Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Hiking alone in Black Hills/Badlands/Devil's Tower?

Hiking alone in Black Hills/Badlands/Devil's Tower?

Old May 4th, 2012, 07:42 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hiking alone in Black Hills/Badlands/Devil's Tower?

I'm spending 4 days in South Dakota next month to see Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, the Badlands and Devil's Tower (WY). It looks like it will be a solo trip. I was wondering if mid-June will be busy enough that it will be safe to do some hikes alone, that there will be enough people out and about, that I won't really be alone. I'm not worried about wild animals, but rather, creeps who might get bad ideas seeing a woman hiking alone.

When I was in Austria years ago, there was a hike to a castle ruin that I wanted to take, but there were two unsavory guys that clearly took note of me and I erred on the side of caution and aborted the hike before it even began since it didn't to be a well trafficked hike.
aggiegirl is offline  
Old May 4th, 2012, 08:43 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
> I was wondering if mid-June will be busy enough

In 2011, recreational visitation to Badlands National Park by month went like this (in thousands):
April - 21
May - 59
June - 169
July - 217
August - 188
September - 116
October - 41
This means June is one of the larger monthly visitation months.

The problem is what constitutes "enough." One of the main appeals of Badlands, particularly its longer hikes, is its emptiness and lack of visitation. There's no guarantee that a hike you might want will have people on it, but also little reason to think an empty trail will have people you don't want to meet. All I can suggest is to drive to the trail head of a hike that interests you. If there's lots of cars, it's likely safe "enough" for you. If there's no cars (a distinct probability), it's also probably safe.

But, unfortunately, isolation is one of the inevitable facts of solo hiking. There's no guarantee that any trail will be free of dangers, either human or other.
PaulRabe is offline  
Old May 4th, 2012, 09:22 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Many trails I've been to throughout the country have sign in and out logs at the beginning. I would also leave an itinerary with someone back home and you can check in each night to let them know you finished safely. If they don't hear from you, they call local authorities.
rizzo0904 is offline  
Old May 4th, 2012, 09:23 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
oh, and if you are being really adventurous, you could do something like this:

http://www.findmespot.com/en/

i'm watching a co-worker bike across the country with that right now.
rizzo0904 is offline  
Old May 4th, 2012, 12:11 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There will be plenty of people at Mt. Rushmore and Devils Tower. Both are fairly small monuments so you'll almost certainly be within eyesight and earshot of numerous people at all times.

Badlands and Custer are much bigger. If you're concerned about people, my best advice is to carry mace or something like that, and keep it readily accessible. Doesn't do any good in the bottom of your backpack or inside a zippered pouch, it needs to be in your pocket or on the strap of your backpack so you can grab it in an instant.

Personally I don't like sign in/sign out logs - while they are nice for authorities, they also advertise to anyone and everyone who is on the trail and how big their group is. Perfect way to let someone know that you are hiking alone - not exactly ideal if you are concerned about being attacked.

In general, the longer the trail and the further you are from the trailhead, the less likely you are to be attacked by a person. Nobody wants to hike 10 miles just to attack you, they're more likely to do it on a relatively short, unpopular trail. And Badlands is relatively desolate so there aren't many hiding places, making it unlikely that someone would try anything there.

The advice to leave your daily plans with someone is good, although it won't help you in the moment. But if you do get into trouble at least the authorities have an idea where to look.

Lastly, it is highly unlikely you will have any issues with people. It's very rare for anyone to be attacked in a national park, the times it does happen are generally well-publicized due to being so unusual. I would just take basic precautions, be smart and enjoy the trip.
WhereAreWe is offline  
Old May 5th, 2012, 01:17 PM
  #6  
LHS
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 982
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park has well-traveled hikes: around the lake, Harney Peak, Sunday Gulch, with Cathedral Spires & Little Devil's Tower nearby. You can hike in the Needle's Eye area, which is busy. The hike around Legion Lake is also nice.

There should be no problem with the Devil's Tower WY trail around the base. Also on the way or on the way back, Spearfish Canyon has the Spearfish Falls trail behind the Lodge & Roughlock Falls trail, both are busy trails.

I feel a little more hesitant about hiking alone in the Badlands, not so much creeps, but heat, possible poor cell phone reception & more rattlesnakes. There are a couple shorter hikes just off the main road.

Enjoy your trip.
LHS is offline  
Old May 6th, 2012, 04:52 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks everybody! For the notch trail, how far a walk is it before reaching the ladder? I really want to climb it.
aggiegirl is offline  
Old May 6th, 2012, 06:26 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
> how far a walk is it before reaching the ladder?

According to
http://www.protrails.com/trails/view/194
you reach the ladder after hiking .3 mile.
PaulRabe is offline  
Old May 10th, 2012, 05:36 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks!
aggiegirl is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
illnative
United States
7
Mar 22nd, 2013 08:59 AM
Lyndsay_2010
Canada
6
May 19th, 2011 04:27 PM
Lateagain
United States
39
Oct 23rd, 2010 06:30 AM
madtownz
United States
13
Mar 10th, 2009 11:52 AM
Big Red
United States
35
Aug 12th, 2003 11:43 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -