We are back from our trip to South Dakota and had a great time! I took tons and tons of photos and had a very hard time narrowing it down… so even the narrowed down list is pretty long. If you want to see the larger versions just click on them! Enjoy!
Here we are, ready to set out!
It wasn’t long before Emma decided to try out the napping abilities of the Jetta.
The first night we made it as far as Sioux Falls, right about 500 miles from home. Cracker Barrel started off the second morning.
I had never been to the Corn Palace so we stopped by to check it out.
As it turns out, the Corn Palace is weird. A combination theater and basketball arena with a maze of trinkets and trash for sale.
One of my favorite sights – mountains in the distance!
Welcome to the Black Hills!
Our little cabin. And by little, I mean tiny. I think the entire cabin would fit in my bedroom at home. But it was cute and did us well for the week.
After we got settled, we drove in to Rapid City to get groceries and eat dinner. Emma was more interested in conversing with the people across the divider.
Our first order of business was Mt Rushmore.
Emma insisted on doing all of the 200 or so steps completely unassisted. Luckily we weren’t in a hurry.
Emma usually likes pinecones, but this one was fairly sharp.
Our first picnic of the trip in a nice forested area.
Emma decided to try on my sunglasses.
A nice view near our Picnic spot.
We walked around a small trail by Horsethief Lake.
Steph sitting in our bug spattered car while I get out to take photos of something.
Some wildlife.
Emma napping with the wild hair.
We stumbled across a really neat overlook along the road.
A family photo at the overlook.
Emma, my little rock climber. It won’t be long until she’s going up mountains with me!
Walking back to the car after enjoying the overlook and the rock climbing.
Me and Steph.
The cabin only had a standup shower, so Emma used this duckie tub. This was after she had taken a bath, got dressed and then decided to get back in the tub.
Emma enjoying another hike.
She wanted to hike on her own.
Another nice view of the Black Hills.
Trying to take a photo with Emma… but she was not cooperating. This is her famous move that we have dubbed “the limp noodle”.
A road went to the top of this mountain. The rocks kept us from driving over the edge.
Every time we would pass by some water, Emma would start pointing. Apparently her new favorite thing is to throw rocks into water.
We drove the “wildlife loop” which was both scenic and offered views of various types of wildlife.
Most of the days of our trip were blue skies and bright white puffy clouds. Perfect weather!
A friendly burro.
There were tons of bison along the drive.
After the drive, we decided to break out the new backpack. She liked it!
Steph was feeling left out so she took this self-photo.
Emma is still riding good in the backpack!
I have already started teaching her to appreciate pine trees. “See Emma, this is a Ponderosa.”
Wednesday I got up at 5:30am and climbed the 7 mile loop to the summit of Harney Peak, the highest point in South Dakota. Compared to some of the others I’ve done, this was fairly easy.
The sign said to allow 5-6 hours, but after only an hour and 10 minutes I was at the top.
Just below the summit I saw this crazy looking animal.
The early morning view from the top was amazing!
All alone at the top. I didn’t see a single person the entire hike up, and only one on the way back down. Then I saw a second person as I reached the parking long.
A view of “the needles”, the rest of Custer State Park, and beyond.
Just one of the many awesome rock formations in the Black Hills.
After my hike, we all headed into Wyoming to Devils Tower. The rolling green mountains and valleys made for a very nice drive.
Here is Devils Tower.
We broke out the pack again. This time for a mile and a half.
Another self timer family pic after we finished the hike.
Since Emma was so good we gave her a cook-cook (Cookie).
We took the scenic way home up Spearfish Canyon. There are several waterfalls, but it started raining so we were only able to see this one.
The Alpine Inn, where we had dinner in the cool little town of Hill City, SD.
Steph and Emma hiking some more. This time at Jewel Cave.
Another great picnic spot. This time by a lake.
Whee!
Steph and I in the car.
Emma was doing so well in the pack, we just kept doing hikes!
This was an old house the used to belong to a poet back before the park existed and is nicknamed “The Badger Hole”. It was like walking back in time. Very cool!
Another view of the mountains!
Driving along Needles Highway.
More bright skies!
Needles Highway is not a place for large vehicles!
Emma and I enjoying the latest National Geographic.
Our last day we headed out to the Badlands.
Me and Steph at an overlook.
We had a picnic and luckily the picnic tables had shelters since there were no shade trees to be found.
We enjoyed the striped patterns in the soil and rocks.
Steph and Em after lunch.
Once again trying to take a photo with an un-cooperative child.
Em and I checking out some fossils along the trail.
A family photo at the Badlands, courtesy of nice British couple.
A self-shot at the badlands.
I have definitely never hiked a trail that looked like this!
Our last night in South Dakota…hiking around Sylvan Lake.
Sylvan Lake… if you have seen National Treasure 2 you may recognize it.
Hiking through a narrow passage behind the lake.
Our last night….having a cookout by the lake!
Em is quite independent.
A view of Harney Peak on the drive back to the cabin for the last time!
This was how Em spent most of the 14 hour drive home.
Wow! It looks like you had a great time!
I recognize quite a few of those places. We sure do have a pretty country, and a lot of neat places people don’t often think to visit. Looks like you had a really nice trip with good weather.