September 9, 2017 Black Hills, South Dakota

 We drove up to the lovely Sylvan Lake. We started out to do trail #1 around the lake, But I got the idea to hike trail 6 two. It went from a 1 mile hike to a 3.7 mile hike. It was really a pretty place.

We went from a flat hike to one between the needles and down a steep narrow canyon along a stream. John squeezing into a crack to take a photo of a waterfall from the lake.

There were handrails on the steep boulder decent. 

John in the hand rail section and waiting for a bus in the cave bus stop.

 The fall colors were beautiful. The lake with golden trees, fall asters, a small waterfall and red berries.The golden trees are birch trees. Being from Colorado I expect aspen, the birch have white bark and similar leaves. The whole hike was in and around these needle formations. They are the heart of the crystal core of the Black Hills.

The trail was covered with these glittery mica chips.Light in a birch tree,a big tree ear on a dead tree, and a tree in a knot. Below that is a narrow passage on the trail, a memorial on a stone bench for Lois Anne that reads: "Look Around. . . She is the morning light, the bluest sky, the brightest star", Welcome to Hill City, the heart of the hills. Pink flowers covered  with a butterfly. And the winery we did not stop at Red Ass Rhubarb wine.

We hiked back up and returned to the lake. John on stepping stones to the top of the cement dam with railings so you can look down both sides. We had a nice picnic lunch then headed to Hill City. It is a smaller tourist trap than Custer.

Of course we went to Hill City to go to Black Hills Miner Brewing co. John with his Dr Valentine IPA. He got tired of me taking photos so he made faces.