Hippie Hole / Hippie Hollow

Fed by the fresh waters of Battle Creek, a rushing waterfall cascades over a cliff into a deep, refreshing pool surrounded by granite boulders and towering pines. This is Hippie Hole — the Black Hills' most beloved swimming hole, and one of those rare places that still feels like a secret even after you've found it. The pool is also known as Big Falls, the larger of two waterfalls on Battle Creek — the smaller being Little Falls, located about a mile downstream. Both are worth a visit on the same trip. Two routes lead to the hole. The most popular is from the north — take Highway 40 to Old Rockerville Road to Foster Gulch Road, stay right, and follow it down to the parking area for a 0.6-mile hike. The southern route is a 1.5-mile out-and-back that requires extra time and careful footwork. Either way, the destination is the same: a sheer granite gorge, a rope swing, cliff jumping ledges, and water cold enough to take your breath away even in August. High-clearance vehicles highly recommended — the dirt road to the north trailhead has deep dips. Watch for poison ivy on trails.