Tracy and I finally dusted off our hiking gear and hiked the Cathedral Spires (AllTrails details). Excited to get back on the trails, we knew we needed to start with an easy one. As we planned our route, we debated where to go. Unsure how Tracy would handle high elevations and long distances, we ruled out Colorado. Instead, we chose South Dakota, remembering the great hiking opportunities we had enjoyed there during our childhood vacations.
The hike was mostly simple, which worked well for us since we hadn’t prepared for any serious trekking. The only challenging part was scrambling over rocks just before entering the Cathedral Spires area. But once we arrived, the breathtaking rock formations made it all worthwhile—it was truly an amazing sight! During September, the trees were starting to change colors along with the wonderful evergreen scents. Although climbing isn’t for us, this place is also great for climbing these spires, we saw several climbers while there.
Reaching this area was just as incredible. Driving from Custer, South Dakota, we took the scenic Needles Highway, a slow but rewarding route filled with stunning views. Speaking of scenic drives, we also have to mention the Wildlife Loop Road. Visiting just a week before the Buffalo Roundup, we saw countless buffalo, bighorn sheep, deer, burros, and prairie dogs.
On our next trip, we plan to tackle even more hikes, including Little Devils Tower and Black Elk Peak. When I was young, my family hiked to the top of Black Elk Peak, and that unforgettable view has stayed with me ever since. We look forward to seeing new and old trails on our next visit to Custer, South Dakota.