BLACK HILLS & BADLANDS REGION John Lopez sculpture in Hill City DISCOVER THE “HEART” OF HILL CITY If you are looking for scenic beauty, a bit of culture, and fascinating history all the way back to the prehistoric, be sure to take some time to stroll the streets of Hill City. Founded in 1877, in the early years of the gold rush, Hill City found itself on the sidelines as miners headed for the far richer gold strikes in the northern Hills. Yet its central location has allowed Hill City to flourish over the years as a “Heart of the Black Hills” visitor crossroads—a vibrant community surrounded by lakes, plenty of campgrounds, woodsy resorts, marinas, and hiking and biking trails for all to enjoy. most popular route to the top originates at Sylvan Lake and follows Trail Number 9 along an easy stroll through the pine forest and becomes more strenuous closer to the summit of Black Elk Peak. GALLERIES & SHOPS Downtown Hill City is dotted with an array of galleries including the Sandy Swallow Gallery , featuring works by Oglala Lakota artists, fine art, handcrafted jewelry, and designer casual apparel. You’ll find many unique and one-of-a-kind Native American crafted items here. Located on Main Street, The Handbag Store is aptly named for its enormous selection of handbags, wallets, coin purses, jewelry, scarves, caps, kids’ items and local handcrafted gifts. Across the street, the Doc & Alice Boutique specializes HILL CITY CONTINUED ON PAGE 76 » BLACK ELK PEAK South of Hill City, the Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak) tower proudly protrudes from the Black Hills’ sky-line. Though it reaches 7,242 feet, a hike to the top of Black Elk Peak is moderate and considerable by many skill levels, as the trails are heavily used and don’t re-quire any technical climbing skills. Several trails will lead you up to the old lookout tower at the top for a five-state panoramic view. The hike takes about four hours 72 round-trip but is well worth the time and effort. The
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