2015 - 07 - 14: Day 30 Scenic Destinations - last day in the Badlands

From Cedar Pass Camp Ground Badlands National Park
exploring Badlands National park - 41 miles 

To Pierre South Dakota - 124 miles 

Total Distance Traveled:  165 miles 

I awoke to the sun rising above the peaks of the badlands and started my day in awe of the surrounding beauty.  

After breakfast and packing up, I explored the White River Valley by driving west along Hwy 44.  

                                      

In a small town called Interior I found these amazing old wagons by the side of the road.





Further west I turned north toward Canata along Conata Basin Road.

Along the road I enjoyed the prairie landscape, the prairie dogs and the grazing cattle.   

This road brought me back to north back to 240 the scenic loop through the Badlands National Park.  

I stopped to take a hike at Saddle pass.   It was a lovely yet vigorous climb to the top of the drop off. Imagine the difficulty of this climb bringing a dissembled wagon down the steep incline.  Pioneers had some incredible stamina and determination. 

The view from the stop of the pass was stunning and spectacular! 

Climbing down this trail, as always was more challenging than going up.  The rock is loose and slides out from under your feet, some bum sliding is required simply to stay at a slow enough speed that you don't go toppling over the edges.  

I continued the drive along the scenic road back to the Ben Riefel Center where I stopped for a much needed rest room break.  Then I headed back onto the eastward bound road out of the National Park.  

There were a couple more scenic overlooks to explore and photograph. From Window Trail there some spectacular views that really brings how the size of the natural feature.  

The final stop was at Big Badlands overlook.  Looking out from the tameness of a laid out park plan it is mind boggling how the early explorers must have felt in the land of unending rock faces.  

The aboriginals new the pathways for hunting and survival, white man would not have this knowledge.  They only saw farm potential.  

It took many years before people started to realize that beauty is a valuable commodity, something for people to come and enjoy and appreciate.  

I think even now, we often take that for granted. How many of us take the time to ponder and respect the awesome aspects of nature that are not directly linked to our survival. 

Leaving the National Parklands I stopped at Prairie Homestead Historic Site. Since it is not run by the National Park there was an extra admission fee.  I decided to just walk about and see the exhibit from outside the fenced in area.  

I stumbled upon a prairie dog and had fun observing him.  

Then I took a few pictures of the old homestead before heading on. 

On I 90 I headed east to Muurdo, where I had to stop and take a break as the glare from the sun was making me sleepy and want to shut my eyes.  A lunch stop and rest was just what was needed.  I found a lovely picnic area right beside a body of water and the trees offered a shady respite.

Once on the road again, I headed east to the Hwy 83 exit to head north toward Pierre.  

The drive through the Pierre National Grasslands was majestic.  The undulating waves of uninterrupted grasslands as far as the eyes can see, dwarf my car in comparison.  I am adrift in an ocean of grass.  The drive is mesmerizing.  

It was a relief to finally arrive in the outskirts of Pierre just for the change of scenery. I imagine the wagon trains who traversed the seemingly unending miles of plains for days and days covering in 3 or 4 days what I drive in one hour. 

In Fisher’s Lilly Park there are $10.00 camping sites so I pitched my tent and settled in with a gorgeous view of the Missouri River near where Lewis and Clark stopped.  I organized my campsite and did the usual work of sorting and tidying to set up a welcoming place to stay.  Needing a break after absorbing so much visual input over the last few days, I decided to just sit around reading and enjoying the view of the river flowing by.  Tomorrow will be soon enough to go exploring.  Tomorrow begins my Lewis and Clark trail exploration as I try to stay as close to the Missouri River as I can.

Renate Dundys Marrello
2015 - 07 - 14  

Link to see all of the days pictures

Link to my Facebook Reflections Page

Route maps for the day 

#1  exploring the Badlands National Park 

#2  road map from the park to Pierre