Category: Tourism  Listing Date: 2011-05-15

Helicopter Tour

A Black Hills Helicopter Tour

What could be better than a helicopter tour in the Black Hills of South Dakota on a nice May morning? Seeing Crazy Horse Monument, Harney Peak, Mount Rushmore, and Sylvan Lake from the air are pretty impressive sights.

Harney Peak has an elevation of 7,242 feet and is the highest point in The Black Hills. The Civilian Conservation Corps build a structure at the top in the 1930s. It was used for a fire lookout and the view is spectacular. You can hike to Harney Peak from the trail head at Sylvan Lake. This can be a pretty strenuous hike and can take 4-5 hours depending on your conditioning. Be sure to take pretty of water and where good hiking shoes.

Damage from the Black Hills mountain pine beetle may be evident as you hike the trail up Harney Peak. The mountain pine beetle is native to the Black Hills. It goes through cycles and can be very active as they are this year. These cycles can last as long as 13 years.

Crazy Horse Monument was started in 1948 by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski after discussions with Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear to honor the culture, tradition and living heritage of North American Indians.

If you happen to be at Crazy Horse for a blast you are in for some excitement and if you get to a night blast, well that's really spectacular.

The annual Volksmarch will bring you face to face with Crazy Horse.