Saturday, May 25, 2013

Badlands National Park

Our day started with a drive about 50 miles Southeast of Rapid City to Badlands National Park.  I had waited so long (63 years) to purchase my first (and only) Senior National Park Lifetime Pass for only $ 10.00.  Joy and I have been in all the parks in the Lower 48 with the 8 remaining in Alaska on the trip ahead.  Today there are 67 National Parks and each one is truly worth the visit.

Badlands had a reputation in the old West of containing only bad men, Indians, and rattlesnakes.   Not much has changed.  This land was established in 1929 but did not obtain National Park status until 1978.  It contains 242,600 acres of stark contrast and vistas.  Lack of facilities had us enjoying a picnic lunch in the Jeep as you can see.


The afternoon had us on several back roads on the way home including a stop in Scenic, S.D.  Let us save you a trip – it doesn’t live up to its name.  We plan to attend services in Rapid City in the morning before heading down to Wind Cave National Park and perhaps a trip by the Crazy Horse monument that has been under construction since 1947.







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