The Black Hills are a hiker’s dream destination. With more than 400 miles of hiking trails, there is literally something for everyone – all ages and skill levels. Last Sunday, while out for a drive in Wind Cave National Park, I discovered a new-to-me trail.

Located about 13 miles north of Hot Springs is a beautiful little hiking area called Rankin Ridge trail. To find the trailhead, turn east onto Rankin Ridge Road, off of Hwy 87. Follow the road up the hill for about a half mile and park where the road dead ends.

Rankin Ridge is the highest point in Wind Cave National Park and is home to an old fire lookout tower. A peaceful nature trail has been created, leading from the parking lot up to the lookout tower and back down for a one mile loop.

The tower at the top is rarely staffed anymore, except during times of extreme fire danger, but has been left open and available for visitors to climb. The 72-stair climb to the top rewards you with sweeping panoramic views of the southern Black Hills. This area is unique because it is where the ponderosa pine forests and the wide-open grasslands meet.

The area around the trail was the site of a prescribed burn back in 1994 and signs of the fire can still be seen. Charred stumps and a few downed trees remain, although much of the area has regrown since then and most of the trees look healthy.

Within a couple miles of the trail on Sunday, we saw bald eagles, coyotes, bull elk, bison and prairie dogs. It is late enough in the season and cool enough that we didn’t see any rattlesnakes, but the sign at the trailhead indicates that they are nearby. So, if you hike Rankin Ridge trail, tread carefully and be aware of your surroundings.