Wandering Out WestyAdventure is Out There!

Badlands National Park
Grabbed showers the next morning before packing up and driving off. The family was back on the road and headed home, happiness. We jumped on the main drag and drove all day rolling into the Badlands early afternoon. Exiting the highway felt like entering another planet. Along the top crust of the earth sat the rolling endless prairie until it broke and crumbled at the edges leaving a gaping canyon of grayish pink streaked rock formations. It looked like a giant sandpit and each fragile formation could crumble at any moment. We drove the scenic byway, stopping at each overlook to be blown away by different geological features and wildlife! Wild sunflowers grew along the road, how could they survive in this dessert! with green prairie to the right and canyons to the left we stopped to watch the sunset grace the formidable landscape with color. An entire herd of big horned sheep grazed in a lower field with the warm sun retreating till tomorrow. As dark descended we rolled into the Elk’s campground in Rapid City, we didn’t know you needed to be a member, but thanks to my grandpa John who was a devoted member, the kind owner let us park in the lot for free.