Escape Your Comfort Zone: Backpacking Mount Rushmore
4 Days of Solo Backpacking, Hiking & Camping in the Black Hills National Forest of South Dakota.
For this late summer backpacking adventure, I decided check out two places I had never been to before - the Mount Rushmore Memorial and the adjacent Black Elk Wilderness within the Black Hills National Forest.
I was surprised to discover that there’s actually a trailhead right at the base of Mount Rushmore, so it seemed like to perfect opportunity to create a unique backpacking experience.
Speaking of those looming presidential faces, I should make an important point - While the Mount Rushmore statue, parking lot and visitor center, etc. is a National Memorial (managed by the National Park Service), the surrounding area is National Forest, so dispersed camping is all good!
With that in mind, I mapped out a roughly 30 mile hiking loop using the available trails, packed my tent, sleeping pad and some backpacking food into my backpack, and got a ride from my wife to the trailhead.
Due to the close proximity to the National Monument, the trailhead parking lot is closed off to overnight parking. This probably makes this a lesser used starting point for backpackers, but it’s well worth it if you have someone nice enough to drop you off and pick you up after a few days of camping in the Black Elk Wilderness.
For an easier read, more info and GPS data, check out my blog post
www.sintax77.com/escape-your-c...
Trailhead Used: Mount Rushmore Blackberry Trailhead, 43°52’24.5″N 103°27’15.9″W
Mount Rushmore, SD 57751
Trails Used, Day 1
Blackberry Trail
Left (west) on Centennial Trail
Setup Camp along Centennial Trail.
This is a nice campsite tucked off the trail with water readily available from nearby Grizzly Bear Creek. There are two flat grassy clearing separated by some trees that make for easy camping. Note: campfires are not permitted in the Black Elk Wilderness.
Day 1 Mileage: 1.07 Miles
Day 1 Elevation Gross Gain: 2′
Day 1 Elevation Gross Descent: 337′
Trails Used, Day 2
Backtrack on Centennial Trail
At the intersection, continue Centennial Trail
Left (North) on Harney Trail
Setup camp along Harney Trail.
This is a small spot tucked back in the boulders along the trail. This is a dry campsite. Water is available 1 mile downhill on the Willow Creek Trail. My stats below include the roundtrip to go get water after setting up camp.
Day 2 Mileage: 11.22 Miles
Day 2 Gross Elevation Gain: 2,219′
Day 2 Gross Descent: ‘1,609
Trails Used, Day 3
Backtrack on Harney Trail
At the intersection, continue on Harney Trail
Spur Trail to Black Elk Peak and back
Formerly Harney Peak, with an elevation of 7,244 feet, this is the tallest peak in South Dakota and the Midwest.
Norbeck Trail
Grizzly Bear Creek Trail
Setup camp along Grizzly Bear Creek.
This is an awesome campsite with expansive views and opportunities for a couple tents or hammocks. Water is available from small stream hidden in the tall grass along the trail a short distance before arriving at the campsite. If the spot is occupied, there’s a heard path at the back of the site heading up hill to more options.
Day 3 Mileage: 8.33 Miles
Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 1,990′
Day 3 Gross Descent: 2,057′
Trails Used, Day 4
Continue on Grizzly Bear Creek Trail
Centennial Trail
Blackberry Trail
Return to Mt Rushmore Blackberry Trailhead
Day 4 Mileage: 6.84 Miles
Day 4 Gross Elevation Gain: 814′
Day 4 Gross Descent: 1,020′
Grand Total Mileage: 27.46 Miles
Grand Total Elevation Gain: 5,025′
Caltopo Map for this trip
caltopo.com/m/BGG1V
Пікірлер: 170
Good guy Syntax, bringing his bad luck rainstorms to drought stricken areas.
@maineiacts
9 ай бұрын
Lol! Come visit s.w.iowa!! Drought here too!
would love to see more videos with you and Sarah camping, and traveling the trails together!
@brvl20121
9 ай бұрын
I would too Saeah is awsome
@brvl20121
9 ай бұрын
sorry typo Sarah
@mrwes100
7 ай бұрын
Who wouldn't? LOL
German plates, from the Pinneberg district, north west of Hamburg.
That RV is from a town close to Hamburg/Germany. I absolutely love these Allroad-RVs. They are often based on former military trucks.
As a beginning backpacker who just found your channel yesterday, I wanted to drop a quick note to say how much I love your videos. Hearing you explain your thinking and planning, and showing the random little things is a huge boost to confidence getting out in the wilderness. Thanks for doing what you do!
