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Member
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Location: kansas | We will be camping at Brokenarrow campground in South Dakota. We have camped there several times. What campground do we trail to in order to ride the Harney Peak trail? |
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Veteran
Posts: 174
Location: Missouri | You can get there from either the Iron creek horse campground or Willow Creek. Be advised there was just a story in the Rapid City journal on the dead pine trees up there. Lots of downed timber, not sure if it has been cleared yet and they said trees are falling every time the wind blows. It is a dangerous trail right now. Better carry a saw if you try to ride it, you might get up there and then not be able to get back down if a tree falls. Its a shame what devastation the pine beetle has caused up there. Its more like the brown hills instead of the black hills. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL | We tried riding to Harney Peak Sept. '11, but Willow TH was closed due to logging. Since it was a Sunday and no activity, we parked just outside the entrance and rode the trails. There was a huge amount of logging taking place, but we were able to ride the trails easily. Friends pulled our trailers over to Pine TH and picked us up there. Maybe there is still a lot of downfall due to so much logging, but just a guess. |
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Veteran
Posts: 123
Location: illinois | We are leaving this Saturday for Broken Arrow I hope the trail to Harney Peak is passable. Thanks for the heads up so we can plan taking a saw along.
Edited by illini 2013-06-10 12:11 PM
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Member
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Location: kansas | Let me know how trails were when you get back. We are going last week of June. |
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Member
Posts: 29
Location: kansas | Thanks Pooperscooper for information about pine beetles. We were in New Mexico several years ago and saw the devastation they can cause. I was not aware they were in the Blackhills. Ironcreek is where we trailered to for the Mount Rushmore ride. |
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Veteran
Posts: 174
Location: Missouri | We tried to ride up there last year and almost made it. Had to actually get off and lead them over several down trees that were no way around and on an angle that the horse might get off the trail. Finally got to a tree that no way we could get over and no way around it so had to turn around and go back. On the way down we met some other riders going up and we told them about the tree and they said, well we were just up there 2 days ago and we said well maybe you went a different way but you ain't going over that tree. Later on we ran into them again and they couldn't believe the trees that had fell in just 2 days. Almost every tree up near the top is dead and could go down at any time. They are called widow makers I believe. Anyways too many good trails to ride without chancing that imo. There's a nice loop if you ride the centennial to horsethief and then catch grizzly creek back to the centennial from Iron Creek. Not many dead trees on those trails and very pretty scenery. |
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Member
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Location: kansas | Pooperscooper this news is so disappointing to me as the Harney Peak is a ride that I haven't done. Thanks for information on centennial ride we will try that ride. The first year we went to the Blackhills we stayed at Frenchcreek. There were several trails out of the camp that were rocky but scenery was beautiful.We saw an elk and have never seen one since.
Edited by jayhawk 2013-06-11 7:38 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 123
Location: illinois | Popperscopper, from Broken Arrow to you have to trailer over to Iron Creek TH. to ride the trails you just mentioned? Or are they out of camp? Thanks |
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Veteran
Posts: 174
Location: Missouri | Yes, you have to trailer out from Broken Arrow to Iron Creek. Probably a 20 minute drive. They have trailers you can rent. Yes, I really wanted to ride to Harney too and got soo close before we had to turn around. There's lots of other beautiful trails in the Black Hills though. Good riding right from Broken Arrow but many others within an hour drive such as Silver City and Slate Dam that are on the Deerfield trail system. Spearfish Canyon is gorgeous and many parts of the Centennial trail. Just get a trails illustrated map of the Black Hills and explore. Most people only think about riding Mt. Rushmore and Harney but theres so much more. We're going back in July, been out there probably 10 times and still find new trails. And we have always found elk riding at Broken Arrow, but you got to get up early and hit the trails before everybody else spooks them. also drive thru Wind Cave about dusk and usually see lots of elk there. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 714
Location: Minnesota | Everyone please keep us all posted about the conditions. We will be @ Broken Arrow mid July for the third time in four years. We have never done Harney Peak or Mt. Rushmore. It was on our list for this year. We have always ridden out from the campground and always seem to find some new trail or sight. Can you ride down through the mine on the way to Blue Belle again, or is it still closed? |
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Veteran
Posts: 123
Location: illinois | We are at Broken Arrow right now. We will not make it to Harney Peak this time. We have rode several trails out of camp and the trail conditions are good. We just rode French Creek today we trailered over and we had a wonderful ride. We all decided hands down it was best trail we ever rode. They are saying here, that Harney Peak conditions are not ideal although there has been some who trailered over. 2 more days of riding for us then we head home. We have had a wonderful time. Jerry and Sue are great hosts. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah | Dead trees are just a fact of life on the trail now days, It takes YEARS for them to all fall. I rode an area last Saturday where the tree died 12 years ago. Each time I ride, we find new trees across the trail. There are sign warning to watch out for falling trees, especially when the wind blows. It is just something that I've come to expect that I will see for the rest of my life. My kids might see that forest return to it's previous splendor. We just need to realize that Mother Nature moves at a different speed in her recovery than we as humans do. 
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL | Illini, Glad you are enjoying Broken Arrow. I loved it there. Looking forward to lots of pics when you get back. Safe travels. Cindi |
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Member
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Location: kansas | The first year we went to the Black Hills we stayed at Frenchcreek. We loved the camp but did not like the buffalo roaming through camp and no water. We leave Friday for Brokenarrow. Can't wait! |
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Veteran
Posts: 174
Location: Missouri | Here's a link to a blog from someone that just tried to ride to Harney from the same trail we tried last year. http://www.horsetrailriders.com/2013/06/harney-peak-hell.html |
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Member
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Location: kansas | Thanks again for info. Sure didn't sound like fun. I should have climbed that trail years ago! Looks like there isn't much but dead trees. |
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Harney Peak
