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1.4 miles
Distance
529 ft
Climb
00:19:04
Avg time
529 ft
Altitude change
3,689 ft
Altitude min
4,218 ft
Altitude max
3,689 ft
Altitude start
4,219 ft
Altitude end
7.1%
Grade
-1.8%
Grade max
42.8%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
295 ft
Distance down
00:19:04
Avg time
Tech Essence Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- E-Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaLookout Mountain Park
Spearfish, South Dakota -
Difficulty Rating
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Local Popularity85 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 95 in E-Biking
- 75 in Trail Running
- 5 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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Climb DifficultyBlack Diamond
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Physical RatingHard
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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Land OwnerCity of Spearfish
Tech Essence is one of the more sustained climbs and descents on Lookout Mountain. It’s a fun, technical trail featuring tight corners, steep sections, and rocky challenges. Many locals enjoy the added test of climbing it as well.
The upper section descends through a series of flowy, tight corners and a few steep drops before transitioning into remnants of sandstone outcrops. From there, the trail drops into a drainage shaded by thick stands of ponderosa pine.
Eventually, the trail flattens across one of the area’s many gypsum outcrops, offering a beautiful overlook of the Northern Black Hills. After the viewpoint, riders encounter one more rocky descent before the grade eases out. You’ll pass the white concrete marker of the original Thoen Stone site — a local artifact — before continuing down a mellow, newly built flow section that finishes just above the tunnel leading back to the trailhead.
Local Trail Association
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trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 15 rides
- 10 miles avg distance
All
- 97 rides
- Last: Jun 26, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Tech Essence Trail Reports
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- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
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- Snow Cover Partial
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- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
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Directions to tech-essence trailhead
(44.497060, -103.851190)
Photos
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Routes with this trail
13 miles • 1,964 ft • 4 •
A full tour of Lookout Mountain Park. With plenty of ups and downs, this route puts emphasis on the climbs...
1 mile • 233 ft • 2 • Point to Point •
This is the least technical section of trail on Lookout Mountain. Perfect for new riders, or working on...
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Nearby Trails
- Ridge Trail 925 ft
- Blue Stake 2,156 ft
- Twisted Fun 3,566 ft
- Les Fun 3,983 ft
- Pony Express 4,465 ft
Lookout Mountain Park
- By markholloway
Trailforks Map Team & contributors - #46535 - 1,913 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tech Essence
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Where is Tech Essence located?
Tech Essence is located in Lookout Mountain Park, Spearfish, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Lookout Mountain Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 44.49706, -103.85119.
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How hard is Tech Essence?
Tech Essence is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 7.1%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
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What is the elevation gain for Tech Essence?
Tech Essence has 529 ft of elevation gain. The elevation ranges from 3,689 ft to 4,218 ft.
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How long is Tech Essence?
Tech Essence is 1.4 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
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