Despite being somewhat remote, White Tail Peak still attracts hikers every year. This is because at 6,962 feet, it is in the “top ten” of ranked summits in the Black Hills. The summit is easy to reach, thanks to all the old roads in the area. The highpoint of the mountain is actually on an almost-flat ridge top. There is no geodetic maker for the exact highpoint, so unless you bring a GPS unit, you will have to settle for your best estimate. Once you reach the summit area, all the ATV tire tracks will show this mountain is a popular destination for ATV caravans. Even so, there are often long periods of time between their visits, allowing you a fair chance to have the mountain to yourself. Because of the thick forest, the views at the summit are limited.
Cell phone reception in this area of the Black Hills is spotty at best. Like many of the summits in the western Black Hills and other parts of the Limestone Plateau, part of the mountain is steep while the rest of the sides are fairly gentle. White Tail Peak’s limestone bluffs are predominantly on the east and southeast part of the mountain. The North Fork Castle Creek Natural Area lies on the southern edge of White Tail Peak.
George Armstrong Custer explored in this area during his famous 1874 exploration expedition through the Black Hills, traveling down nearby Castle Creek valley. A mining town, Black Fox, sprang up in the late 1800’s about two miles to the northwest of White Tail Peak’s summit. What little is now left of Black Fox is an empty ghost town. The Black Fox Campground is near the old ghost town.
White Tail Peak is located in the western Black Hills approximately 5 miles west-southwest of the tiny village of Rochford, South Dakota. To get to White Tail Peak, travel west from Rochford on Road 231, the Rochford Road (also the South Rapid Creek Road) to the junction with Road 233, the Black Fox Camp Road. Follow the Black Fox Camp Road to Road 190 and turn east (left) there and drive about 3.5 miles to the junction with Road 190.1Q (easy to miss). Park wherever it is safe, and you can hike the .5-mile to the summit on this rough little road, with almost no altitude gain to the summit. A route map is posted in the photos below.