Black Hills National Forest Moon Walk Features Whitewood Quartz Mining District

 

RAPID CITY, SD — Join the Black Hills National Forest at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 20 for a moonlit hike and to learn about the geology, history and future of the Whitewood Quartz Mining District in the Deadwood Lead area. 

Participants in the scheduled Moon Walk event will walk approximately 1 mile roundtrip up a moderately sloped trail from a gravel parking area to the Mt. Roosevelt Friendship Tower.

Featured speaker, David Vardiman, Project Engineer for Geotechnical Design and Excavation, from Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead will discuss the history of mining in the Whitewood Quartz Mining District, locally known as Homestake Mine and future Sanford Laboratory deep underground research projects.

To reach the Moon Walk site from Deadwood, SD travel approximately 1 mile north on Highway 85 to the turn off for The Lodge at Deadwood Resort.  Turn left as if you were going to the resort but keep right and follow Forest Road 133 approximately 1.1 miles to Mt Roosevelt Road. Turn right on this gravel road and travel 1.4 miles up to the picnic area. Signs will be posted at major intersections to help guide visitors. The drive from Rapid City should take approximately 1 hour.

Visitors are encouraged to bring flashlights, water, and bug repellant and dress for evening temperatures and hiking on uneven terrain. Long pants and sturdy footwear (hiking boots or athletic shoes) are recommended for your comfort and safety.

The program may be cancelled unexpectedly due to unforeseen reasons such as lightning, high fire danger forecasts and other reasons beyond control. The program will not be cancelled due to rain unless lightning is spotted.  .

For more information about the program and summer schedule go to www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills or call the Black Hills National Forest at 605-343-1567.

Moon Walk Features Caves of Elk Creek Canyon

Moon Walk features Caves of Elk Creek Canyon

 

RAPID CITY, SD — Join the Black Hills National Forest at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 16 for a moonlit hike and to learn about the geology that created the abundance of caves found in the Black Hills. 

Participants in the scheduled Moon Walk event will walk a total of 1 1/2 miles roundtrip on a rolling ridge top primitive road. This is an easy to moderate hike.

Featured speaker, Karl Emanuel, North Zone Geologist from the Black Hills National Forest will discuss the geology of caves, their hydrology and importance of safeguarding this unique and unparalleled resource in the Black Hills.  Visitors will walk to the rim of Elk Creek Canyon near Bethlehem Cave and observe the cave riddled walls during this discussion.

To reach the Moon Walk site, take I-90 to SD exit 32, Vanocker Canyon. Travel 6.9 miles to Runkle Road (FS 168).  Proceed 1.75 southeast on Runkle Road to the intersection with Crystal Cave Road (FS168.3). Proceed 2.2 miles along 168.3 to the intersection with Bethlehem Road and park in the open areas near FS 168.3A.

The drive from Rapid City should take approximately 1 hour. Signs will be placed at major intersections to guide visitors to the site.

Prepare to hike on uneven terrain.  Attendees should bring flashlights, water, and bug repellant and dress for evening temperatures. Long pants and sturdy footwear (hiking boots or athletic shoes) are recommended for your comfort and safety.

The program may be cancelled unexpectedly for unforeseen reasons such as lightning, high fire danger forecasts and other reasons beyond control. The program will not be cancelled due to rain unless lightning is spotted.  Please arrive early to aid us in parking vehicles as over 100 visitors per walk have been attending the programs.

For more information about the program and summer schedule go to www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills or call the Black Hills National Forest at 605-343-1567.

Northern Black Hills Moon Walk Features Uses of Native Plants

Moon Walk features Uses of Native Plants

 

RAPID CITY, SD — Join the Black Hills National Forest at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 18 for a moonlit hike and to learn about the uses of native plant species in the northern Black Hills. 

Participants in the scheduled Moon Walk event will walk a total of 1 mile roundtrip over uneven terrain in a meadow. This is an easy to moderate hike that is largely flat ground with some slopes.

Featured speakers include the botany group on the Black Hills National Forest along with professors from Black Hills State University.  Jace Decory, Assistant Professor of History and American Indian Studies, Justin Ramsey, Associate Professor of Plant Biology and Tara Ramsey, Research Associate, will share their knowledge of plant identification and native plant uses with visitors.  Participants will see views of Wyoming to the west and Crow Peak to the east.

To reach the Moon Walk site, take I-90 to SD exit 2, the McNenny Fish Hatchery exit that is approximately 8 miles west of Spearfish.  From this exit travel south on County Road 009 also called Red Hill Road. Follow Red Hill Road south for approximately 2 miles to the stop sign at Homestake Road.  Turn right or west onto Homestake Road and continue for 1 mile.  Turn left or south onto Bear Ridge Road and travel for 3 miles to the Moon Walk parking site which is just over the cattle guard at the Forest boundary.

The drive from Rapid City should take a little over 1 hour. Signs will be placed at major intersections to guide visitors to the site.

The Forest Service suggests that visitors bring flashlights, water, and bug repellant and dress for evening temperatures and hiking on uneven terrain. Long pants and sturdy footwear (hiking boots or athletic shoes) are recommended for your comfort and safety.

The program may be cancelled unexpectedly for unforeseen reasons such as lightning, high fire danger forecasts and other reasons beyond control. The program will not be cancelled due to rain unless lightning is spotted.  Please arrive early to aid us in parking vehicles as over 100 visitors per walk have been attending the programs.

For more information about the program and summer schedule go to www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills or call the Black Hills National Forest at 605-343-1567.