Hiking South Dakota's Black Hills Country [Paperback]

Bert Gildart (Author)

Book Description

Series: Regional Hiking Series | Publication Date: September 1, 1996

Native Americans call this country Paha Sapa, meaning "hills that are black." Hikers call the Black Hills "paradise." An area of 6,000 square miles with more than 500 miles of trails, the Black Hills have affected travelers through the ages-including Native American leaders Crazy Horse and Black Elk, Gen. George Armstrong Custer and sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Black Hills country is a land of pine forested hills surrounded by prairie, and oasis full of wildlife and striking rock formations, an area of religious and historic significance, and an area of magnificent hiking diversity. Hiking South Dakota's Black Hills Country covers nearly all the trails in the area from Devils Tower National Monument and Mount Rushmore National Memorial to Custer State Park and Wind Cave and Badlands National Parks. Detailed descriptions and maps will get you to the trailheads and help you plan your trip. This guide also includes tips on safety and hiking with children, elevation charts, photographs, no-trace camping information, and an equipment checklist. Whether you are a veteran or novice hiker, Hiking South Dakota's Black Hills Country will lead the way to outdoor adventure.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Covering nearly all the trails in the area from Devils Tower National Monument and Mount Rushmore National Memorial to Custer State Park and Wind Cave, and Badlands National Park, this book offers detailed descriptions and maps that will get you to the trailheads and help you plan your trip. This guide also includes tips on safety and hiking with children, elevation charts, photographs, no-trace camping information, and an equipment checklist. Whether you're a veteran or novice hiker Hiking South Dakota's Black Hills Country will lead the way to your outdoor adventure in the Black Hills country.

About the Author

Bert and Jane Gildart are hikers, writers, and photographers specializing in outdoor recreation. They live in Bigfork, Montana.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; 1st edition (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560444827
• ISBN-13: 978-1560444824
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,206,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > Travel > United States > States > South Dakota

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars several inaccuracies, June 28, 2008

By 

Mark B. Grossman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hiking the Black Hills Country, 2nd: A Guide to More Than 50 Hikes in South Dakota and Wyoming (Regional Hiking Series) (Paperback)

I've encountered several inaccuracies in the second edition of this book. We recently hiked Lost Cabin-Harney Peak Loop and we were expecting to hike the listed distance of 8.6 miles but the actual distance is at least 12 miles and our GPS logged 14 miles. In addition, this hike's trail contact phone number for the Black Hills National Forest Supervisor's Office is incorrect as is the phone number for the Black Hills National Forest Visitor's Center in the appendix. Of the three hikes we have done we have found inaccurate information on all of them. The directions for Crow peak did not give adequate directions from the Interstate 90 exit, for Bear Butte the book lacked current fee information. Many of the hikes do not have their elevation gain listed. This book offers a nice overall listing of hikes in different areas of the Black Hills however the book's inaccuracies and lack of useful features such as an index, hike elevation profiles, and detailed maps that include all the features mentioned in the text make it, in my opinion, less useful than I would have expected.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good begining reference, May 6, 2001

By 

Rob (Goldsboro, NC, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hiking South Dakota's Black Hills Country (Paperback)

Good hiking reference if you're new to the BH and hiking in general. I've found the ratings to be more for beginners or folks without a lot of hiking skill (ie. a moderate trail listed as strenuous). Good to get you oriented to the area.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exploring South Dakota, May 8, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Lead, SD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hiking South Dakota's Black Hills Country (Paperback)

I live in the Black Hills and use this guide extensively. Itis well written and trails are accurately described. If you purchaseone hiking book for SD....make sure it is this one!...