Black Hills & Badlands National Park

I was so excited to have family join me on the adventure and really excited to explore the sites of South Dakota across the Black Hills and the Badlands. Step one was getting there. Towing a travel trailer is a slow endeavor so I left Lincoln a day ahead of everyone to break up the journey into two days. I spent the night in Ogallala, Nebraska. The town has been used as a stopping point all through US history as a stop on the Pony Express, Transcontinental Railroad, and the last stop on the Texas Cattle Drive. I explored the historic cemetery at Boot Hill and drove around Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area. It was my first night in the camper in 100 degree weather. The KOA was really nice and clean but not many trees or shade. Early the next morning everyone departed Lincoln and it wasn’t very far into my drive that they caught up to me. We made a stop in Alliance, Nebraska, and walked around Carhenge. A fun tourist site of cars made to look like Stonehenge.

Custer State Park. We got up early and headed to Custer State Park with the hopes of seeing some wildlife. The previous evening we had our first sighting of bison driving through Wind Cave National Park to the campsite. The first major siting were a grouping of bighorn sheep resting near the side of the road. We had several close encounters with bison but no sightings of the main herd. The wildlife we really enjoyed seeing were the wild donkeys that live in the park. After the wildlife loop we stretched our legs with a short hike around Sylvan Lake.

We headed home to regroup and then back into Custer State Park in order to enjoy a chuckwagon ride out of Blue Bell Lodge. We were fitted with straw hats and debated whether we would need our jackets on such a beautiful day. The weather VERY quickly changed and the rest of the evening was a cold soaking rain. We huddled up in jackets and blankets and pulled down all the covers on the wagons. We then raced into the covered venue where we enjoyed the cookout and entertainment from Cowboy Keith. While it was not the evening we were expecting, it was probably the most memorable and enjoyable part of our vacation. I would highly recommend the chuckwagon ride and cookout.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial. We spent the following day exploring Mount Rushmore. I was extremely impressed and really enjoyed walking around and learning more about how it was made and information on the four presidents and why those presidents were selected. There is a very well laid out walking path as well as museums, exhibits and theaters that provided a film with even more information on the Memorial.

Badlands National Park. Another day was spent driving the Badlands Loop Road through the park working from the East side of the park to the West and ending with a visit to Wall Drugstore. When we came up to the first overlook all that I could say was ‘Wow’! Nicknamed ‘the Wall’, you are situated at the top of the plateau which eroded into beautiful cliffs and rock formations full of color that open up to vast prairie land. We also had a sighting of two bighorn sheep, who then proceeded to walk right by us. Everyone else had the same idea of visiting Wall Drugstore to get out of the rain. It was a madhouse so we opted for a restaurant across the street. We were so desperate that we ate there and managed to survive. I highly recommend waiting in the lines and eating at Wall Drugstore instead.

When not out touring we were relaxing outside the camper at Rafter J Bar Ranch campground. Had a great site with plenty of space. My nephew was very excited to collect every pinecone in the area for the campfire. We all enjoyed making the fire and enjoying s’mores. It sure beats sitting in a hotel. In the mornings I could hear the elk bugling in the morning. Nothing better than sitting amongst the trees with a cup of coffee in the morning.

Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. I ended up visiting this site twice as we all went there together and then moved the camper there after everyone headed home. It was a foggy and rainy day when we went together. Afterwards, we drove through Spearfish Canyon on our way back to the trailer which was beautiful and highly recommend. I returned to earn my Wyoming sticker and stayed at the KOA at the base of Devils Tower which offered an amazing view while sitting outside the camper. And each night everyone gathers outside to watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind with the tower in the background. The month of June a voluntary rock climbing closure in respect of Native American tribes as it is a significant time for tribal ceremonies. When I returned on July 1st there were plenty of climbers that were back at it.