Harney Peak, rising to 7,242 feet above sea level, is the highest point in South Dakota and also the highest point in North America east of the Rocky Mountains. It is located in the Black Elk Wilderness Area of the Black Hills National Forest of southwestern South Dakota. The jutting rocky summit of the mountain is capped by an abandoned stone lookout tower which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The peak is named for General William S. Harney who was comander of the military in the Black Hills in the late 1870s.
Two popular hiking routes lead to the summit, one from Sylvan Lake and the other from Horse Thief Lake. I hiked the six-mile (round trip) trail from Sylvan Lake in the 1980s, during my quest to climb the highest point in every state. It is a very scenic hike and not too difficult. Nearby attractions include Custer State Park, with its large herd of free-roaming American Bison, and the very popular Mt. Rushmore National Memorial.
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