Grizzly Bear Creek Trail
If you’re aiming to get off the beaten path, consider hiking Grizzly Bear Creek Trail #7 in the Black Elk Wilderness. We hiked it during the rallly since the trailhead is close to our home and is remote enough that tourists/casual hikers don’t really stumble upon it.
The trail follows the streambed with a gentle 1,500 elevation gain. While that may not sound gentle, keep in mind that this trail is 6.3 miles long, so it’s not terribly strenuous. There are several creek crossings but stepping stones were pretty handy. Wear bug repellent on this trail in the summer! Since we don’t have mosquitoes here at our house, we didn’t expect them on the trail, big mistake. Luckily I had some Avon sunscreen/bug repellent in my pack, so we were able to ward them off.
Since this trail is quite long, you need a plan before you decide to hike it. If you decide to hike its entirety, you’ll either need to return to your car the way you came, making for a 12.6 mile round-trip, or arrange to picked up at Sylvan Lake. We did the latter by leaving our car at Sylvan Lake early in the morning, while parking spots were still available, and then driving our other vehicle the few miles from our house to the trailhead. This made for about a 9-mile hike, but once you leave the Grizzly Bear Creek Trail to tie in with the Norbeck Trail and subsequently Harney Trail #4, there are steep climbs. Keep in mind that you will have already hiked over six miles, so you may be pretty tired by this point. If you’re not sure of your endurance, skip this one.
Another caveat: Don’t attemp to hike in this area without a map. This is wilderness; the trails are less traveled and there are fewer people. We hiked for hours without meeting another soul, so you cannot depend on asking directions if you aren’t sure where to go. Plus, tying in with other trails can be confusing and a wrong turn can result in getting lost. The Forest Service has a great map with these trails, “Black Elk Wilderness and Norbeck Wildlife Preserve Trail System;” you can pick it up at any Forest Service information office.
To get to the Grizzly Bear Creek Trail, take Highway 87 (Needles Highway) to Custer County Road 345; look for the sign that says Remington Horse Camp and turn east. The trailhead is a little over a mile up the road; you will have to register at the entrance to the wilderness area.