side view of Washington and full on Rushmore from atop some rocks. Horsethief Butte Trail is part of the Columbia Hills State Park. Much of this trail Is rocky but not the way you usually see a hiking trail, the horse traffic disrupts rocks which lay all over the trail. Also added on blackberry trail up to Mt Rushmore. I missed the turn back to horse thief lake so added on a couple miles once I figured that out. If sprawling views of desert valleys speckled with tamarisk trees is your jam, you’ll be in paradise here. If you have time, there are two longer hikes in the park: the Horsethief Butte Hike and the Dalles Mountain Ranch Loop Hike. It has three relatively easy water crossings, but the trail is narrow in spots and goes in and out of rocky canyons. The Butte is the jewel of this area; it is situated near a beautiful 90-acre lake. TIP #1: Do it CCW. The lake is as advertised and described previously numerous times - absolutely beautiful and very close to Mt. Horsethief Trail, in the Black Elk Wilderness in South Dakota near Mt. Lupine and balsamroot bloom in mid-April, making spectacular fields of purple and gold. -- At about three-quarters of a mile you come to a junction with the Centennial Trail (#89). a nice walk with some extra awesome good views if you want to climb a little bit. You'll pass the entrance station on your way in. Turn by Turn: -- Depending upon where you've parked, walk back up the gravel road a few yards (or more than a few yards) and take trail number 14 - Horsethief Lake Trail. The Horsethief Lake Trail, #14 on the maps, will take you 2.7 miles from Horsethief Lake, along Highway 16 near Mt. We went up from the north side of the trail, four wheel drive required for the last few miles of the drive. Mount Hood stands starkly to the west. It was a gorgeous hike. You will get your feet wet. All Rights Reserved. Legion Lake Trail Location of Trailhead: Within Legion Lake Campground Length: 1 mile (loop) Time: 1-2 hours Diffi culty: Moderate to strenuous This trail winds through the ponderosa pine forest and offers views of Legion Lake and the surrounding area. Rushmore. Dredging operations were completed a few years ago to clean out excessive sediment to restore the depth and improve water quality. A bit overgrown and not the best views, but a nice length and moderate difficulty. 4. We started at Horse Thief Lake Trail Head, then stayed on trail #14 until we hit Grizzly Bear Creek Trail #7 and turned left (East), then a left (north) on Centennial Trail #89 all the way back to the stem of the lollipop which is a right on Horse Thief Trail #14. after this hike i will never do another horse trail agin!!! Get your Ramblr app today! Only electric motors or paddling is allowed. It has three relatively easy water crossings, but the trail is narrow in spots and goes in and out of rocky canyons. On the west side of the butte, the trail splits. We made the journey to the Horsethief trail head early on a beautiful day at the end of March. Turned out to be a good idea since then you get the boring part (NE part of the Centennial Trail) out of the way at the beginning. This hike was located close to Keystone, SD and followed part of the Centennial Trail… Horsethief Lake Trail, AZ: ... Horsethief Road from Crown King to Horsethief Lake is not routinely maintained. Part of The Dalles is also visible. awesome trail. Horsethief Lake Trail is located 2 miles west of Mount Rushmore on Highway 244. At 1.6 miles you will cross Holson Valley Road. Horsethief is a no wake lake with a 5-mph speed limit. History In the 1930s the CCC did extensive work in this area of the Bradshaw Mountains. The trail at the Butte has 2 routes, one makes for an easy out and back or the other a more difficult. Horsethief Trail, situated behind a lake of the same name, is a genuine mountain wonderland.A hike back here makes you feel like you’re in the Pacific Northwest. Boats may have any size motor, but wakes are not allowed. From the top of the horseshoe-shaped natural monument visitors enjoy breathtaking and spectacular views. The hiking route wasn’t immediately obvious — I knew I should park at Horsethief Lake, but when I asked Google Maps for walking directions from there to Mount Rushmore, it had me hiking along the highway, which struck me as neither scenic nor safe! From the top of the horseshoe-shaped natural monument visitors enjoy breathtaking and spectacular views. To fish in Idaho any person 14 years of age or older must have a valid fishing license. The lake itself is about 90 acres in size and is actually an impoundment of the Columbia River. The Butte is the jewel of this area; it is situated near a beautiful 90-acre lake. Horsethief Lake is located near Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Two sections of the trail system, referred to as the Horsethief Canyon trails, connect the Rockin' K Trails to the Prairie Trails. This trail offers amazing views of the Black Hills most people don't see, because they won't get away from the tourist traps. Activities Trails. The campsites accommodate tents, trailers and RVs. My wife and I are in our early eighties and enjoy hiking in our national parks and other areas. Things To Know. Horsethief Butte dominates the skyline. The campground has 36 campsites and is also the closest campground to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Along this 3.5-mile trail, you will discover waterfalls, granite spires, mossy boulders and Old Man’s Beard dripping off some of the largest trees in the Black Hills. Horse Thief Lake Trail from Mapcarta, the free map. Horsethief Mountain Bike Trails Region Overview. Rushmore, so you probably want to pay it a visit if you haven’t already. Stay on this road until the road ends at the 42 km mark. (14), Climber's Log Entries Park your car in the east parking lot at Cedar Lake and you will find the trailhead on the southeast side of the lot. October 25, 2018 Marshall Trimble. The Horsethief Butte Trail can be found in Columbia Hills State Park, the South Cascades. Keep right at a junction, and look for blooming death-camas in the spring as well as views over Horsethief Lake and the hexagonal columns of the Wanapum flows. The lake itself is enormous, flooded into existence by the construction of The Dalles Dam. Drive I-84 east to The Dalles and take Exit 87 for Dufur and Bend. Many areas with mud across the entire trail, but if you’re not a horse you don’t sink down into it. The trails are easy hiking, but with quite a bit of sandy trails in places. Horsethief Lake Trail #14 . Horsethief Lake Trail If you like solitary hiking in one of the most beautiful areas of the Black Hills, then the Black Elk Wilderness may be what you are pining for. Horsethief is a no wake lake with a 5-mph speed limit. --unknown, South Dakota, United States, North America, Granite Tower near the Horsethief Lake trailhead, Images Horse Thief Lake Loop is a 17.7 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Hill City, South Dakota that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. Beyond the lower pass, Horsethief Lake Trail No. Or, bring a tent and spend the night. 14 descends through a shattered forest after going over a couple of passes. 14 descends through a shattered forest after going over a couple of passes. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Turn right on WA Hwy 14 and drive about a mile to milepost #85 where the park entrance is on your right/south. There are various trails available, including hiking, biking, and equestrian. Contrary to some reviewer you still get views of Mt Rushmore. The trail continues along the edge of lake. Drive through the four corner junction at the 9 km mark, turn right at the 14 km mark onto the Forster Creek FSR. Check in at Horsethief Campground, nestled in the stretch of open desert between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. The lake came much later. In fact, the first elevation bump after the low point (CW, 3.5 mi in) is a great place for picnic with clear view of Mt. RVs and tents are welcome at this spot. The singletrack trail is very narrow and worn in many areas making it difficult to use trekking poles. There are several cutoffs and side trails along this route, but follow the white blazes on the trees and you will be fine. Horse Thief Lake Trail von Mapcarta, die freie Karte.