Black Hills, South Dakota

Last week we Escaped to the Black Hills, a place we love for its wildlife and natural beauty, meanwhile avoiding the too-touristy towns, the casinos, and the Sturgis motorcycle rally. We have been to the Black Hills four previous times, when camping meant a pop-up full of kids, but we always find something new to discover and favorite activities worth repeating.

Mammoth Site

Mammoth Site, Hot Springs, SD – Here you can see the bones of 60 mammoths right in the dig site where they continue to be uncovered and studied. Great place to visit.

1880s Train

1880s train ride starting in Hill City – What a pleasant two-hour ride to Keystone and back! We sat in an open-air car and enjoyed the view and friendly, low-key narration. 

Mount Rushmore – We always enjoy seeing the four Presidents carved on the mountain. This time we didn't even take pictures.

Relaxing in the family room with "The Scarlet Pimpernel" on the laptop.

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake – Two Ukrainian sisters were working the boat rental, and we took a canoe out on Sylvan Lake for an hour. Near the dock end of the lake, a wedding was underway and we listened in a bit without being intrusive. As I climbed out of the canoe, I was thankful to not fall into the lake in front of the wedding guests.

Black Hills Playhouse – This theater is a gem, presenting several plays each summer. We saw “The Three Musketeers”, an oddly humorous story with elaborate and well-choreographed sword fights.

The Civilian Conservation Corps built this fire watchtower at Harney Peak.

Hike to Harney Peak – This hike is rated moderate, but because of its length (over 7 miles round trip), it was plenty challenging. I could not, however, give up part way, since along the way we met an older man with heart trouble, diabetes, and other ailments, and even he was very steadily going after that mountain. By the way, if our conversations with strangers on the hike are any indication about the upcoming presidential election, Obama is in trouble.

View from Harney Peak

Up close and personal

Wildlife Loop Drive – Even if you didn’t encounter any critters, this would be a stunning drive. But we did encounter critters, including close encounters with bison herds (aka American buffalo), lots of pronghorn, lots of deer, prairie dogs, and one coyote. We recommend going off on one of the back gravel roads rather than staying on the primary wildlife loop.

We're told they are not feeling threatened unless they raise their tails.

Stay in your cars, humans!

And planned for next year – back to Custer State Park for the annual Buffalo Roundup! This takes place the last Monday in September each year. The bison are rounded up by volunteer cowboys and put into corrals, where they can be checked, branded and vaccinated. A month later a large number are sold at auction, and this helps support the park financially. It also reduces the winter bison population to a level that can be sustained by the available grassland. By spring the bison population booms again with the birth of the new calves!