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Graham, Royal and I went on our longest hike ever - a big chunk of the Flume Trail! I didn’t think it would be too much longer after the tunnel, but it turned out to be about a 2.5 mile hike. I only had to carry them a little bit of the way towards the end to give their legs a break. So proud of them for sticking it out!

Map of the Black Hills Flume Trail.

The trail crosses the stream running from Sheridan Lake and climbs up the southern hillside. Then it cuts west, through a long tunnel built back when panhandlers were searching for gold. It runs along the hillside (sometimes perilously close to the edge; those parts gave my papa heart a fit), then down into a ravine. After that, back up a ridge to Sheridan Lake, then down into another ravine headed east, across four bridges, back to the trailhead.

Graham and Royal on the Flume Trail.
Graham was an excellent big brother, pointing out every place that Royal might stumble.
A rocky portion of the Flume Trail.
Did those little legs really make it over this trail?!
Alex, Graham and Royal after hiking the Flume Trail.
Tired but happy. Next time we'll turn back at the tunnel :)