In Yankton, we visited the headquarters of the Missouri National Recreational River and hiked the Meridian Bridge from Riverside Park across the river (which is also the state border). We saw the reconstructed Dakota Territory Capitol that was also in Riverside Park.
Heading north to Sioux Falls, we explored Falls Park and enjoyed the viewing tower with observation deck, as well as the many overlooks and viewpoints of the waterfalls along the Big Sioux River. We grabbed some ice cream at the Falls Overlook Cafe and also saw the nearby Queen Bee Mill Ruins.
After spending a night in Sioux Falls, we drove north to see Devil's Gulch Park in the town of Garretson. This incredibly scenic park offered red quartzite canyons, Devil's Falls on Split Rock Creek, and an 18-foot gorge where it is said outlaw Jesse James' horse jumped across to help him escape the posse in 1876.
We spent a week with family visiting the area around Black Hills National Forest. We all had a great stay at Hinterwood Cabins, where we enjoyed hiking through the forest and watching all the wildlife in the mornings (deer, turkey, rabbits, and quite a few chickens that were on the property). In Hill City, we rode the final steam train of the season on the Black Hills Central Railroad's 1880 Train. Near Keystone, we toured Mount Rushmore National Memorial and hiked the Presidential Loop Trail to get an up-close view of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Heading towards Custer, we stopped to view the progress on Crazy Horse Memorial, then drove to Wind Cave National Park where we hiked the Prairie Vista Trail and saw the natural entrance to the cave, drove some of the scenic backcountry roads, and saw several bison and the accompanying prairie dogs. After driving through Custer State Park to see more wildlife, we then drove the famous Iron Mountain Road and returned to our cabins.
We visited several of the tourist attractions around Rapid City including Reptile Gardens, Bear Country USA, Rushmore Candy Company, Christmas Village, and the House of Scandinavia. Elizabeth especially enjoyed seeing the Giant Tortoises at Reptile Gardens while Miles preferred watching the baby bears play at Bear Country USA.
After a brief stop at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center in Lead (home of an underground research facility studying Dark Matter and Neutrinos, and a spot to view the Homestake Mine), we then drove the scenic Spearfish Canyon north to view waterfalls and wildlife. After hiking the trail to Roughlock Falls, we then observed Spearfish Falls before driving to Bridal Veil Falls. We were very fortunate to see a band of Mountain Goats at Bridal Veil Falls, which was a highlight of the trip. Returning to Keystone, we took a helicopter ride with Rushmore Helicopters to see Mount Rushmore (from a distance). This was the first time Elizabeth or Miles had ever been in a helicopter and they both enjoyed the experience.
Leaving the Black Hills, we headed east to Wall where we had a good time exploring the World-Famous Wall Drug Store and spending the afternoon visiting Badlands National Park where we hiked the short Fossil Exhibit Trail, took in several of the overlooks, and saw quite a variety of wildlife including Bighorn Sheep, Coyote, Bison, and of course Prairie Dogs. We also visited the southern unit of the national park on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Finally, after spending a night in a cabin at the Springs Lodge in Hot Springs, we walked to the Hot Springs Waterfall and saw Kidney Springs along the Fall River before touring the impressive Mammoth Site, which preserves the remains of over 60 mammoths that have been discovered at the site.
We drove through South Dakota during the week of Independence Day. In Belle Fourche we visited the Geographic Center of the Nation Monument. Heading south through the state we stopped at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre, toured the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility and the Delta-09 Missile Silo at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, and did some hiking and the scenic drive through Badlands National Park.
In the Black Hills, we toured Jewel Cave National Monument, did some hiking at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and drove the Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway in Custer State Park. We also briefly visited Wind Cave National Park but did not do a cave tour and we attended the 4th of July fireworks show in Rapid City.
Over the Labor Day holiday, we drove to Deadwood and visited Miss Kitty's Saloon. We also did some scenic driving through Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park, visited Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Crazy Horse Memorial, and rode the 1880 Train between Keystone and Hill City. In Rapid City we played a few rounds of indoor blacklight mini-golf at Putz 'n Glo.
We drove west across South Dakota from Sioux Falls to Badlands National Park. Along the way, we visited the Corn Palace in Mitchell, the Missouri River Valley at Chamberlain, and the world-famous Wall Drug store. After touring some of the national park, we drove through the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to Rosebud.
Benjamin visited the Rapid City area multiple times this month with each of his parents, his grandmother, and his sister. He toured Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, and other Black Hills monuments.
Benjamin took multiple trips to the Black Hills this month, visiting separate times with each of his parents. He visited Reptile Gardens, Bear Country USA, Custer State Park, and the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research.
Benjamin visited the Black Hills for a family reunion where he visited the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the Black Hills Maze, Custer State Park, and the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs. He also rode the Black Hills Central Railroad. Heading east across the state with his grandparents, he visited Wall Drug and spent a night in a cabin in Badlands National Park where a severe thunderstorm kept them awake most of the night.