A couple weeks ago my family traveled to Colorado and South Dakota for a family hiking vacation.  The first mountain we decided to tackle was Black Elk Peak (formerly known as Harney Peak) in South Dakota.  Black Elk Peak is a beautiful mountain located in the Black Hills of South Dakota that shares a fascinating history with local Native American tribes and is still considered sacred Native American ground today.
The hike itself was between 7.5-8 miles and was no walk in the park, although it was insanely beautiful.  It was interesting experiencing the terrain and landscape of the Black Hills in comparison to the forests and mountains my family typically hikes here on the east coast.  If you ever find yourself in South Dakota, I would highly recommend hiking Black Elk Peak; the history of the peak and the surrounding areas is fascinating, and the views are spectacular.  It’s also fun to spot the local wildlife: we even saw a lone buffalo in an area near the peak!