We’ve had a hard time getting out to hike thanks to the uncooperative weather in the Black Hills this spring.

After passing on day after day of 90+ degree F / 32+ degree C temperatures, 40 mph / 64 kph wind gusts, and scattered thunderstorms, we finally tested our luck on a recent overcast weekday.

While we’ve hiked parts of the Flume trail before, this was a new-to-us stretch that took us out and back to Boulder Hill where we caught the trail spur to the mini peak.

It was an uneventful hike – plenty of trailhead parking at Coon Hollow (although this one gets packed on the weekends), very few fellow hikers, and a handful of birds and squirrels along the way.

The final leg was a mild scramble to the overlook, which offered lovely 360 degree views of the Black Hills.

What wasn’t quite as lovely was the ominous cloud cover rolling in over the mountains. We hoofed it back but still got caught in some hail and rain just as we were closing in on the trailhead. We were happy to get ourselves – and our vehicle! – home before the full storm set in.

Overall our hike clocked in at 7.3 miles / 11.7 km and 900 feet / 274 meters of gain. Glad we were finally able to make it outdoors!