In case no one said it yet, the RV or camping truck is from Germany. I have seen RVs from the Netherlands, as well as the UK here recently. They usually ship them over via cargo ship, and pick them up at the cargo terminal or whatever they enter as the destination.
@maineiacts
9 ай бұрын
Thanks @Harald_in_wv Looked like a military vehicle from what I imagined was Ukr, or middle east.. speculating...
@harald_in_wv
9 ай бұрын
My pleasure. =) @@maineiacts Those kind of trucks are often marketed as expedition vehicles. Precursor versions were used on the Paris - Dakar Rally some years ago.
Great trip... Hiking in that heat not knowing where exactly the water is really a crappy feeling. History is always interesting to learn where you are hiking or places you are familiar with, then learn the history. Enjoyed watching. Take care sintax77
Still remember Mike singing the karate kid song when you guys were second guessing camping in the bitter cold in the Whites. Your the best around nobody gonna bring you down 😂
Yea! A new Sintax77 video made my day. Thanks Shawn!
Yep those MAN RV's are from Germany. It is the collest and craziest things. Missy and I have ran into about 12 - 15 of them in our Van Life Travels. Nearly each time it has been a German family going from Alalska or Canada down to Argentina. They all say it is a somewhat normal thing for adventurous German families to do. So damn cool. Great video!
The Black Hills give a haunted vibe! Great hike,maybe one of my favorites! Thanks for taking the world along!
Outstanding trip! Thanks for bringing us along.
Outstanding!
Always awesome to see you and Sara on an adventure! Thanks for sharing
Thank you for another fine backpacking video!!
I know that feeling when you finally find water. Yes!
Thanks for taking us along... Awesome video as always!
Always a good day when a syntax video drops 👍
Awesome trip! Thanks for sharing.
I am home sick in bed today and was just thinking I could stand to watch a new Sintax adventure, and lo and behold... does look like Maine in parts!
Always a great time exploring new areas. Thanks for sharing.
A great trip to one of my favorite states! If work and family wasn't next door in Iowa, I'd be living near the Black Hills. We honeymooned there and have been back a few times.
Just went there from Sept 5th to the 20th. Did Black Elk and Devils Tower and Spires. Incredibly beautiful there!!! Great to see you survived!
When you keep scouring the tops of those peaks and mountains I can imagine smoke signals rising up into the the sky in days gone by. Such a pretty but rugged area to hike thru. Thanks. Bushyboy Oz
That's awesome! We were in SD in August as well, was planning on backpacking, but it was too hot for us! We only did the little hike/walk around Mt Rushmore . Now I'm wishing we sucked it up! Amazing views!
We probably missed each other on the Centennial trail by a few days. I hiked similar routes, including the north and south trails to/from Black Elk Peak. Really enjoyed it out there, although water was scarce to be sure. I saw very few bees but the buzzing sounds were everywhere!
@sintax77
9 ай бұрын
Nice! Yeah, same experience - the amount of bees I actually saw compared to how many it sounded like there were was pretty crazy. I guess that's better than the other way around though, haha.
Awesome hike in a pretty space! Another great video!
Cool trip /hike. Beautiful scenery!
Thanks for the great hike!
Major upgraded Sintax adventure!! Can’t wait!!
Another epic adventure! Taco flavored Doritos, I had no idea they were still available, that's bringing back a classic. 🖖
So glad to see you in my area. Lots of great trails to explore in that area -- hope you enjoyed your time!
Great video and beautiful hike. Thanks so much for sharing this with us and taking us along for your journey. Love your videos as always. Enjoy that cheeseburger you earned it.
Sean, grab 2 platypus 1L water bottles to fill up. Heavy, but it eliminates a 2 1/4 mile hike to get water! They pack down to nothing!!
fun trip. love the birches at the end. cheers
Been waiting a long time for your next vid..EXCELLENT shawn... thank you!! Hope all is well with you and your misses..
Cool to see you in my neck of the woods. Hope you enjoyed the hills
Loved the video of multiple days on the trail. Always love to see what you're eating on the trails,too. I took my first real backpacking trip last year . Your videos are very inspirational. Your channel is one of my favorites.
It’s always great to see you on a backpacking trip. Your insight and narration is always interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Used to work for the Forest Service out there. Definitely miss those hills. Thanks for the awesome video.
Excellent! Really enjoyed the long form video, thanks very much!
I visited Mt. Rushmore on a road trip in 2018. Most of my hiking on that trip was in the Nebraska panhandle at locations on the old Oregon Trail. Next time I go to SD, I will do more hiking.
