SOUTH DAKOTA

from Rapid City - Badlands National Park - Custer State Park - Hot Springs


	RAPID CITY
the Hall of Flags		Mount Rushmore

South Dakota is probably best known for the Mount Rushmore Memorial, but other places worthy of mention are Badlands National Park to the east and Custer State Park to the south. There are some photogenic angles of Mt. Rushmore from Iron Mountain Road like Norbeck Overlook



western entrance		colorful terrain

Badlands National Park was established in 1978 after being designated a national monument in 1939. It has 244,000 acres and is full of buttes, pinnacles and spires. The National Park Service web site says this park has Oligocene epoch fossil beds that date back 23 to 25 million years. The 30 mile Loop Scenic Byway is an exciting and colorful ride through the park. There are walkways that have fossils in enclosed boxes along the way, providing backround history on the species that once roamed this area.


	CUSTER STATE PARK
Custer State Park bison herd		Custer State Park burro

Custer State Park is very large at 71,000 acres. It is abundant with wildlife including bison, pronghorns, prairie dogs and more. The large herd of buffalo is one of the largest in the country and attracts lots of onlookers, all of whom are directed not to get out of their cars. Bison can be ornery and though they don't look like fast runners, apparently they are. We were met at a checkpoint by a group of very friendly burros.


	HOT SPRINGS
Mammoth Site entrance		Mammoth Site museum

Mammoth Site in Hot Springs is an ongoing geological dig where a sink hole existed, preserving the remains of numerous species of animals in addition to the mammoth. Completely enclosed, this is one of the areas being excavated.

WYOMING

to Yellowstone National Park - Grand Tetons National Park


	YELLOW STONE
Old Faithful		West Thumb

Yellowstone National Park is best known for it's geysers like Old Faithful, it's basins like Middle Geyser and its pools like Crested Pool. On a cloudy, rainy day when the wind shifts the steam over the pools in your direction, you instantly find yourself lost in a cloud.



Grand Canyon map		Inspiration Point in the Grand Canyon

Yellowstone National Park has it's own Grand Canyon. Among the highlights along the Grand Canyon Rim Drive are Upper Falls and Artist's Point off of the South Rim Drive, as well as Inspiration Point, Lookout Point and Lower Falls off of the North Rim Drive.


	GRAND TETONS
the Grand Tetons		view from the airport

Teton Park Road has close-up views of the Grand Tetons from such points as Jenny Lake and Signal Mountain, which includes the view of Jackson Lake. For great food with a beautiful view, stop at Signal Mountain Lodge . Teton Village has fully furnished condos at the foot of the mountains if you want a change from the hotels. You get a lot more for the same money if you shop around. Here's a Teton Village sunrise .

LINKS: Mount Rushmore nps.gov Badlands National Park Badlands National Park map Mammoth Site - Hot Springs, SD Yellowstone National Park interactive map Grand Canyon of Yellowstone - interactive map - nps.gov Grand Teton NP - nps.gov