Yankton County Highpoint Trip Report
four areas (1,680+ ft)
Date: January 20, 2007
Author: Nick O'Connell
From the Turner County highpoint trailhead, follow 441st Avenue south for 0.7 mile.
Take US highway 18 east for 4 miles. Continue south on this road for 6.6 miles.
Park at the turnout for the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).
Stay on the south side of its border fence and follow it to its southeast corner.
Just east of this location on the edge of a field is the southern
highpoint contender. This one is fairly easy to determine.
From here there are 2 options, either hike back to the vehicle and drive to the
road north of the other 3 areas or hike directly to them. I choose the second
option and followed the fence line of the NWR northward. At the midsection line,
cross over a newly-planted pine tree road and head directly for the
westernmost area of the group of 3. After reaching this area and making sure to
hit the high ground, it is obvious that the middle area is lower than the
western and eastern points. Unfortunately, this does not save any time since it
must be traversed anyway to reach the easternmost point. The topo map shows
this point as straddling the midsection line; field observations show it to be
right along the fence on this line. Without a hand level or any other tools
more technological than my own two eyes I could not tell which area could claim
the highpoint title. I was able to view all 4 areas from this location and
would assume that with a hand level it would be quite easy to decide the issue.
My route back retraced the same steps that it took on the way in.
Round trip: 25 minutes, 1.6 miles, 40 feet of gain.