Posted by Kalin Wilson on March 13, 2009 at 5:22 PM
The Family and I are heading to SD for spring break (that sounds like a misnomer); it's a new location for us.
Besides the monuments, I'm hoping to get some time in the badlands and the Black Hills.
Anything or anyplace in particular that I should look out for or plan sunrise/sunset around?
Kalin-
I've been there a few times, most recently about two summers ago. I'm not certain what you'll find in the spring, so plan ahead. Actually, I just started thinking about heading out there in early May, but we'll see.
Frankly, I love the prairie, and so I really enjoy Badlands NP. I'd encourage you to consider getting off of the main roads (like we always do!). The Palmer Creek unit on the south side of the Park is undeveloped. If the roads are dry, and you have a vehicle with even modest clearance (my last trip was in a sports car!), then you can find some really nice scenery and likely have it all to yourself. You first have to check in/out with the ranger station down there, so that they know who's back in there because it's not regularly patrolled.
Also, to the west of the main loop road, there are some nice views and you'll likely be closer to buffalo - and no guard rails! ;)
Another place in the Black Hills is Custer State Park. It's a large and diverse area. The prairie areas are great for wildlife, mostly buffalo and antelope; up in the Hills, I'd encourage you to check out the Needles Highway and Sylvan Lake.
I have a couple of galleries that might spark your interest: Black Hills Badlands
I went to that area in May 2005. This is a good time to go...less tourism. Of course, you have to see Mount Rushmore and walk the mile trail below the monument...though you may not take pictures of this kind of thing...it is still a cool place, and there is a photo around every corner. It's also a morning place, but it lights up at night...twilight looks great with the white cliff face. Keystone is a good central place to stay.
I also drove through Custer State Park...beautiful drive! I don't think you'd be disappointed whether it's morning or evening...but it was nice on the east side of the loop in the evening, looking at Bison and pronghorns on the plains. There's also Crazy Horse. If you're into hiking, hike up to Harney Peak, there's a stone made lookout at the top. It's a tiny bit over 6 miles round trip and has a fantastic view of the surrounding area. It's the highest peak in South Dakota at around 7000 ft.
The Badlands, unless you have a specific location in mind, is good morning or evening. If you're camping there's a campground and restaurant next to the visitor's center as well as the Cedar Lodge, which I believe stays open and is fairly cheap for National Park lodges before May (no TV). I also suggest driving the back roads to see a good portion of the park. The Badlands is one of those places that you see photos everywhere and can't make up your mind. Close-ups, telephotos, or broad view landscapes atop overlooks? I had a hard time choosing. If you can time it at the " 2 days after the full moon" then it's easy to choose a place to include the moon at sunrise...it happened to me by mistake one morning.
There are other places I didn't go which could be fun, like Cave of the Winds etc.
Be sure on you way there or on your way home to stop at Devil's Tower.
Cynthia
Posted by Kalin Wilson on March 15, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Thanks for the input and tips! I'm looking forward to doing some exploring.
Posted by Sarah Marino on March 15, 2009 at 12:56 AM
We went to South Dakota last summer and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I would second the recommendations above, and add the following:
BADLANDS:
Sheep Mountain Table: If you head through the very small town of Scenic to the tip of the Stronghold Unit of Badlands National Park, you can access Sheep Mountain Table. You get a number of interesting views because you drive toward the table and then up onto the top. Once you are on the top, you get a view down to a valley below on the other side of the table. I was there in the morning, but you might be able to get some interesting sunset shots from this location. The road was a little rough (we were in a Pathfinder and it was fine) but it was well worth it and we did not see anyone else while we were there. The striations in the formations are really strong in this area, which makes them very visually interesting, especially compared to the green grass at their base (depending on the time of year).
Notch Trail: I did some sunset photography from the first sections of this trail. This trail gets you up close and personal with the formations. You mentioned family/spring break. If you have kinds with you, this probably is not a good trail because it is steep and exposed in a few sections (with ladders), but is otherwise interesting and one of the longer marked trails in the park.
Yellow Mounds: This overlook has some of the most interesting formations in the park. There are pink and yellow striations that make for some interesting photographs. There is a trail down into a little valley from the turnout and the views are really interesting along that trail.
The areas around the main campground also provide some interesting views of the formations (looking up at the formations, instead of over the formations from the top, like many of the overlooks). This area is a good location for sunset shots because you can get shots of the sun setting behind the formations, plus nice lighting on other formations behind you.
If you are a prairie/grasslands fan (I am), there are a number of opportunities for prairie/big sky shots all around Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park (which has beautiful prairie scenery, in addition to the caves, and some nice campgrounds).
OTHERS:
Wall Drug: Well worth a stop if you like strange Americana. Our photo atop a very large Jack-a-lope is priceless.
