Story:
This was a sweet loop hike with an unexpectedly delightful lake half way around. Typically the hike would begin at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, but we were driving our camper and there was a tunnel which we couldn't fit through so we approached from the north, and used a forest road to get to the trail. An added bonus is that because we did not enter through the State Park, we did not have to pay for a "license". I put license in quotes because I've noticed that here they call "licenses" what I normally would call a "pass", "permit" or "day use fee". We were interested in sussing out the access to climbing here for future reference and it was impressive and easy access to lots of beautiful, crystal-y rocks! The lake was interesting and beautiful because of the rocks dropping right in, and a unique dam situation with a bridge atop.
This was a sweet loop hike with an unexpectedly delightful lake half way around. Typically the hike would begin at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, but we were driving our camper and there was a tunnel which we couldn't fit through so we approached from the north, and used a forest road to get to the trail. An added bonus is that because we did not enter through the State Park, we did not have to pay for a "license". I put license in quotes because I've noticed that here they call "licenses" what I normally would call a "pass", "permit" or "day use fee". We were interested in sussing out the access to climbing here for future reference and it was impressive and easy access to lots of beautiful, crystal-y rocks! The lake was interesting and beautiful because of the rocks dropping right in, and a unique dam situation with a bridge atop.
Tips:
We parked at a pullout just north of the Custer State Park entrance on Hwy 87. There is a tunnel a bit further south on the highway through which we could not drive our camper. Then we took Forest Road 351 which is a few hundred yards further south down the road and departs to the east. It looks like a private road; I've provided photos of the signage for reference. Walk to FR 351 B and go right; this road dead ends by a private home, but if you keep going straight, you'll see a faint tread which crosses the creek and joins the main loop trail (there is a sign here that says TRAIL.)
We parked at a pullout just north of the Custer State Park entrance on Hwy 87. There is a tunnel a bit further south on the highway through which we could not drive our camper. Then we took Forest Road 351 which is a few hundred yards further south down the road and departs to the east. It looks like a private road; I've provided photos of the signage for reference. Walk to FR 351 B and go right; this road dead ends by a private home, but if you keep going straight, you'll see a faint tread which crosses the creek and joins the main loop trail (there is a sign here that says TRAIL.)
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