Ponderosa Pine Trail near Black Elk Peak, Black Hills, South Dakota

Fog on the Black Elk Peak trail
Fog on the Black Elk Peak trail.

A trail ascends through a ponderosa pine forest on Black Elk Peak in South Dakota's Black Hills, shrouded in morning fog. Formerly known as Harney Peak, this summit is the highest point in the state and holds significant cultural importance for the Lakota Sioux people. The trail, a popular hiking route, leads to the peak's summit, which offers panoramic views on clear days but is often enveloped in mist, creating a serene and introspective atmosphere.

Taken July 2019

Photo Part Of
South Dakota
Badlands, Black Hills, and Custer State Park across multiple trips
26 photos
Black Elk Peak
10 photos
Custer State Park
36 photos
Map
OpenStreetMap Google Maps
More from South Dakota
Mixed-Grass Prairie Along Badlands National Park's Northern Boundary
Mixed-Grass Prairie Along Badlands National Park's Northern Boundary
Storm clouds gather over the grasslands near Badlands National Park in South Dakota. The park, established in 1978, preserves a…
Sylvan Lake Fog, Black Hills, South Dakota
Sylvan Lake Fog, Black Hills, South Dakota
Early morning fog blankets Sylvan Lake in South Dakota's Black Hills, obscuring the surrounding granite formations. Created in 1891 by…
Wild Sunflowers Along Sheep Mountain Road in the Badlands
Wild Sunflowers Along Sheep Mountain Road in the Badlands
Sheep Mountain Road climbs through the South Unit of Badlands National Park, also known as the Stronghold Unit, which the…
Horseback riders on Black Elk Peak trail, South Dakota
Horseback riders on Black Elk Peak trail, South Dakota
Horseback riders ascend a trail on Black Elk Peak in South Dakota's Black Hills, a landscape often shrouded in mist.…
Granite Outcrops Along Highway 87, Black Hills National Forest
Granite Outcrops Along Highway 87, Black Hills National Forest
Needles Highway cuts through granite spires in Custer State Park, part of South Dakota's Black Hills. The road was completed…
Twilight Over the Badlands at Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Twilight Over the Badlands at Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, South Dakota. The grasslands include rugged badlands terrain along the southern edge of the Black Hills…
Nearby Photos

Built in Minneapolis

Minneapolis Photographer

Browse by location, move through long-running series, or start with recent work.

© 1996–2026 Chad Davis