SOUTH DAKOTA! BADLANDS!!

We wanted to make it to the Badlands before dark and see Mount Rushmore and maybe the Crazy Horse Monument so we had a lot of driving ahead of us.

this is what most of the drive looked like.

We made it Rushmore, put Crazy Horse on our the “next time” list and got into the Badlands with enough time for a scenic drive and were able to enjoy the most gorgeous sunset yet as we set up camp.

This path looks REALLY hazardous!

Mountain goats!!!!

It may have been warm there – but it was still the Park’s “winter season” and this had some pluses and minuses:  aside from some friendly campers from Mississippi just starting their road trip, we had the place to ourselves HOWEVER the only road through the park was closed for roadwork.  We were still able to see a lot and drove some back roads through some grassland ranches (that we may or may not have been allowed on) and got back on a section of the park road and saw prairie dogs(!!) and the breath taking yellow mounds.

Our cute little campsite! It was so windy!

the circle of life

Sean and Nash climbing down a narrow pass.

Geo out in the midst of it!

the yellow mounds begin!

Prairie Dog!!!

I am so glad we made it to the Badlands! They were just sublime.  

If you want to see more photos click here!

Unfortunately there were more road blocks that we couldn’t get around so we never made it to the wilderness back country area and didn’t get to see bison [giant sad emoticon].  We made our way back through the ranches and got on the highway and headed east with the goal of making it as close to Madison, WI as we could.   We made it to Rochester, Minnesota! 

xoxo