Wind Cave National Park: Centennial Trail

The entrance to Wind Cave National Park was easy to locate at the Southern end of the Black Hills. I arrived at the Visitor Center to be surprised by the crowds and the necessity to schedule a tour of the park's namesake in order to see it. I decided that instead of seeing the cave I would go for a hike in the open area of the park. I picked a 6mile loop hike from the Centennial Trail, which was located north of the visitor center. I also chose this hike because the trailhead was located off the northbound scenic byway thru the park grounds leading to Custer State Park, Black Hills National Forest and all the way to Mt. Rushmore.

On the Centennial Trail I spotted multiple groups of large-pointed Deer drinking from the river and eating from the abundant vegetation. I crossed several small creeks and passed next to orange-tinted cliffs lining the valley. There were only two other groups on the trail that afternoon and I was very happy with my decision to avoid the crowds clamoring to get into the cave and greatly enjoyed the above ground beauty of the park.

Badlands National Park: Sage Creek Campground

Approaching the Big Badlands overlook from the Northeast entrance of Badlands National Park. From this entrance you drive thru and over some of the park's best overlooks, with excellent close-up views of the rock formations for which the park is best known.

View from hilltop overlooking the Sage Creek Campground. Driving west for about an hour, mostly downhill, you pass thru the park from its rock formations, rolling hills, onto grasslands populated by Bison and other large animals. The Sage Creek Campground is a primitive campground in the western part of the park. It has space for parking 12-15 vehicles, picnic tables, and a bathroom facility, but no running water. Trailheads from this campground lead over rolling grasslands and hills.