There have been arguments made of the relative impact of hikers as compared
to mountain bikers or other user groups, but discussions such as these fail …

Part of what Public Lands Day is about is taking ownership of wonderful public assets that belong to all of us, improving them and developing a sense of pride in our publicly owned land. Many Black Hills Trails volunteers dedicated their time on Saturday, September 14, 2013 to improving …

Many individuals participate in many forms of recreation on Lookout Mountain in Spearfish, with almost any venture onto the trail system there you will almost without a doubt have a friendly encounter with other hikers, cyclists or runners. A recent Spearfish City Council meeting has however brought to light that this type of use was perhaps not the intent when the City purchased the property on which Lookout sits, as an article in the Black Hills Pioneer explains (http://www.bhpioneer.com/local_news/article_ec4842c6-ea48-11e2-a92f-001a4bcf887a.html). Those that have experienced the existing trail system on Lookout will know that erosion has run rampant and that no small amount of resource damage is occurring. Recreational trail users of all types and conservation need not be mutually exclusive, the land, vegetation and wildlife would benefit from a more responsibly designed and maintained trail system on Lookout. An improved trail system would also bring many social benefits to the City. This is your call-to-action. Live in Spearfish? Contact your council-person and express your support for the responsible ideas brought forth by the STAR committee. Don’t live in Spearfish? Spread the word to those who do.

The new Black Hills Trails site is now live, although a bit sparse at the moment. Significant changes and additions are expecting in the coming weeks and months. The maps and mapping functionality of PahaSapaTrails.com has been given to the Black Hills Trails organization and incorporated into this new site. As the maps and mapping functionality are extended and enhanced the PahaSapaTrails.com website will eventually be phased out altogether.