Black Elk Peak, only a mile north, is clearly in view. The summit of Little Devils Tower offers some spectacular views of the Black Hills. In the new trail junction area between Little Devils Tower and Cathedral Spires, there is a healthy population of spruce trees mixed in the forest. There are many aspens along the lower part of the trail, where it parallels a small creek. Some of the worst spots along Trail 4 are still kind of unsightly, but much has been removed. In 2013, Winter Storm Atlas caused major damage with heavy snow and high winds, toppling many of the beetle-killed trees. The Black Hills National Forest manages the forest in this region and works with Custer State Park on various projects, including working to halt the beetle infestation and remove many of the dead trees in this region. In recent years, the forests in the Black Hills have suffered drastically from pine beetle infestation of the ponderosa pines. Others choose to continue on Trail 4 to Black Elk Peak and loop back to Sylvan Lake on Trail 9. Many who climb the Little Devils Tower will return to Trail 4, then take the spur trail that drops down to the Cathedral Spires and connects with the Cathedral Spires Trail. Now the Trail 4 works through some switchbacks up to a new spur trail to the summit, which was again re-worked in 2018. Gone is the very steep section that brought climbers to a cave-like crevice where the trail formerly passed through. Over the last few years, Custer State Park has totally reworked the trail to Little Devils Tower. The trails through the area are defined and marked fairly well. The granite formations are spectacular and wildlife abounds, despite the amount of people visiting the area. The Black Elk Peak-Little Devils Tower-Cathedral Spires area is one of the most popular hiking and climbing areas in the Black Hills.
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