Bear Butte from Above

Trip Start May 03, 2004

Trip End May 03, 2004

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Flag of United States Sturgis, South Dakota
Monday, May 3, 2004

I took a drive around Sturgis one day, and especially in the Fort Meade area, because I was curious about a couple dirt roads I'd never been on before. The first road went back into the Fort Meade Recreation Area, a 6,700-acre mix of forest and prairie around the old U.S. Army fort. There were soldiers stationed here up until the end of World War I, I think, and in World War II it was used as a work camp for German POWs. Nowadays it's the location of a VA hospital. But most of the fort's land is the recreation area now, but some of the old army stuff is still around. Graves, cavalry jumps and trail ruts from when the Seventh Cavalry (you know, Custer's old outfit) was stationed here.

Another road went up one of the nearby hills, and pretty soon I found myself with a great view of Bear Butte. Back in the 1870s and 1880s it was a landmark for prospectors headed for the Black Hills, since they could see the distinctive mountain from a day's journey away. But it's always been an important holy site for several American Indian tribes, who still worship there.

Come to think of it, it's been a while since I hiked it. I think I'll give that a go again sometime soon.

Sturgis hotels Slideshow