The highest summit east of the Rockies rewards hikers with a stone lookout and a sweeping hills panorama. South Dakota keeps its best rewards for those willing to leave the pavement behind.

At 7,242 feet, Black Elk Peak is the tallest point in South Dakota.

What sets it apart

A historic stone fire tower crowns the summit at the end of the main trail. For those who know the region well, it is a quiet point of pride.

The peak was renamed in 2016 to honor the Lakota holy man Black Elk.

Why it matters

Taken together, these threads say something about South Dakota itself — a place where the old and the new sit close together. Come prepared, respect the land, and South Dakota's wild country will give back in kind.