You do such a great job in every video! I admire your ability to narrate and hike at the same time! So difficult to do! Thank you for all you do!
I know now what this meant, that the bison were the gift of a good spirit and were our strength, but we should lose them, and from the same good spirit we must find another strength. Black Elk
Loved this video and what an amazing area to backpack!!
We hiked in the Black Hills area 7 years ago. It's a cool area and also the Badlands. I'm still going to get you up to my area someday. 👍
On board since the turnpike days, keep up the good work boss.
@sintax77
9 ай бұрын
Old school! Love it :) ...I that video is 12 years old, now that I think about 😯
Great hike. The RV is from Germany. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you ! This trail route has been on my list for quite some time - but hasn't made it to the top of the list -yet. I hope to do a bit larger loop that includes Sylvan Lake - which I have visited many times. I have been worried about water sources north of Black Elk so your video definitely helps with planning.
Thanks for sharing. Glad you found that water. One of my fears that I pack extra of.
Wired up!!! 😃
Wow, I was hiking a local trail today in Northeast Pennsylvania with my best friend and was talking about you and how she should watch. Lo and behold you put out a video today. Love it!!
@Lymehouse1
8 ай бұрын
Just for future reference, if you care, otherwise just disregard this, but it's "lo and behold"
Brilliant upload bud, this was filmed masterfully! Love it!
@sintax77
9 ай бұрын
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
Gorgeouse area for hike camp explore nice of your wife to see you off and send some food items . Awesome sheltered camp areas with a view along this beautiful trail system. . Not being able to find water along the trail on a very hot day deffinantly would suck. But faith was on your side . Oh my walking around those mountains , what a spectacular site for the eyes their amazing. Looks like a scene from Jerasic Park ( another world ). Beautiful video thanks for taking us with you. Ontario Canada.
I can’t believe you would not walk through the grassy field , grass wasn’t even knee-high lol ! Well, you didn’t suck it up you chickened out ! Beautiful scenery…
Wow your in my country now! Awesome
We hiked the trail up to the fire lookout shelter on Mt. Hearney about 11 years ago. Day hiked it in some heat like you were in! Enjoy, Shawn!
Very nice so far man !
I love the Black Elk Wilderness. I was there 4 days the end of August
Awesome video
When you said it's time to stop waxing poetic, I chuckled! I was loving that part of the video. My first trip to the West was inspired by Forrest Fenn, the man that hid the treasure with a poem that had the solve. He was a master at piquing one's interest in history. Learning the history of anyplace before you go makes it so much more enjoyable. I was worried for you about the water. Great video!
Thanks for the video
Shawn, always a great time watching your videos. MIA Trailkiler Enjoyed watching you guys together Thanks for sharing
Welcome Back, Kotter!
WOW! looking forward to watching this video. Go west young man......haha.
I've done the peak a few times. Used to have the centennial trail about 50 yards off my backyard. Glad you made it to SD. I will hike the full centennial trail at some point. That's my thru hike.
@sintax77
9 ай бұрын
Wow, that's awesome. Hope make it out there for the centennial full hike! :)
Small building is a pump house, that area is reservoir if you walked to the other hump you can see the dam. It was full of water when I was there
I just found your channel and watched this video because I was up at Mt. Rushmore about a week ago and admiring the wonderful backcountry wilderness near the monument. I tried to check out a day hike around Sheridan Lake, but the GPS took me to a place blocked off by private property. Next summer, I plan to do a couple of backpacks in or around that wilderness area and probably Custer SP. I appreciate your description of each day's itinerary and mileage. So often, I'll check out videos of backcountry trips, but the vloggers fail to use much description even though they most likely hiked it 1-3 months before posting. Anyway, thanks. I also enjoyed seeing the fortius tent in action. I have quite a bit of OV gear and appreciate it, especially the two new packs they came out with this year. The CS40 may be one of my favorite packs now. I've subscribed and look forward to future adventures.
Hey Buddy...There's nothing finer than watching Your Great video production, chewing on a beef stick while the moon is rising in the sky. 'Cept You made ME thirsty!! **Laugh** Your photography is Really Good. I'm right there with Ya. And tomorrow oI will continue My track to South Dakota.
The Static V is a great pad. Pretty durable and comfortable. I've never understood why so many people hate on Klymit. Probably one of the better "bang for the buck" brands out there. Not light, but great value.
@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism
9 ай бұрын
Because they're very dishonest in the method they use to rate their R rating. They're a third rate co. that shouldn't be supported.
