I thought we would skip Wall Drug this time since we've seen it before but Scott was gun ho on going.
Come on. You can't go to the Badlands and skip the world's greatest tourist trap.
First stop ice cream.
We thought we would have lunch here but after seeing the prices decided we would cook something at the park instead.
But first we had to take a couple tourist pics.
When we we decided we were coming here I was expecting it to be 90's and hot. Did not think it would be rainy, chilly and foggy.
I always make Brooke look cool. She on the other hand always finds a way to take a pic at the most awkward possible moment. Either that or I'm just really awkward.
Earlier this year, I asked Theo where he wanted to go on vacations this year. He said he wanted to backpack camp at the Badlands because he was sad he didn't get to go yet. This is all for you buddy.
Thankfully as we got lower down it cleared up a bit.
We got out to look and everyone got 3 inches of mud stuck to the bottom of our shoes.
We stopped to eat lunch at the Conata Picnic Area. Thankfully the rain had also stopped as we got lower into the park.
These picnic shelters are all over South Dakota. Didn't expect to see one at the national park. Just watch your head.
While driving down the Badlands Loop Road a car in front of us pulled over and kept pointing. We thought they wanted us to look at something in distance when we realized they were trying to tell us our roof box was open. We do this a lot. We saw them at the next overlook and the woman said, "For a second I thought that was my nephew Scott." I said, "That is Scott."
That was not my aunt. But they were really kind.
Theo brought his camera along, but wasn't as gung ho about taking pictures as the campervan spring break. But he was still excited to get some pictures at our first few stops at the Badlands.
It was still too early to backpack to our camp so we hiked the Door Trail.
They call this the baddest of the Badlands. Imagine running into this on a covered wagon.
Some spots were slippery.
I guess this sign stops the tourists from going too far. I'm not sure I'd even call the Door Trail a trail per se. More like a live action connect the dots.
Heck yeah.
Theo in his element.
As a late birthday gift, I got a new larger size (55L), woman's fit backpack. I was excited to get to try it.
Theo finally living his dream.
To backpack in the Badlands you don't need a permit. They strongly suggest you start your hike at one of the trail registers. We decided to start park at the Castle Trail/Medicine Root Loop Trailhead.
Once there you sign in.
With all the rain, the prairie was very green and full of wildflowers. It was hard to see the trail at some points.
It was also very wet. No puddles, but the grass was incredibly damp.
So proud of himself.
We found this cool random pile of different rocks right by our campsite.
Dreamy. We walked and walked until we were completely out of site from the road and the trail. I guess we could've gone ever further.
We used the tent as a windbreak while cooking our freeze dried backpacking food.
We don't do backpacking meals very often but man they are convenient.
Our classic Slumberjack is now 10 years old, but it's been nothing but good for us. I'd totally recommend the updated version of our tent.
All the cacti were blooming too.
Definitely do nor remember the Badlands prairies being this lush.
All our shoes, socks and pants were wet, so after dinner we played games in the tent.
Our makeshift clothesline to hang all our wet stuff.
Day 5
Theo taking up two spots and me being awkward. Typical.
We could finally spot the Badland spires in the morning.
With all the fog on our hike in we couldn't really tell how far we were. You are supposed to be not in site of the road or a trail. It turns out we were closer to the road than we thought, oops.
That road had pretty low traffic. I'm not too worried.
I just like to take in the view.
I carried around Theo since he didn't want to put on his hiking boots. Just look at how wet my boots were after a little exploring.
Looks like this was a buffalo bed.
Too bad we didn't have rain pants for Meadow.
Or me.
Soaking wet. I guess I'll have to waterproof these when we get back.
After loading up our gear we drove back over to the Fossil Trail. We left our boots on our car during the hike to hopefully dry.
They wouldn't be dry. At least not mine which were soaked right through.
The Fossil Exhibit Trail was short and easy. Next we did the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail.
Our last visit we mostly stuck to the Stonghold Unit. The vibrant Cliff Shelf area felt like an oasis.
Meadow kept insisting on taking breaks. We thought she was just out of shape.
Then we did the trail I wanted to do the most, the Notch Trail. I knew there was a ladder you had climb but didn't think Theo would be terrified by this.
It was kind of nerve wracking for me too.
The whole time we were on top he kept worrying about having to go back down.
It was pretty cool up here.
And we made it.
We realized we were above the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail.
Theo procrastinating having to go back down the ladder.
Theo stayed close to me and made it down like a champ.
We promised the kids if they were good hikers we would get ice cream. We stopped at the very touristy Badlands Trading Post and watched the non-bubonic plague prairie dogs.
I'm not sure about that. I think all the prairie dogs in the area were spreading "black death." We saw signs by the picnic shelter we had lunch at and I thought that was weird. Then I saw more throughout the park.
After this we went to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site where apparently neither of us took any photos but the kids got another Junior Ranger badge.
Back in Wall we stopped at the Dahl's Chainsaw Art Jackaloop, which was new to us.
