Love The Hills

Are you new to the Black Hills area? Or want to explore new areas? And are you over the age of 18? Then get to know why many believe the Hills are one of the best kept secrets in the country. Our intent is to help new residents learn about lesser-known gems of our local area (not the well-known touristy attractions). This is a great way for you to Amplify Your Awe for the local beauty of the area!

These Rapid City First excursions are not formally guided tours, rather volunteers from the church helping young adults learn to love the Hills. Understand there is risk of injury with rough trails. While we don’t want to discourage anyone, it is important to acknowledge every hike has potential hazards, including twisted ankles, falls, ticks, poison ivy, or even rattlesnakes. Many areas are outside cell phone reach and may require extended time for emergency help. Each hike will vary in difficulty, so we will try to describe as best we can the level of rigor needed to participate. It is up to you to determine what you can handle.

LET'S EXPLORE THE HILLS

UPCOMING HIKES

MAY

While everyone participating is an adult, we ask everyone to stay together until the hike is finished so we can monitor the group–then you can depart or stay longer as you wish. If you must leave early, please check out with the lead volunteer prior to departing the group. No one under the influence of drugs or alcohol may participate.

If you register, please make every effort to participate. If you cannot make it contact us as soon as possible. We often have waiting lists, so no-shows prevent others from being able to participate. Anyone can register regardless of how long you have lived here, but we will prioritize people who are new to the area.

05/18 - ABANDONED AMPIHITHEATER

JUNE

06/14 - CITY PARK PATH & 1972 FLOOD

06/21 - POETS TABLE

06/28 - ROCKMAZE

Amphitheater Trail – The amphitheater trail is one of several dirt trails winding up and down Skyline Wilderness Area (Map), a part of the Rapid City Parks system. Historically, the amphitheater terraces were built in the 1930’s as an outdoor theater but became unused and overgrown. The hike is relatively short (1-2 miles) but has a rise and decline of several hundred feet. We will stop at the historical marker and go off the trail at times to look closer at the terraces. The hike includes beautiful vista views of Rapid City’s east side. The trails are unpaved dirt trails with some uneven ground off trail, so you will need to be able walk up inclines.

Rock Maze is a short off-trail hike to fascinating a maze-like formation of cliffs in a confined area. Great for the curious who like to explore mazes or watch others from above. Shoes with better grip than tennis shoes are recommended (no loose sandals or flip/flops). Walking is short but experiencing the maze requires use of hands to crawl up and over tall rocks.

Poet’s Table is a hidden gem for locals of the Black Hills. The destination is a shelf on a rock cliff with a beautiful view. The path we take is a loop up to PT and down another path. We will see a spring-fed trickle waterfall and will climb through cracks in the cliff wall via a homemade ladder. The hike is short but steep, needing hands and feet for crawling over logs and scrambling over big rocks (even on the trail), to crawl up through the cliff walls. Shoes with better grip than tennis shoes are recommended (no loose sandals or flip/flops).