Grizzly Creek Campground: If you are camping, this is a nice forest service campground near Mount Rushmore. Only problem – it is near a road with a lot of motorcycle travel.
Mount Rushmore: Even though it is not a great nature photography destination, it is well worth a stop. The visitor’s center has a lot of interesting exhibits and the trail to the base of the monument is interesting.
Custer State Park and Needles Highway: ditto to the earlier posts.
Discussion
4 repliesBesides the monuments, I'm hoping to get some time in the badlands and the Black Hills.
Anything or anyplace in particular that I should look out for or plan sunrise/sunset around?
Thanks in advance!
I've been there a few times, most recently about two summers ago. I'm not certain what you'll find in the spring, so plan ahead. Actually, I just started thinking about heading out there in early May, but we'll see.
Frankly, I love the prairie, and so I really enjoy Badlands NP. I'd encourage you to consider getting off of the main roads (like we always do!). The Palmer Creek unit on the south side of the Park is undeveloped. If the roads are dry, and you have a vehicle with even modest clearance (my last trip was in a sports car!), then you can find some really nice scenery and likely have it all to yourself. You first have to check in/out with the ranger station down there, so that they know who's back in there because it's not regularly patrolled.
Also, to the west of the main loop road, there are some nice views and you'll likely be closer to buffalo - and no guard rails! ;)
Another place in the Black Hills is Custer State Park. It's a large and diverse area. The prairie areas are great for wildlife, mostly buffalo and antelope; up in the Hills, I'd encourage you to check out the Needles Highway and Sylvan Lake.
I have a couple of galleries that might spark your interest:
Black Hills
Badlands
Good luck,
Tim!
I also drove through Custer State Park...beautiful drive! I don't think you'd be disappointed whether it's morning or evening...but it was nice on the east side of the loop in the evening, looking at Bison and pronghorns on the plains. There's also Crazy Horse. If you're into hiking, hike up to Harney Peak, there's a stone made lookout at the top. It's a tiny bit over 6 miles round trip and has a fantastic view of the surrounding area. It's the highest peak in South Dakota at around 7000 ft.
The Badlands, unless you have a specific location in mind, is good morning or evening. If you're camping there's a campground and restaurant next to the visitor's center as well as the Cedar Lodge, which I believe stays open and is fairly cheap for National Park lodges before May (no TV). I also suggest driving the back roads to see a good portion of the park. The Badlands is one of those places that you see photos everywhere and can't make up your mind. Close-ups, telephotos, or broad view landscapes atop overlooks? I had a hard time choosing. If you can time it at the " 2 days after the full moon" then it's easy to choose a place to include the moon at sunrise...it happened to me by mistake one morning.
There are other places I didn't go which could be fun, like Cave of the Winds etc.
Be sure on you way there or on your way home to stop at Devil's Tower.
Cynthia
BADLANDS:
Sheep Mountain Table: If you head through the very small town of Scenic to the tip of the Stronghold Unit of Badlands National Park, you can access Sheep Mountain Table. You get a number of interesting views because you drive toward the table and then up onto the top. Once you are on the top, you get a view down to a valley below on the other side of the table. I was there in the morning, but you might be able to get some interesting sunset shots from this location. The road was a little rough (we were in a Pathfinder and it was fine) but it was well worth it and we did not see anyone else while we were there. The striations in the formations are really strong in this area, which makes them very visually interesting, especially compared to the green grass at their base (depending on the time of year).
Notch Trail: I did some sunset photography from the first sections of this trail. This trail gets you up close and personal with the formations. You mentioned family/spring break. If you have kinds with you, this probably is not a good trail because it is steep and exposed in a few sections (with ladders), but is otherwise interesting and one of the longer marked trails in the park.
Yellow Mounds: This overlook has some of the most interesting formations in the park. There are pink and yellow striations that make for some interesting photographs. There is a trail down into a little valley from the turnout and the views are really interesting along that trail.
The areas around the main campground also provide some interesting views of the formations (looking up at the formations, instead of over the formations from the top, like many of the overlooks). This area is a good location for sunset shots because you can get shots of the sun setting behind the formations, plus nice lighting on other formations behind you.
If you are a prairie/grasslands fan (I am), there are a number of opportunities for prairie/big sky shots all around Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park (which has beautiful prairie scenery, in addition to the caves, and some nice campgrounds).
OTHERS:
Wall Drug: Well worth a stop if you like strange Americana. Our photo atop a very large Jack-a-lope is priceless.
Grizzly Creek Campground: If you are camping, this is a nice forest service campground near Mount Rushmore. Only problem – it is near a road with a lot of motorcycle travel.
Mount Rushmore: Even though it is not a great nature photography destination, it is well worth a stop. The visitor’s center has a lot of interesting exhibits and the trail to the base of the monument is interesting.
Custer State Park and Needles Highway: ditto to the earlier posts.
Have fun!