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New Trails! Old 14, Lookout Mountain, Iron Creek Lake

By caheidelberger on 2011.09.18

Another weekend, another few fine hours out on the open road. Before it rained Saturday, I got out to see Old Highway 14 west of Spearfish. Roads with "Old" in their name get automatic bonus points.

View north from Old Highway 14, west of Spearfish, South Dakota, 2011.09.17
View north from Old Highway 14, west of Spearfish, South Dakota, 2011.09.17

Belle Fourche is out there somewhere.

View west on Old Highway 14, west of Spearfish, South Dakota, 2011.09.17
View west on Old Highway 14, west of Spearfish, South Dakota, 2011.09.17

Hey, I think I can see Larry Kurtz from here!

This morning, with my mountain bike freshly arrived in Mountain Time, I headed out to Lookout Mountain Road northeast of town. If you think all the stunning views are farther south in the Hills, you are mistaken:

I was able to go for that gravelly bike ride thanks to the handsome gentleman you see in the following photo:

Jim Heidelberger, somewhere south of Crow Peak, Black Hills, South Dakota, 2011.09.18
Jim Heidelberger, somewhere south of Crow Peak, Black Hills, South Dakota, 2011.09.18

That's the Divine Miss K's Grandpa, who brought my trusty GT mountain bike and the Divine Miss K's grandma. I was pleased to see all three... as well as this remarkable view south from a high forest road frequently traveled by livestock. Dad would have been happy to see a certain cowpie a couple seconds sooner.

After a few twists and turns, we found evidence of socialism!

Iron Creek Dam WPA marker, 1936. Black Hills, South Dakota.
Iron Creek Dam WPA marker, 1936. Black Hills, South Dakota.

What hath those lefties wrought?

Iron Creek Lake and WPA marker, Black Hills, South Dakota
Iron Creek Lake and WPA marker, Black Hills, South Dakota
Iron Creek Lake -- east toward dam; Black Hills, South Dakota
Iron Creek Lake -- east toward dam; Black Hills, South Dakota

Oh, just a spectacular little fishing spot that made everyone in the truck say wow. That 1930s socialism also supports a nice little capitalist store and campground, plus peaceful recreation for the working class. Beautiful on all counts... right down to the guy across the lake giving his snowmobile a shakedown cruise on the grass. Winter is coming....

Published in South Dakota

caheidelberger

4 Comments

  1. Taunia Adams 2011.09.18

    Good stuff. I did not see the WPA marker before. I chased after my daughter through the hills for two years while she attended BHSU. She worked at the sale barn in St. Onge and boarded horses at Bresler's near Belle Fourche.

    The longer you're gone, the more familiar it becomes.

  2. Taunia Adams 2011.09.18

    Also, go ride your bike up the WPA road through the hills...I forget where it is, but it leads up to some resort. It is nearly impossible for anything much bigger than a regular sized-car to maneuver with the hairpin turns. I have no idea how they built the resort at the top of that road using that road to transport building materials or how they use it to service that resort today.

  3. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.09.18

    "The WPA road"? Where where where?!

  4. Ruth 2011.09.19

    What a great weekend! Thank you for the grand tour. This trip was a real winner and we want to do it again and see more. Mom

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