On the up-side, the campground in the Badlands had showers. On the down-side, they were cold. We did a variety of shorter trails on the second day.
Cliff Shelf Trail – a shorter loop following a boardwalk through juniper trees with a geologic slump.
Door Trail – a three quarter mile trail down a boardwalk through a break in the formations (the door) and out into the unmaintained area.
Window Trail – a quarter mile trail to a window overlooking where we had just been on the Door Trail.
Notch Trail – this was the longest trail of the day through a canyon, up a log ladder and along a ridge to an overlook of the White River Valley. This was the most interesting hike, walking along a canyon ridge.
Overall the Badlands were very open – we were free to hike around almost anywhere, including on the formations. For the most part, the formations were not solid rock as in the mountains, but more sandstone / compressed sand. They were easily crumbled and seemed like they could be washed away by a strong rain.
After the hiking for day we went back past the Visitor Center/ store / campground, stopped in to buy Badlands souvenirs and had a picnic lunch.
Second half of the day was more of a driving tour West through some other portions of the park – lots of views and overlooks, including the Yellow Mounds Overlook, the Prairie Dog Town and a few other areas.
As we continued on our way home that evening, we got the standard assault of “Wall Drug” signs. I lost count, but it was probably around 50. We resisted stopping at Wall or the Corn Palace.
White River Valley
Janet just followed me around all day poaching my selection of picture spots. She only took this picture so she would know where to stand to replicate my photo.
Pano from Window Trail
Log ladder to start off the Notch Trail hike
This is what I look like hiking around - I should either get a bigger backpack or carry the smaller tripod I think.
Log ladder returning from the Notch Trail hike
Looking out the canyon walk to Notch Trail
This would be an impressive pano if there wasn't some jackass in a bright red shirt in the middle of it.
Yellow Mounds. Moose in a sack.
Yellow Mounds Pano
Yellow Mounds Pano. Moose in a sack.
A bison rolling around in the distance beyond the prairie dog town.
Sunset from some rest stop along the freeway heading home.