The Rv/ Truck is from Germany! Pinneberg to be exact :)
“That is why the tallest peak in South Dakota looks like the tallest peak in New Hampshire.” Perhaps the most soul-moving revelation in the ever-expanding volume that is: Sintax77.
Those giant RV have been around for 20 years I know. First one I saw was in Gainesville FL. They were Austrians who rented it in Canada. The went to Nova Scotia then across Canada, down to Oregon, back across Montana then to New England. They came south to Florida, then were headed across US in the middle like from Salt Lake to California. Then from San Francisco to Texas, south to Mexico. All the way down South America to Chile. Then a driver would fly down and bring it back to Canada. They planned on 4 months or so. There is no telling what they were paying. Oh, one more thing. The thing had air ride and would kneel down. That bottom step would be 1/2 that high kneeled.
Your vid delighted me as you hiked in my territory and I've day hiked much of what you did. Did you get your cheeseburger in Keystone or the Rushmore Cafe? You were so close to a great water source at Willow Creek with a nice little waterfall. We've had a pretty wet summer compared to past years. You'll need to comeback and hike the full 123 miles of Centennial some time. All the best.👍
You and Mike in the Whites again please 🙏. Need Trailkilla back
Thanks Shawn! 👊👍 Hope you're doing well my friend, always great to hear from you 🙂 Some areas did resemble NH and Maine,very cool place to explore👍Stay safe and take care 🙏Appreciate you!
The one thing I learned from this channel is you never forget the fucking can opener.
Fantastic!
the RV at the beginning is from Pinneberg in Germany.
Awesome!!!
11:30 Pennsylvania tuxedo 😃
Oooooooooof, not finding water where the maps say it is is the worst feeling ever. I could hear your mind screaming expletives. 😂
I seen one just like that in Glady wv ,Elkins and had plates like that but also had outher tags didn’t get to talk to them but was cool so idk if it was from here or there,neat in there way tho
That RV is a Man. This is made in Germany, A company takes their 6X6 and converts it into an overland vehicle. Man may be doing the conversion. I think Stellantis might own Man. Which if it is than that is your sister company to your Jeep.
@jacobpoucher
9 ай бұрын
jeeps are trash
Sitting talking bout those noodles from iceland , was that two bottles left behind over by that tree ?? Nice video regardless 👌...
Awe! We like seeing you and Sarah hike together! Did you turn her off by forgetting the proper tent that one time (the trip where everything went wrong)??
Got out in 19 and yes those were in some 72 hour food rations lol. Not the worst thing when you're hungry but not great
If you roll that valve over completely on that pad it will let the air out and not let it back in, which is nice when you are rolling it up. I see you are still using the shoulder pouches I sent you! :)
@sintax77
9 ай бұрын
Awesome, tip! I'll try that next time. Shoulder pouches are best - thanks agiain!
It could be from Canada. Your only hours from the boarder. Your r.v. isn't far from my dad. He lives in near Whitehorse and Spearfish. It is beautiful out there that's for sure.
Welcome to hiking out West. Got to carry 8 pounds of water just to get around.
Great video. The black hills (capitalized?) are majestic. Did you say you moved into your RV? Touring or just moving? The US drought monitor might give you idea of how water sources are faring. You’ll have to do a little looking to see what “normal” is.
That’s so nice we have to rename everything, might as well get those presidents off Mount Rushmore too
@corey312
9 ай бұрын
I mean all of the mountains and landmarks that are being renamed is for a good reason. Like Mt. Evans for instance dude was a huge POS and slaughtered thousand of indians because he could..
Do you have the GPS coordinate for that Grizzly Bear camp? That was a memorable camp site. Great video!
Enjoyed the video and hike. I visited Rushmore in the '90's. You live on the east coast...did you drive out west in your RV?
Good video but maybe you should carry more water sans the junk food😊! Take care brother🤙
Yeah, those "sandwiches" are from an MRE. I'm not in the service, but I was gifted several MREs and we've taken them out on the OLP and the Pinchot Trail.
Love your videos . What kind of water filter were you using ?
Someone got some ink 😂😂
Waaah a man overland rv. That thing I'd sweet I bet that isn't a cheap day out in the park to go touring around in but man o man lol would she go some pretty crazy places I bet! Lol cool 1:55
@sintax77
9 ай бұрын
I also really want to know how much it costs to ship one of those things across the Atlantic 🤯😅
Can't fly a drone but, enjoy you helicopter ride
@CraigGrant-sh3in
9 ай бұрын
Seeing the size of that bed, I'd guess it was an elk