{"id":16500,"date":"2018-10-19T08:10:23","date_gmt":"2018-10-19T14:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=16500"},"modified":"2020-09-24T15:00:26","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T21:00:26","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-234-centennial-trail-no-89-rapid-creek-to-deer-creek-9-22-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=16500","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 234 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Rapid Creek to Deer Creek (9-22-18)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Start – 10:42 AM, 69 \u00b0F, Rapid Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89<\/em><\/p>\n

Sad to say it, but Lupe’s many adventures on 3 separate Dingo Vacations during the grand summer of 2018 were over.\u00a0 It was officially fall now, and the American Dingo had been back at home for a whole week.\u00a0 That was more than enough time to get all rested up and start missing those long summer days spent exploring magnificent far away places.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 Oh, yeah!\u00a0 She could hardly wait!<\/p>\n

Loop had explored some of the 111 mile long Centennial Trail No. 89<\/strong><\/span><\/a> back in the spring.\u00a0 It seemed only natural to pick up from where she’d left off at the Rapid Creek trailhead below the Pactola Reservoir dam.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe happy to be back at the Rapid Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89 for the first time since spring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Leaving the trailhead, Centennial Trail No. 89 goes a short distance W before crossing Rapid Creek on Pactola Basin Road.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe drops by for a look at the scenic pond below the dam. Photo looks WSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A couple of ducks flew away as the Carolina Dog approached.\u00a0 At the pond’s outlet, a footbridge provided a way over Rapid Creek.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP lingered a few minutes admiring the scenic pond before following the creek downstream back to Pactola Basin Road.\u00a0 Along the way, Loop cooled her paws off and helped herself to a drink.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cooling off in Rapid Creek. The footbridge Lupe had crossed by the pond is in view. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once back at Pactola Basin Road, Lupe followed it NW.\u00a0 The road soon curved to the L (W) to start winding steeply up to the top of the dam.\u00a0 Centennial Trail No. 89, however, took a side road NW up a small valley.\u00a0 Sticking with the trail, Lupe passed by several cabins.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Sticking with Centennial Trail No. 89 after leaving Pactola Basin Road, Lupe passes by the last cabin along a side road. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond the last cabin, Centennial Trail No. 89 continued NW.\u00a0 The trail was well marked and easy to follow.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading up the valley. Part of Pactola Reservoir dam is seen on the L (W).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The trail was clearly marked and easy to follow even though the road soon began to fade. Photo looks N.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The road faded away.\u00a0 Centennial Trail No. 89 was now a single track trail, which began to climb more steeply.\u00a0 Lupe quickly reached the top of a small ridge.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog was now high enough to see Highway 385 and part of Pactola Reservoir off to the W & SW.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Centennial Trail No. 89 had narrowed to a single track by the time Lupe was high enough to see Highway 385 and part of Pactola Reservoir. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The steepest part of Centennial Trail No. 89 the American Dingo would encounter today was just ahead.\u00a0 Even so, the rate of climb remained moderate.\u00a0 The trail snaked up a long slope, passing near a utility line.\u00a0 Higher up, a view began to open up back to the S.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Continuing higher. This next section was the steepest part of Centennial Trail No. 89 that Lupe would encounter today. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
As Lupe gained elevation, a view to the S began to open up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After passing through a meadow, Loopster reached a high point where Centennial Trail No. 89 leveled out.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog had gained 500 feet of elevation, and was now 0.75 mile from the Rapid Creek trailhead.\u00a0 This was the end of the first big climb.\u00a0 Directly ahead the trail entered the forest.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 In fact, Lupe probably had enough time to leave the trail and do a little peakbagging.\u00a0 Perrin Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,212 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> was less than a mile E.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe left the trail setting out for Perrin Mountain.\u00a0 She gained another 100 feet of elevation climbing a forested slope to the NE.\u00a0 This brought her up onto Perrin Mountain’s WNW ridge.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog traveled NE across a broad thinly forested saddle to a big rock formation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Off trail now, Lupe approaches a big rock formation on her way to Perrin Mountain. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the big rock formation, Lupe followed the ridge SE.\u00a0 She passed over several high and low points on the way to Perrin Mountain, but the elevation changes weren’t dramatic.\u00a0 She soon came to a large power line.\u00a0 The clear cut area along the power line provided the best view of Pactola Reservoir thus far.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking S toward Pactola Reservoir from the power line that crosses Perrin Mountain’s WNW ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The rest of the way to Perrin Mountain, Lupe caught only tree-broken glimpses of the lake.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 The true summit was a small rock outcropping 30 feet to the N.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe arrives at the odd “Hurt Locker” sign on Perrin Mountain<\/strong>. Photo looks E.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At Perrin Mountain’s true summit. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Perrin Mountain was too heavily forested to see much of anything.\u00a0 Lupe took a short break near the summit before returning to Centennial Trail No. 89 via the same route.\u00a0 The Perrin Mountain<\/span><\/a> (5,212 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> side trip was Lupe’s only peakbagging success of the day.\u00a0 From now on she would stick to the trail.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading back to Centennial Trail No. 89 along Perrin Mountain’s WNW ridge. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe made it back to Centennial Trail No. 89 at the same point she’d left it.\u00a0 She now followed the trail N into the forest.\u00a0 It remained level for a little while, before curving W and beginning to lose elevation steadily.\u00a0 Going down a fairly steep forested ravine, Lupe soon reached Highway 385.\u00a0 SPHP helped Lupe cross the busy highway safely.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Starting down toward Highway 385 after reaching Centennial Trail No. 89 again. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching Highway 385 after losing nearly 300 feet of elevation. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

