IOU Black Hills & Mt. Rushmore...
By Anna Whipple,
IOU Trip to the Black Hils and Mt. Rushmore, July 2-5
The IOU trip to Mt. Rushmore was a great success even though we only had two members (myself and my husband Tim) along. So here's what we did on our summer vacation...
Saturday, on the way to the Black Hills, we stopped in the Badlands NP for a couple hours, had a picnic, and climbed up Saddle Pass for a fantastic and surreal view. It was a tough, slippery climb in the scorching heat. Lots of loose rock. But it was worth it after 8 hours in the car. I especially enjoyed the view of the grassy plateau that lies behind the "Wall".
We proceeded on to the Black Hills National Forest and set up camp at Sheridan Lake. The campground was occupied mostly by trailers and only a few tents. It was primitive but peaceful next to the lake.
Sunday, we drove the Needles Highway in Custer State Park, took the "Natural Entrance" tour at Wind Cave NP, and drove the backroads between Wind Cave and Custer.
Wind Cave is very accessible, and its formations greatly contrast with caves like Carlsbad Caverns. There is often about an hour wait before you can join a tour, so plan that into your day. Being a small group, we were lucky and got into a tour right away.
On our way back north to see the fireworks at Mt. Rushmore, we headed off onto a remote, gravel road that runs along the north boundary between Wind Cave and Custer State Park. As we looked out over miles of prairie with not a manmade thing in sight, we imagined we were discovering the West for the first time!
Proceeding again towards Mt. Rushmore, we were waylaid by a herd of buffalo crossing the highway. We eventually pulled off somewhere on Iron Mountain Rd. and hiked down to an outcropping with a perfect view of Mt. Rushmore. Enjoyed a picnic supper before the fireworks. We were actually about 2 miles from Rushmore, but the fireworks were still great! I'm not one for displays of military might, but right at sundown a Stealth Fighter flew directly over our heads. It was pretty dang cool!
Monday, we scrambled up Little Devil's Tower off the Needles Highway and on the advice of some locals, later hiked near Horsethief Lake. We also drove down to the Crazy Horse monument that afternoon but were too tired, hungry, and in need of beer at that point to really appreciate it.
We had a great weekend and would even make a tradition of it if it wasn't such a long drive! Sorry I don't have any digital pictures to post. Hope ya'll can get out there sometime.
The IOU trip to Mt. Rushmore was a great success even though we only had two members (myself and my husband Tim) along. So here's what we did on our summer vacation...
Saturday, on the way to the Black Hills, we stopped in the Badlands NP for a couple hours, had a picnic, and climbed up Saddle Pass for a fantastic and surreal view. It was a tough, slippery climb in the scorching heat. Lots of loose rock. But it was worth it after 8 hours in the car. I especially enjoyed the view of the grassy plateau that lies behind the "Wall".
We proceeded on to the Black Hills National Forest and set up camp at Sheridan Lake. The campground was occupied mostly by trailers and only a few tents. It was primitive but peaceful next to the lake.
Sunday, we drove the Needles Highway in Custer State Park, took the "Natural Entrance" tour at Wind Cave NP, and drove the backroads between Wind Cave and Custer.
Wind Cave is very accessible, and its formations greatly contrast with caves like Carlsbad Caverns. There is often about an hour wait before you can join a tour, so plan that into your day. Being a small group, we were lucky and got into a tour right away.
On our way back north to see the fireworks at Mt. Rushmore, we headed off onto a remote, gravel road that runs along the north boundary between Wind Cave and Custer State Park. As we looked out over miles of prairie with not a manmade thing in sight, we imagined we were discovering the West for the first time!
Proceeding again towards Mt. Rushmore, we were waylaid by a herd of buffalo crossing the highway. We eventually pulled off somewhere on Iron Mountain Rd. and hiked down to an outcropping with a perfect view of Mt. Rushmore. Enjoyed a picnic supper before the fireworks. We were actually about 2 miles from Rushmore, but the fireworks were still great! I'm not one for displays of military might, but right at sundown a Stealth Fighter flew directly over our heads. It was pretty dang cool!
Monday, we scrambled up Little Devil's Tower off the Needles Highway and on the advice of some locals, later hiked near Horsethief Lake. We also drove down to the Crazy Horse monument that afternoon but were too tired, hungry, and in need of beer at that point to really appreciate it.
We had a great weekend and would even make a tradition of it if it wasn't such a long drive! Sorry I don't have any digital pictures to post. Hope ya'll can get out there sometime.
posted by IOU... | 6:44 PM
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