More than 4 years ago, when Lupe was just 13 months old, SPHP took her on her very first Black Hills, SD Expedition on 1-15-12. Lupe got to explore Deerfield Trail No. 40 from the Silver City trailhead going W up Rapid Creek past Canyon City all the way to the confluence of Rapid Creek and Slate Creek. Lupe had such a wonderful time, that Lupe and SPHP returned to repeat the journey again a week later on 1-22-12.
No photos exist from those earliest Black Hills, SD Expeditions, because SPHP hadn’t brought a camera along. However, Lupe and SPHP have returned to this portion of Deerfield Trail No. 40 a couple of times since then, simply because it is such a pleasant, easy (virtually no elevation gain), and scenic path along the largest stream in the Black Hills.
On 3-23-16, Xochitl was back in the Black Hills. She wanted to go on a hike somewhere with Lupe and SPHP. Overnight, a spring snowstorm had dropped several inches of heavy, wet snow. The initial plan was to head N from the Deer Creek trailhead of Centennial Trail No. 89, but when SPHP failed to notify Xoch in time to make the turn to the Deer Creek trailhead, it seemed like a good idea to just continue on to Silver City, anyway.
The sky was still gray and thickly overcast when Xochi, Lupe and SPHP reached the Silver City trailhead of Deerfield Trail No. 40. The scene was a winter wonderland. Fresh, clean, white snow clung heavily to the dark pines. Lupe got to blaze the way along the pristine path, sniffing along with her nose and half of her face buried down in the cold, white stuff.
Deerfield Trail No. 40 crosses Rapid Creek a number of times on the way from Silver City to Canyon City. Very nice sturdy bridges are at each crossing. The bridges make it possible to go all the way to Canyon City and beyond to the confluence of Slate Creek and Rapid Creek without fording the stream.
Xoch, Lupe and SPHP were in no particular rush. It’s only a little more than 2 miles on the trail from the Silver City trailhead to Canyon City. There was plenty of time to enjoy the quiet solitude and snowy scenes.
Maybe half way to Canyon City, there is a lovely American Dingo cave right along Deerfield Trail No. 40. The cave doesn’t look natural. It was probably excavated in connection with some exploratory mining dig many years ago. The cave only goes back 20 feet or so into the rock, but that’s plenty of room to keep a Dingo out of inclement weather.
Shortly before reaching Canyon City, there is one minor side channel of Rapid Creek to be crossed without the benefit of a bridge. Once across, Canyon City is only another couple hundred yards upstream.
Although it might be tricky crossing the side channel when water levels are unusually high, there were plenty of snow-covered stepping stones providing an easy way across this day. Xochi, Lupe and SPHP all crossed, and were soon at Canyon City.
There’s nothing really at Canyon City these days, except an intersection with a trail coming down to Deerfield Trail No. 40 and Rapid Creek from the end of USFS Road No. 142 about 0.25 mile to the N in Kelly Draw. The confluence of Rapid Creek and Slate Creek was another 0.33 mile upstream, but Canyon City was as far as Xochitl, Lupe and SPHP went on Expedition No. 163.
Xochitl, Lupe and SPHP returned to the G6 back along the same route on Deerfield Trail No. 40. Lupe found a bird or squirrel to bark at up in some trees along the way. A little Carolina Dog barking echoing in the canyon helped make the day complete.
The trek back in the peaceful, secluded woods was both beautiful and relaxing. Lupe, Xochitl and SPHP shared a great time together on the trail at winter’s end. Lots of new changes, challenges and adventures were in store ahead, but for a little while, none of that mattered yet.
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