Exploring the Black Hills and Badlands: A Guide for Hikers, Cross-Country Skiers, & Mountain Bikers (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Description: Three short, easy trails that leave from the Windows parking area..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Exploring the Black Hills and Badlands" features trips for hikers, skiers, mountain bike riders and equestrians. This fully revised edition has been expanded to include every hiking trail in the region, offering more than 800 miles of trails and off-trail routes to explore. The guide features all new, up-to-date USGS topographical maps, including nearly a dozen new to this edition. Another new addition is a section focusing on family hikes and other information useful to family groups.

What is unchanged is the wealth of interesting history, tips on multi-use activities, and keen insights into the region’s natural and geologic features that have made "Exploring the Black Hills and Badlands" the most useful and valuable year-round guide to this stunningly beautiful and vastly popular region.

About the Author

Hiram Rogers, a geologist and hydrologist, is an avid outdoorsman who has written for several recreational publications. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Johnson Books; Rev Upd edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555662404
• ISBN-13: 978-1555662400
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #601,630 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #19 in	Books > Travel > United States > States > South Dakota
  #52 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Outdoor Recreation > Cycling > Mountain Biking

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Handy Reference, May 6, 2001

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

Great reference for someone new to BH. Includes topo maps and clear directions on how to get to the trails. Also has good writeups on each area, with details on the specific trail to follow. When checking ratings, keep in mind these are experienced hikers... you may have a hard time if you're new or out of shape. I take it with me every time I head out.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best single guide, August 23, 2005

By	bukhtan (Chicago, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

I used this book as well as the Falcon Press "Hiking South Dakota's Black Hills country", by the Gildarts, on a recent trip to the Black Hills, Badlands, Bear Lodge Mtns & the Devils Tower.
Both books were useful, but I'd give the edge to this one:
1) Hiram Rogers' book includes photocopies of topographic maps. Reproduction quality isn't high, but is frequently sufficient for the purpose. The Geldart's book has only handdrawn schematic maps.
2) "Exploring the Black Hills & Badlands" has more material. As you can see from the info provided by Amazon, there are more pages, but this understates how much further Rogers goes. Descriptions of particular trails are a bit more detailed, usually, and there is more historical and natural history material given in most cases. You will find more material, especially, on the Badlands (eg. a section on off-trail travel in the Sage Creek Wilderness).
The Geldarts do touch on locales and details not mentioned in Hiram Rogers' book, so those planning to spend any appreciable time in the area might want to get both.
I see that there appear to be restrictions in availability through Amazon as I type this. If you aren't comfortable dealing with secondary dealers, I would note that I saw new copies of Rogers' book in the bookstores at Wind Cave National Park and elsewhere. Try the websites for WCNP, the Badlands NP or Custer State Park.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a book for mountain bikers, November 1, 2003

By	Boourns (Lake Geneva, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This book focuses mainly on hiking trails, so if that's your thing this is the book for you. It would benefit greatly if each trail entry was _clearly_ listed with it's approved uses. The index also needs a section under each activity, that way you can look up 'mountain biking' and find references to every trail they review where biking is allowed. Some of the reviews of the trails are questionable ... the trail from French Creek Horse Camp to Iron Creek is not ridable at all for mountain bikers, in my opinion, not even close, yet it's listed as 'an exciting mountain bike ride through the park's remote northern end'. I have no idea what they were thinking. Like I said, probably a better book for hikers than bikers, but still a good resource just to give you a hint as to what's available in the area and get you started. If biking is your thing, stick to the trails listed as having cross country ski access as well as for biking and you'll get some nice single track love.