Day three of our Dakota adventure took us first to Custer State Park, a 71,000 acre park and wildlife reserve. Only a short drive from Rapid City was this beautiful area filled with natural resources of both flora and fauna. 

After having fun at the entrance sign and a quick bathroom break at the visitors center we headed on the Wildlife Loop. This drive through the park was filled with bison, burrows, and prairie dogs. We learned much about all three, how each have their place in the park’s ecosystem.

Custer State Park was instrumental in the repopulation of bison after nearly going extinct in the 1800’s. The current burros are decedents of the same burrows that were used to haul materials and equipment to the Black Elk Peak (more on that later). The prairie dogs have an ecosystem that helps many other of the animal species. 

It was certainly fun to see bison up close, watch them playing, and as Tammy got close to the prairie dogs they began to yap in their defensive sounds. Very unique indeed.

Afterward we made our way to our hike, Black Elk Peak Loop and added Cathedral Spires as a bonus, totaling a bit over 8 miles. So much diversity in the park, as the Wildlife Loop was all prairie but the two hikes are mountainous. So many cool rock formations lead us to the top where a fire lookout tower was built in the 1930’s, a steel and rock structure sitting atop the highest peak in SD that also happens to be the tallest peak east of the Rockies. From the top at 7200 feet we could see for miles as we ate lunch. Such awesome views!!

After making our way back down to the trailhead we grabbed a refreshing drink and popped into the general store before heading down and around a few mountains to Mount Rushmore. 

Day four was part adventure and part travel. We drove south after a fuel and coffee stop, which also netted a couple cherry fritters and a muffin, to Wind Cave National Park. Being new to exploring national parks I had never heard of Wind Cave, but it seems it’s rich in history and old as well being established in 1903. It was stumbled upon in the late 1800’s and for many years explored by an Iowan family specifically but the young son Alvin McDonald.

Interestingly, its estimated only 10% of the cave has been explored so although it sits as the world’s 6th longest cave it could move up that list in the coming years as exploration continues.

After spotting more prairie dogs as we left the park we made our way to North Dakota. The drive was interesting after we passed through Sturges, as the land quickly became vast and open, rarely seeing any other vehicles on the road, nothing but open skies and rolling prairie. 

Tomorrow brings another adventure. Stay tuned.

Full album of pictures: https://photos.destinationsawait.com/SD-Highest-Peak-Amazing-Cave