Pennington County High Point Trip Report

Harney Peak (7,242 ft)

Date: April 6, 2002
Author: Ron Tagliapietra

This was a repeat visit to this highpoint (first visited by me April 22, 1989) for Drew Fields.

From Custer, drive east one mile on US 16, and then north 6 miles on SR 89. Turn right on the Needles Highway (SR 87) and enter Custer State Park. Continue a quarter mile to the Sylvan Lake Day Use Parking Area.

Follow trail 9 for 3.4 miles to the summit. (Watch for junctions; there are several.) As you hike, you will cross into Black Hills National Forest, which contains the peak. There is an observation tower on the summit.

When we were there, there was snow most of the hike, but the staircase was icy. The highpoint is the southeast corner of the tower buttress. The easiest way to reach it is to climb out the window of the tower on the lowest floor.