July 1st, 2022 Drive to Cody, Wyoming - DEVIL'S TOWER & CRAZY HORSE (our journey)

Geologists determined that Devils Tower in WY was formed as a result of a volcano. The cooling magma created the delineated columns.

DEVIL'S TOWER rises 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, standing 867 feet from summit to base. The summit is 5,112 feet above sea level. Devils Tower was the first United States National Monument, established on September 24, 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. 

DEVIL'S TOWER stop over. Once we arrived at Devil's Tower, we had to disconnect the rig to get to the visitor center two miles up the road. 

We had a long drive ahead of us, so we didn't get the chance to see CRAZY HORSE NATIONAL MONUMENT, but were able to snap a few photos from the road.

June 30th - Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park hiking, 1880 train - SOUTH DAKOTA (our journey)

SYLVAN LAKE was created in 1891 when Theodore Roosevelt built a dam (the Sylvan Lake Water Dam) across Sunday Gulch Creek. We took the short hike around this picturesque beauty!!

After the hike we drove over to Sylvan Lake, one of the four lakes located within Custer State Park. 

Kids found this tight cut out to explore. 

Beautiful hiking spot, surrounded by breathtaking views of the Black Hills. 

After àn early lunch, we drove up needles highway to get in a hike. 

"The wild bunch" - lunch stop at 1880 Train. The kids had The hobo sack,, wrapped in a Comboy bandana.

June 29th (Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park) South Dakota

Long day of exploring and driving, but well worth it! A day filled with sight seeing the likes of Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Legion Lake and wildlife including, Bison, Antelope, Deer, Burros! Wow, what a fun day!!!

After leaving Legion Lake, we got a nice view of some bison just off the road! 

We relaxed in the water and the kids made sandcastles, followed by dinner at the restaurant on site.

After completing the wildlife loop, it was time to cool off. Legion Lake sits on the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway and has an array of offerings from campsites to camping cabins, hiking trails and swimming beach to a fishing dock, restaurant and general store.

Antelope sighting 

Stella feeding one of the burros an apple. 

These animals have roamed the expanses of Custer State Park for nearly a century when they were first used as pack animals to get visitors from Sylvan Lake Lodge up the steep path to the summit of Black Elk Peak. When those tourist trips ended, the working burros were released to the wild and the tiny feral herd has since shared the park with neighbors, including whitetail and mule deer, wild turkeys, elk, antelope, bison, and coyote.

Driving further.....wild donkeys (Burros)! 

We spotted several deer, before seeing this big guy resting in the shade. (3:30 pm). Unfourtnetly, Foster was wiped out and missed our first sighting. 

All of us were keeping an eye of for wildlife.

CUSTER STATE PARK - beautiful drive thru Custer, taking in the scenery of lush green plains surrounded by the Black Hills. 

After our Rushmore visit we continued on route 16 to Custer State Park. 

Stella pointed out this colorfull cloud above Mount Rushmore during our visit. 

MOUNT RUSHMORE- 1st National Park in the United States. Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota.

During our stay at Hill City, South Dakota (Horsethief Campground, June 28th -July 1st), we visited MOUNT RUSHMORE. 

June 28th (Wall Drug, Horsethief Campground, South Dakota) - OUR JOURNEY

View from our site.....stunning. Foster found a nice place to play with his dinosaurs. 

We had a very scenic site at Horsethief Campground - Hill City, South Dakota (#126). This was our favorite site yet on this trip! June 28th - July 1st

And coffee is still 5 cents at WALL DRUG. 

You start seeing Wall Drug billboards for 200 miles out. Nice stopping point to see this iconic, storied store.