W of Highway 385 the trail lost a bit more elevation.\u00a0 Lupe could soon see the inlet where the N boat launch on Pactola Reservoir is located.\u00a0 The trail got quite close the lake, but stayed 30 feet above the water.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe enjoys some fall colors along Centennial Trail No. 89 after crossing Hwy 385. Photo looks W.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking toward the N boat launch on Pactola Reservoir. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond the N end of the inlet, Centennial Trail No. 89 headed NW up a shallow valley.\u00a0 This was the start of the second notable climb along the trail.\u00a0 This climb was much longer than the first one, but quite gradual the whole way.\u00a0 Occasionally it was interrupted by level or short downhill sections.<\/p>\n

After crossing the paved road leading down to the N boat launch, the trail turned back toward the SW.\u00a0 Eventually the boat launch could be glimpsed below to the E.\u00a0 Although Lupe wasn’t far from the main body of Pactola Reservoir here, she couldn’t see it due to the forest.\u00a0 The trail now curved toward the W on high ground SE of Boarding House Gulch.<\/p>\n

Where the trail turned N again, Lupe came to a bit of open ground from which she could see part of Pactola Reservoir.\u00a0 This was a good spot to take another break.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe wasn’t quite halfway to the Deer Creek trailhead yet, so this second rest break was also fairly brief.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

The trail was fairly level along in here.\u00a0 SPHP liked this area since higher ground to the NE screened most of the traffic noise from Hwy 385.\u00a0 Lupe liked it because she was having success finding squirrels to bark at.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe liked racing along level sections of the trail near Boarding House Gulch like this one looking for squirrels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After winding around quite a bit, Centennial Trail No. 89 crossed over to the other side of Boarding House Gulch.\u00a0 Here the trail was no longer single track.\u00a0 For about a mile it followed a much straighter dirt road climbing slowly, but steadily NW.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe approaching the end of the single track trail in Boarding House Gulch<\/strong>. Just ahead Centennial Trail No. 89 crosses to the other side of the valley and starts following a dirt road. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Going up Boarding House Gulch<\/strong>. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Nearing a minor pass at the upper end of Boarding House Gulch<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe reached a minor pass at the upper end of Boarding House Gulch.\u00a0 A few buildings could be seen off to the NE.\u00a0 Centennial Trail No. 89 left the dirt road here, heading WNW into Smoker Gulch.\u00a0 The trail reverted to single track once again.\u00a0 Lupe passed through beautiful secluded stands of aspens that were just beginning to show fall colors.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe on the single track trail leading into Smoker Gulch<\/strong>. The aspens were just beginning to show some fall colors. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Heading W into Smoker Gulch<\/strong>. This relatively short section of single track trail was one of the prettiest and most secluded areas Lupe came to.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Leaving most of the aspens behind, the trail soon curved NNW again as it entered the upper portion of Smoker Gulch.\u00a0 For a while the trail closely paralleled yet another dirt road.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Beyond most of the aspens heading farther up Smoker Gulch<\/strong>. Photo looks NNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Smoker Gulch was only a third as long as Boarding House Gulch had been.\u00a0 Lupe was soon approaching another minor pass at its upper N end.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 She had gained about 550 feet of elevation from where she’d left the inlet of Pactola Reservoir near the N boat launch.<\/p>\n

