Taking in the Views at Crow Peak Summit
Crow Peak is one of the peaks surrounding Spearfish, SD which forms the Queen City’s “crown”. (The other two are Lookout Mountain and Spearfish Peak.) To get to the trailhead, take exit 8 off I-90 and head south on McGuigan road. Take a right on Hillsview Rd and then a left on Higgins Gulch Rd. The trailhead is about 7 miles down Higgins Gulch Rd.
There is a fairly large parking area by trailhead standards, but no facilities. You will see a metal gate which is the start of the trail.
Once you get through the gate, you will start a gradual ascent along a single track with plenty of trees and vegetation to offer shade. I started my hike about 8:30am and it was already over 80 degrees. The first portion of the trail did feel a bit stifling as not much breeze was getting through. I was kicking myself for not starting earlier and was beginning to wonder if I had brought enough water to deal with the heat. However, after the first quarter mile or so, the trail does open up a bit and there was a nice breeze that kept things from feeling too terribly hot.
The trail is easy to follow and is mostly dirt although there are some areas of loose rock as you get closer to the top. Its easy to roll an ankle or lose your footing on these large loose rocks, so take your time especially through those sections.
I don’t usually think of Crow Peak when I think of trails with an abundance of wild flowers, however, I was surprised at how many colorful flowers I saw along the trail.
Although everything was green and beautiful, there is still evidence of the Crow Peak Fire from 2016.
As you get closer to the top, you will start getting glimpses through the trees of the amazing view. At this point the trail zigzags back and forth which I was actually grateful for. It added more mileage, but kept the climb less steep.
Once you get to the top, you will see the famous Crow Peak Summit sign. Of course, you need to get a photo with the sign. (Even if it is a selfie!)
If you’re good at picking out landmarks, I’m sure there are lots you can find. I am not good at this and could find Bear Butte and that was about it! As I took in the view, I couldn’t help but think this would be an amazing place to be for a sunrise or sunset. (I will add that to my list.) The sun was getting warm at the top, so I didn’t spend too much time admiring the views before heading back down to get in the shade.
