Family Nature Summits: Black Hills Summit

6.3 mile, 1300 foot total climb "strenuous minus"; one-way hike; 42 min. drive each way.

This gem of a route is simply the most lake and rock spire scenery one can pack into a hike. Not to be missed.** To make it more accessible & enjoyable, we will self-select into two groups. The group feeling a bit less fit will start from Cathedral Spires Trailhead, nicely providing an afternoon option for doing as little or as much of the Sylvan Lake & Sunday Gulch loops as desired. The other half will start on those loops and will have no options to skip anything in the afternoon. Your group may (or may not) switch leaders when you pass each other a bit before lunch.

**If not up for 1300 feet of climb(!), please choose, for much of the same scenery, the half-day (morning only) Cathedral Spires Moderate Hike, or one of the shorter, easier Summit rambles at the iconic, dramatic Sylvan Lake.  This hike duplicates much of the Black Elk Peak hikes; doing both is not recommended.