After a 700+ mile drive from Illinois to South Dakota on a Thursday in June. I enjoyed a gorgeous evening visit to Badlands National Park. As darkness fell, I returned to Wall, SD for a good night’s rest while looking forward to spending the next day (Friday) at the park.
Friday morning, I was up early. I grabbed a ‘to-go’ breakfast and headed back to the park. I wanted to know what daytime at Badlands looked and felt like. I was at the parks’ Pinnacle Entrance Station by 7AM, before gate attendants were even there. Once in the park, I opted to drive the dirt road that was the origin of the dust kicked up by vehicles fleeing the scene of the setting sun the night before. The road is Sage Creek Rim Road.
As I said, it was fairly early for a National Park visit I guess, I felt like I had the whole place to myself. My rental van was loaded (thanks to my wife) with bottled water and all kinds of snacks like peanuts, jerky, granola bars, including sandwich meats, condiments, and bread. I was ready to see the park at my own pace. My own pace turned into a 405 minute (6.75 hours) visit/drive/walk/hike in, around, and through Badlands National Park. I covered 100 miles driving the roads in and around the park. I walked and/or hiked for another 6 plus miles. And of course, I stood and watched wildlife of all kinds. I took many, many pictures. I stood in silent awe of the landscapes not only for their immense beauty, but also for their diversity just by looking from one direction to the next. Sometimes I just stood and looked back and forth over the land, to the skies, and back again. I prayed often, and thanked God for the opportunity of being there to witness these gifts from our Creator. If only I could multiply those minutes, and hours in each place I stopped. I would give God the glory while exploring every nook and cranny I could get to, in silent reverence, if I could.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons I loved visiting this park so much was that there were no real big crowds. I mean there were some crowded parking areas at some of the attractions, but I went where people weren’t. Then I returned in the evening to some places while the majority of folks had gone searching for the Friday night sunset.
There will be many pictures to follow here in this, my third ‘West 2022’ story. I will expand (with pictures) on my morning through early afternoon visit to the park, and also the three hours I spent in the park that Friday evening. Maybe there will even be a reference to my quick visit to the famous Wall Drug.
I took zero notes of my trip unless you count thousands of pictures. As I go through the pictures after the fact, much of my experience comes flooding back to me. Sorting these moments in any kind of sensible order is proving more difficult than the memories.
Anyway, please enjoy the pictures. I know they don’t do the scenes the full justice of being there in person, but some of them are pretty decent illustrations of what I loved about Badlands National Park. Click on the pictures. Zoom in and have a look around. There is a lot to see.
Wildlife at Badlands National Park
So many bison to see. There are roughly 1,200 of them in the park.
Two little birds and a coyote
(You really need to click on these to get a good look)
Life along Medicine Root – Badlands National Park
Other views along the way…there are impressive views everywhere!
West 2022 Stories