At this pass, Lupe discovered a clearly marked junction with Deerfield Trail No. 40<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, which heads W for 23 miles to Deerfield Reservoir.\u00a0 Looper wasn’t going that way today.\u00a0 Instead, she continued N over the pass on a section of trail shared by both Centennial Trail No. 89 and Deerfield Trail No. 40.\u00a0 It wasn’t much farther to Silver City Road.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe reaches a junction with Deerfield Trail No. 40<\/strong> at the N end of Smoker Gulch. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop arrives at Silver City Road<\/strong>. Centennial Trail No. 89 & Deerfield Trail No. 40 both cross the road here. Photo looks NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

100 yards after crossing Silver City Road, Lupe reached another junction, this time with the spur trail leading to the Deer Creek trailhead.\u00a0 SPHP didn’t immediately recognize the junction for what it was.\u00a0 Lupe stayed to the L continuing N on Deerfield Trail No. 89.\u00a0 She didn’t get far before SPHP realized the mistake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It only took a minute or two to get back to the spur trail.\u00a0 The spur trail itself was only a 5 minute trek down a slope to the E.\u00a0 At the bottom Lupe finally reached the Deer Creek trailhead, her objective for the day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
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.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Except for the empty parking lot, there wasn’t much to see at the Deer Creek trailhead.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t stick around for long.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Ready to head back! Lupe sits at the start of the spur trail at the Deer Creek trailhead. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Back at the junction of the spur trail and Centennial Trail No. 89. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The return trip was pleasant and easy.\u00a0 Except for the big climb after crossing Highway 385, it was mostly downhill.\u00a0 Lupe sniffed and ran.\u00a0 She barked at squirrels.\u00a0 She saw several deer and even a couple of elk.\u00a0 She did not revisit Perrin Mountain, staying on Centennial Trail No. 89 the whole way.<\/p>\n

The sun was about to disappear by the time the American Dingo reached the Rapid Creek trailhead again.\u00a0 (End – 6:51 PM, 63 \u00b0F)\u00a0 <\/em>It had been a fun day on Centennial Trail No. 89, but Lupe was ready to head home.\u00a0 She hopped into the G6.\u00a0 SPHP drove up Pactola Basin Road to the junction with Highway 385 near the N end of the dam.<\/p>\n

Lupe’s return home had to be delayed!\u00a0 From the dam, a gorgeous sunset could be seen over Pactola Reservoir.\u00a0 SPHP drove across the highway to a viewpoint overlooking the lake.\u00a0 Together Lupe and SPHP watched until the blazing display faded to gray.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Oh, I guess we better hang around for this!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Sunset at Pactola Lake, 9-22-18.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Starting to fade, but still exquisite!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
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!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Expedition<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Next Trail Section S:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 229 – Centennial Trail No. 89 – Brush Creek to Rapid Creek & Perrin Mountain (5-14-18)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Next Trail Section N:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 235 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Deer Creek to Pilot Knob (9-29-18)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Centennial Trail No. 89 brochure & map<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0 Check out Lupe’s Black Hills, SD & WY\u00a0Expeditions\u00a0Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a>!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Start – 10:42 AM, 69 \u00b0F, 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.\u00a0 It was officially fall now, and the American Dingo had been back at home for a whole week.\u00a0 That was … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 234 – Centennial Trail No. 89: Rapid Creek to Deer Creek (9-22-18)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16466,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[105,9,106,527,990,104,543,982,304],"class_list":["post-16500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-centennial-trail-no-89","tag-deer-creek-trailhead","tag-lupe","tag-perrin-mountain","tag-rapid-creek-trailhead","tag-south-dakota"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_2244.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16500"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16500\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22509,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16500\/revisions\/22509"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}