South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012 - (Page 246)

Badlands drive a timeless journey here’s a fascination with landscapes composed only from the starkest elements of nature. They speak to the fundamentals of our planet. Wind, rock and sky. These places will endure; they are timeless, vast, seemingly changeless. Ready to deepen your appreciation of the very essence of nature? Take a drive through the Badlands of South Dakota. It’s desolation at its truest, where you can look for miles and see no sign of civilization. Disconcerting, maybe, but the meadowlark piping in the morning cool and the darting pronghorns seem company enough. There are no obstructions, here in Badlands National Park, to mar the horizon. And the land unfolds unceasingly until it meets the sky. It is a land close to the sun, replete with some of nature’s finest forms. So much beauty that more than 160 square miles of it have been reserved for inclusion in our National Parks System. The Badlands sneak up on you. Even after you enter the gateway to Badlands National Park, the monotonous grasslands of the High Plains seem to continue. Stop at the very first scenic overlook you encounter, and get out of your car. In a matter of inches, the ocean of prairie transforms into a vast and jumbled wilderness of impenetrable Badlands. T 246 A drive, a walk or a hike are all windows into the otherworldly beauty of Badlands National Park. Visually, the Badlands are at their best early or late in the day when deep shadows define their forms. At first, neither the eye nor the mind can comprehend, because the visual images are totally foreign to any past experiences. And “otherworldly” describes Badlands at night. If you are thoroughly smitten by the Badlands, hike the Saddle Pass Trail or the Castle Trail. The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a National Scenic Trail and is one of the most heavily used of all park facilities, giving visitors a glimpse into the park’s distant past. Wayside exhibits help you interpret the fossils, which are enclosed under Plexiglas domes. For even more high adventure, strike out into the 64,000-acre Sage Creek Basin Wilderness Area. You may hike just about anywhere in the park, but you must keep your vehicle on the road. The fragile prairie may take decades to cover your tracks. Leave rocks, animals, and plants as you find them. In spite of all this, the marvels of Badlands topography are not the region’s only claim to fame. It is likely you will see eagles and turkey vultures along the Badlands wall. Deer and antelope are usually visible from the highway on the upper grasslands, and sometimes a wily coyote will go skulking across the prairies. On the western end of the (Continues on Page 254) Black Hills, Badlands & lakes Region 

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012

South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012
Contents
Getting Here, Getting Around
Interstate Information Centers
State Facts
Native American Information
Places of Interest
Calendar of Events
Public Campgrounds and Recreation Areas
Southeast Region: A slice of South Dakota charm
Glacial Lakes & Prairies Region: Stories from the frontier
Great Lakes Region: Land of the mighty Missouri
Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Region: Enchanting mountain getaway
Black Hills map
Index

South Dakota Vacation Guide 2012

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