July 20-21, 2016, Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
July 20-21, 2016, a two day visit to Badlands National Park. This national park has been on my bucket list forever. We made it. We also took an extra day to rest and recover from the heat. Our drive across South Dakota was done in 107-110 degree heat. It was brutal. We took our first pass through the park when we arrived in the area. There is a road called the Badlands Loop Road which is 30 miles long and takes you through most of the park. On Thursday the 21, we got up early and did a pass with more time on the loop road but going the opposite way.
This park has very cool geology. The landscape is basically a plateau that is being eroded off. It also intersects with the glass lands of the prairie. We got out all over the park, looked at the fossils, and the amazing geology.
We stayed in Wall, South Dakota which is a tiny little town that exists to serve visitors to Badlands. The key feature of this town is the giant 76,000 square foot drug store and tourist trap called Wall Drug. They are the entire center of the town, then a few hotels and some restaurants and a giant dinosaur. Not much else.
It was nice taking things a little slower, it was also a little cooler, well in the 90s instead of the 100s.
Entrance to Badlands National Park on the Wall, SD side
Some of the cool geology at Badlands
More really cool views
Louise standing on the rim, we had just seen a fox
Look out for the Rattle Snakes, these signs are all over the place
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