Posted under Off the Beaten Path, Outdoors, Videos
This post was written by Ken on November 3, 2008
Falling Rock- 1000 ft valley over Rapid Creek
Adventure of 1876 near Rapid Creek and a POW memorial
“Near a perpendicular sandstone cliff a short distance North of here and across Rapid Creek was the first camp of those hardy pioneers who founded Rapid City. Here John R. Brennan….(listing 10 others) made their camp on Feb. 24, 1876, and the name of Brennan, where he carved it in the sandstone cliff, is still to be seen….”
Now if that isn’t an invitation for the adventurous type to stomp right on over the creek in search of the inscription, I don’t know what is! Of course, I didn’t do it right away because I thought…’pffft, if that is true I certainly would’ve heard about it before now. After all I grew up in Rapid City!’
Well today was a new day and I decided to throw a beautiful Friday evening to the adventurous winds and take Charles to find the camp site. We drove over Rapid Creek on the small bridge near the back 9 of the executive golf course to avoid a long trek around the creek on foot and found a parking space. We started down the well worn 4 wheel drive trail to “M Hill” or Cowboy Hill, and kept an eye out for a ‘perpendicular cliff. Read More…
Posted under Off the Beaten Path, Outdoors
This post was written by Ken on October 18, 2008
Stratobowl Rim Trail: Historic Altitude Record Set
Stratowbowl Rim
Last year I discovered or re-discovered the Stratobowl via the Stratobowl rim trail. I had forgot how big of a deal this place was back in its day. I followed Hwy 16w South of Rapid City and while listening to my SmartAlec, I stopped at the suggested trailhead just past the gas station on the right. It’s about 2 miles past Bear Country USA. I got out and walked the gravel trail or fire access road for an easy rolling 1 mile to the lookout over the giant sinkhole. I forgot how huge it was and how far down it goes. The amazing story of how stratosphere history was made here is told in giant concrete tablets (8 ft.) that stick out of the ground near the lookout. It was easy to picture giant helium filled balloons launching into the sky…14 miles to set the record back in the 1930’s and 50’s. I spent probably about 45 minutes just looking around and then I took a different route as I returned to the highway.
Charles, my dog
I walked the rim and took in many, many more different lookouts along the way. It was great because I brought along Charles, my dog, and he couldn’t get enough of exploring the wild and wooly forest. I take all my friends there now and it’s become a favorite local spot for me and my growing circle of adventurers. Follow this link to check out the SmartAlec map and use it to get an idea of it’s location and even get directions. Have fun!
Posted under Off the Beaten Path, Tips and Tidbits
This post was written by Ken on October 9, 2008
Waterfall near Rochford, SD
I just can’t get enough of the fall colors this year. Maybe the summer went to fast but they are just fascinating to me. One of the secret outdoor local favorites, yet still visited very little in comparison to Spearfish Canyon, is Rochford Road.
Rochford Rd. is about 30 minutes outside of Rapid City on Hwy 385, just past Trout Haven. Trout Haven claims to have fished over 1 million fish from its pond, now THAT’s some serious spawning. Anyways, just past there, traveling north towards Deadwood, you find Rochford, Rd. Starting as paved asphalt but turning to gravel within 1/2 mile, it’s a fantastic spin into the intimate nature of the central Black Hills. The road meanders easily over hills and around the bends highlighting great access points for the 4 wheeler fans (pick me!), hikers and bikers.
Waterfall near Rochford, SD
The reason I ventured onto Rochford Road was to show my family a sweet surprise I had accidentally discovered while 4 wheeling last summer. While zipping on and off roads, my brothers and I were of course looking for a few splashes and BAM, opportunity knocked near Rapid Creek, just off Rochford Rd. near the Mickelson trail. We gunned it and 2 out of 3 of us made it through. My brother Danny stalled his 4 wheeler mid flow so we figured out how to pull him out and push him into the flat creek side nearby. “It’s about time for a break anyway” we said in consolation. As we rested we heard a pretty strong gush of water coming from behind the trees so we gathered our lunch and walked up the creek towards the big pine tree. WOW! There was a 3 tier waterfall right there! You can’t even see it from the road, and just barely from the Mickelson Trail. It was a cool, inviting sight for that June afternoon celebrating our (I’m a twin) 33rd birthday.
So this fall I had to show my wife this awesome discovery. You should check it out too! Bring a picnic and maybe even a gold pan to play in the creek with. There isn’t a bridge so bring some sandals to wade in the water. You should be able to find a shallow crossing point. If you really want to make a day of it, bring your bikes and travel from Rochford down the Mickelson Trail to this waterfall, it’s absolutely breathtaking in the fall of the year. Try late September or early October, around the Custer State Park Buffalo Round-up dates.
Have some fun and remember… never miss an opportunity to glance around the corner, you never know.
Photo Credit: Ken Jones
Posted under Off the Beaten Path, Outdoors
This post was written by admin on October 6, 2008
Lover’s Leap: A Great Hike & Bike
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: Lovers Leap Trail Head behind the School House west of the Game Lodge in Custer State Park
Length: 3 Miles
Recently I spent a day seeing some of the best fall colors the Black Hills has had in a few years. I spent the day with the best adventurer I know, my brother. We took mountain bikes! I rented mine in Rapid City from Two Wheeler Dealer, a great locally owned bike shop that rents bikes for about $29 for 24 hours.
My brother had a friend that said, Lover’s Leap isn’t too difficult and it’s a ‘loop’ trail so we wouldn’t have to back-track. Sounds good to us! We didn’t read the trail head sign for difficulty because, of course, we had a ‘friend’.
Turns out said ‘friend’ has never attempted the first 1000 feet of the trail or any part of the trail for that matter. The beginning was all up hill, not just a little incline but a stutter step incline with rocks. We just pushed our bikes up. I admit I was internally slandering said ‘friend’ because this was not the easy ride I’d hoped for. After we arrived at the to top of the ridge about 25 minutes later, we handled the ride from there on. It’s not for complete newbies mind you, but definitely a challenging trail for the adventurous type. Another 20 minutes up the trail we arrived to the spectacular view! Lover’s Leap is awesome! See the video here after we arrived. Legend has it that two Native American forbidden lovers jumped to their death from here.
What a view!
After we spent some time taking pictures and watching the sun start to set we realized we had better get down the hill before its dark. We had made the mistake before of watching the sun set from Harney Peak and we hiked down in the dark, NOT recommended. FYI- Bushes and boulders look like buffalo in the dark!
The ride down was absolutely fantastic. It’s VERY steep at first but the last mile or two is sweet! The trail pretty much follows a babbling brook, part of the Galena Creek drainage, and winds through the beautiful deciduous forest. We loved it even though you have to cross the creek a few times but lucky for us the little rock bridges were still there. If the sun would’ve stayed around we surely would have parked the bikes and just soaked in the babbling brook and quaking aspen!
The biggest challenge for us on the way up was the beginning ascent to the ridge. The biggest challenge going down was avoiding fresh buffalo chips on the trail. I admit that we were hollering most the way down “Hellooooo Buffaloooo” to insure that any waiting bulls around the next blind dark corner new we were coming. Fortunately, there were no bulls on the way down. We didn’t stumble across a lone bull until we free wheeled up to our car to surprise a lone bull waiting for us…about 20 feet away….in the dark, NOT A BUSH!
Discover Lover’s Leap it’s an awsome trip, especially with a guy like my brother..thanks Danny!
Rock
Links: Mountain Bikers learn more here
Posted under Off the Beaten Path
This post was written by admin on October 5, 2008
