Hike to Harney Peak, South Dakota

Harney Peak is the highest point in the US east of the Rocky Mountains - elevation 7244'. I managed to make it to the top of about a 7 mile round trip hike! The views were magnificent. The trail head was just by Sylvan Lake.

Purple Pie Place, Custer, SD

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the Purple Pie Place in Custer, SD. The strawberry rhubarb pie was unbelievable!

Wildlife Loop 2- Custer State Park, SD

We only missed the huge Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park by a day! The annual event draws thousands to watch the cowboys round up the buffalo from the plains into the corral area. Our friends that we visited in Sundance, WY - were actually at the Roundup. We also saw a rattle snake just as we were leaving the corral area - needless to say - I did not get out of the car!! Then we saw a huge group of wild mountain goats! Plenty of wildlife in the park!

Custer State Park - Wildlife loop

We saw wild turkeys everywhere in the park! This pronghorn antelope was majestically poised on a rock cropping overlooking the road. But the funniest animals were the "begging" donkeys - they wait on the side of the road to beg for carrots. They did not hesitate to stick their heads through the car window for treats.

Iron Mountain Road - Pigtail bridges, double tunnels and more views, Custer State Park, SD

The Iron Mountain Road is really an engineering feat - several "pigtail" bridges spiral down the mountain to allow the road to be constructed in the steeper sections. An unique "double tunnel" again frames Mount Rushmore.

Iron Mountain Road -Views of Mount Rushmore through the Tunnels, Custer State Park, SD

Peter Norbeck - long time governor of South Dakota wanted a special road built from the Custer State Park to Mount Rushmore. He built the road everyone said could not be built - Iron Mountain Road. Even the tunnels through the road were designed so that Mount Rushmore would be visibly framed as you entered the tunnel.

Cathedral Spires in Custer State Park

A grouping of the spires in the Needles is called the Cathedral Spires - appropriately named for a grouping of these rock pinnacles.

Needles 2 - in Custer State Park, SD

The roads throughout Custer were designed to weave through these formations. A series of tunnels were created to allow cars to reach the ares. This tunnel is tiny!! These rock formations are really wonderful! The full glory of the Aspen tree's yellow leaves and the incredible views make this area beautiful!

The Needles - Custer State Park, SD

Erosion has created remarkable shapes to the tops of the mountains near Sylvan Lake in the Custer State Park. This area is called "Needles" because of the small spires. The "eye of the needle" is easy to distinguish! Darrell tries his luck with climbing the sheer cliff!

Slyvan Lake - Custer Park, SD

Sylvan Lake is beautiful - crystal clear, deep blue water surrounded by the giant granite boulders.

Evening Light Program at Mount Rushmore

After dinner - we went back to Mount Rushmore for an evening light show. The show was very patriotic and included the singing of the National Anthem. All veterans were asked to come up on the stage at the end of the show. Makes us proud to be American!

Custer State Park - Sylvan Lake Lodge

Our home for the next 3 nights is in the Custer State Park. We are staying at Sylvan Lake Lodge in a cabin. Custer State Park is a huge park in the center of the South Dakota Black Hills in the southwest corner of South Dakota. The Lodge is located at around 6000 feet - so it is really cold in the evenings. Our first evening we have dinner at the lodge - which reminds us of the traditional lodges of the wonderful western parks. I had buffalo tenderloin for dinner - wonderful.

Mount Rushmore - up close

I walked the base of the monument - using an audio guide to learn more of the history of the development of the project. What a dream to build this incredible monument in rural South Dakota.

The Faces - Mount Rushmore

Honoring important US Presidents - the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln have been carved into the granite rock of Mount Rushmore. Over 400 men worked over 15 years to realize the dream of builder Gutzon Borglum. This monument is a "National Treasure" to be certain. Starting in 1927 much time was invested by Borglum and his supporters in South Dakota to choose the presidents and to design this monument. Mount Rushmore was completed in 1941.

Mount Rushmore, Keystone, SD

We catch our first glimpse of Mount Rushmore just outside of Keystone, SD. At first we are so far away - we are not sure exactly how large the faces are. As we enter the park - the images become much clearer. Our first views are from the Avenue of Flags with flags from all US states and territories. We watched a film the described how Mount Rushmore was developed.

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, South Dakota Black Hills

We start our day heading to Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The sheer rock cliffs of Spearfish Canyon provided a vivid back drop for waterfalls and the beautiful aspen trees in full yellow fall colors. One of my alltime favorite movies is Dances with Wolves. Almost all of the movie was filmed in the Dakotas - including the Badlands and Spearfish Canyon. The winter camp scene at the end of the movie was filmed alongside the creek flowing through this beautiful area. I saw the ridge where "Wind in his Hair" yelled goodbye to Dances with Wolves, ok -- I won't quote the movie. But - the area was simply beautiful!