lupe crossed Nemo Road to begin the final leg of the journey back to the South Boxelder Creek trailhead, a black, moonless, and nearly starless night had taken over. An hour to go? Something like that. Tramp, tramp. Sniff, sniff. Puppy ho! Onward! (End – 7:36 PM, 35°F)