South Dakota

On the last Saturday we spent in South Dakota we went back to Custer State Park to try and see more bison and to hike the Cathedral Spires Trail. We did both!

Our last Monday evening in Rapid City we headed about 12 minutes outside of Rapid City to check out Buzzards Roost Trail, which is listed as a 2.8-mile hike, but we made it into almost 3.5 miles! Ha! The views at the top were amazing.

Saturdays are the busiest day of the week for sightseeing and Saturday, July 5 was no different. We wanted to complete the Spearfish Byway but a rockfall blocked the road and we were only able to do a third of it, so we pivoted and went back to Deadwood to see the historic Mount Moriah Cemetery and the Tatanka Bison Experience. However, before leaving the scenic byway we were able to do a really cool hike to the Devil's Bathtub.

Dale had July 4 off so we planned a full day of events which actually started the evening before at Mount Rushmore. We attended a special event with the Air Force Band and we even saw Vice President Vance and his family there. The following day we had breakfast at Colonial House Diner, went to Deadwood for a quick history tour, attended the Black Hills Roundup Rodeo in in Belle Fourche, stopped by a veterans cemetery and finished by watching fireworks from our bedroom window.

One evening after work we drove about a half hour outside Rapid City to check out the Creek Caves Trail. It was such a peaceful and beautiful trip. It was about 2.5 miles down to the river and back.

Dale and I took a step back in to the past on the Historic Lantern Tour, where our Park Ranger was dressed in a 1930s-style uniform, and the only light was provided by lanterns. We took a step back in time by entering the cave through the historic entrance using an unpaved trail. The tour was advertised as strenuous and it lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Badlands National Park is in South Dakota has dramatic landscapes with layered rock formations, steep canyons and towering spires. Bison, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs inhabit its sprawling grasslands. We drove the Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240), which winds past scenic lookouts. Afterwards we stopped by Wall Drugs, a popular tourist trap.

Rapid City, South Dakota served as our base for exploring nearby national parks like Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore, as well as the wider Black Hills area. The town is popular for its unique blend of natural attractions and cultural experiences, and is known for being the "City of Presidents," because of life-size bronze statues of U.S. presidents throughout downtown.

Not far from Mount Rushmore National Monument, in the beautiful Black Hills, is Custer State Park. The park has beautiful drives, wildlife, lakes and so much more. It was a great place to spend time.

Mount Rushmore National Monument, which is located in the beautiful Black Hills, is definitely worth the drive from Texas. The idea of creating such a sculpture was dreamed up in 1923 by South Dakota historian Doane Robinson. He wanted to find a way to attract tourists to the state. It worked. Mount Rushmore is now visited by nearly 3 million people annually. Dale and I visited four times while we were there!

We will be spending a month in South Dakota. This gallery will show some of the highlights of that trip.