The rustic campground in the Badlands park is first come first serve. I was worried about getting a spot being that it was a Friday.
Sage Creek had plenty of room when we arrived, but really you can almost set up camp anywhere. No RVs or campevans allowed over 18 feet.
Theo wanted to backpack camp again but it looked like more rain overnight and our shoes were still soaked. I wasn't expecting the bison to be grazing over here. Or that we would be camping in the bubonic plague prairie dog village.
When we arrived a couple bison were meandering through the campground. We were always careful about being near them, but I guess this is par for the course at Sage Creek.
Nothing sounds more appetizing than buboinc plaugue.
After eating we decided to hike up the hill following the bison trail. Meadow was tired and didn't want to come so stayed behind reading in the tent.
Pretty nice view up here.
At this point we noticed a large dark spot creeping in on the campground.
We thought it might be a good idea to get back since it was awfully close to our tent.
It was just hanging out right next to our tent!
And Meadow had no clue.
Everyone kept their distance and all was fine.
I guess as long as you don't approach the bison they don't care.
Day 6
We got a nice early wakeup with having no shade and being so close to other campers. Meadow finally admitted that she felt sick yesterday but was feeling better today.
I guess that's why she was struggling to hike.
After loading up we headed onto our next adventure, the Black Hills. First stop, Dinosaur Park in Rapid City.
Next stop was Mount Rushmore. Fun fact. The park is free, you just have to pay parking. But hang on to your parking pass because your parking fee is good for one full year.
The monument looks kind of small from the road, but once you get up close, it's rather impressive.
There's a lot of negative nelly's when it come to Mount Rushmore, but gotta admit I was getting Rushmore-pilled.
I spy George Washington.
Theo: Abraham Lincoln looks like (Uncle) Blake.
I always thought they had planned to do all the presidents. We learned on a ranger talk that wasn't true at all.
Probably for the best that they stuck to four great presidents (with their well known failings) and skipped their bodies.
The kids finished their ranger books and collected their badges.
Way to go kids. We thought we would spend no time here and ended up staying for 4 hours. It was actually very fascinating.
Really good burgers and fries. Probably the least touristy spot in Keystone.
Scott was set on seeing Crazy Horse next. I wasn't so sure. I came here 25 years ago and didn't expect much to have changed.
Well, I'd never seen it up close, so definitely wanted to check it out.
I thought you could walk right up to it, but only if you paid for the bus tour. Theo talked us into doing it.
Very cool. Maybe a bit of a money making scheme by Korczak and his offsprings.
Woman: Let me take your picture, you can use it as your Christmas card. Not pictured: Crazy Horse.
What the heck?! But it was nice to get a nice picture of the four of us, I suppose.
They mentioned on the tour that you could take a piece of rock home from the blast. You know these kids had to get one.
Theo absolutely loved Crazy Horse, so he had to get his free souvenir.
More ice cream for these Tuska's.
Dairy Twist over in Hill City.
Okay, we need to camp in the Black Hills more.
Sheridan Lake was great, but it might be worth getting a site closer to the water.
Day 7
Today we wanted to check out Custer State Park. We had driven through and stayed in the Black Hills on a drive back from Albuquerque in 2010 but didn't actually stay to explore.
I really wanted to hike to Black Elk Peak but knew in this heat with these kids we wouldn't make it. We did the Cathedral Spires instead.
Good choice. This was one of my top ten hikes I've ever been on.
It was hot today, we were finally feeling that South Dakota summer heat.
Good thing we were mostly on the shaded trail.
They were originally going to put Mount Rushmore here but the rock is too crumbly.
This was a cool place.
Rad.
At the end of the trail you could peek the back of Mount Rushmore or should I say Six Grandfathers Mountain.
Nature just carving an eagle out of the Black Hills. Take that Korczak and Borglum.
The kids wanted to copy each other.
Happy kids in the back seat and no screens in site? A miracle.
We stopped back at our campsite for a Pad Thai lunch. To save space in our car I didn't bring any of our chairs.
We promised the kids swimming after our hot hike.
Everyone else had the same idea.
This ain't the Land of 10,000 Lakes (actually >14K). You got to swim where the water is.
The kids could've stayed here all day long.
That's a lot of bundt donuts.
The kids would've stayed here all day, but it was dinner time.
There are many breweries around here. We picked Miner Brewing because it had a hot dog food truck.
Instead of getting more beers, I talked Brooke into going to Sprockets Fun Foundry, back in Keystone, where we played a few games.
During our visit at Mount Rushmore I saw they had a lighting ceremony and said we had to come back for it. Thanks to our year parking pass we did indeed go back.
Almost time.
I was expecting so much more. I'm not really sure what, but it wasn't this.
It wasn't super exciting, but the speech by the park ranger offending the right wingers around was a real treat.
We bailed during the singing of the national anthem.
Brooke hates the national anthem. Sheesh. But we sure do love Mount Rushmore.
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