South Dakota, Wyoming, & Montana, September, 2021

North America » United States » South Dakota » Black Hills National Forest
September 29th 2021

Published: August 2nd 2023

In mid September of this year, Anne and I finally were able to get back on the road again and visit a few spots in South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana to do a little hiking as well as touring a couple of historical sites. We flew into Rapid City, SD, on Saturday, 9/11, and returned from Billings, MT, on Saturday, 9/18. In between, we visited Custer State Park and the Black Hills National Forest in ... Read Full Entry

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Anne & Lee

NPHiker

Anne and I started our hiking trips back in 2001 and have managed to get two or three trips in each year since. Most of the trips were part of our quest to hike in all of the US National Parks, a quest we completed in 2015 with our trip to Alaska and the Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley parks. At that time there were 59 parks. Since 2015 we have revisited some of our favorite areas and those have been blogged as well. Additionally, along the way we’ve taken a couple of trips to Canada where we hiked in most, if not all, of the Canadian National Parks in the Rocky Mountains. And then ... full info

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Devils Tower

The north side. Taken with a cloudy sky and very little sunlight.

Devils Tower

The same view several minutes later but with sunlight, gives a totally different perspective.

Devils Tower

Taken from the Joyner Ridge Trail.

Devils Tower with the Joyner Ridge trail junction.

Taken from along the ridge, the grassy field in the foreground shows the junction of the connector trail, coming in from the left, joining with the Joyner Ridge loop trail which is at the bottom of the pic and continues up the valley to the right.

Devils Tower

Artsy attempt with tower framed by the Sacred Smoke sculpture in the picnic area. The Circle of Sacred Smoke, by sculptor Junkyu Muto, represents the first puff of smoke from a newly lit pipe. It is designed to emphasize the importance of Devils Tower to over twenty affiliated tribes.

Prairie Dog

This little fellow just held that pose as we walked by.

Devils Tower

Taken with the Prairie Dog Town in the foreground.

Sherd Lake Trail

Sherd Lake is located in the Big Horn Mountains. The trailhead elevation is about 8,200 feet.

Sherd Lake

Sherd Lake is the first big lake on the Sherd Lake Loop trail. We only went about two miles in to the lake at an elevation of about 8,750 feet, about a 550 foot gain.

Sherd Lake

Panorama of the lake area.

The Historic Occidental Hotel

The hotel rooms are on the 1st and 2nd floors. Also on the 1st floor is the lobby in the left hand section, the saloon is in the middle, and the Virginian steakhouse in the left.

The Historic Occidental Hotel

The hallway with a display of quilts and other antiques.

The Historic Occidental Hotel

The lobby and stairs to 2nd floor rooms and hallway displays.

Custer Battlefield Museum, in Gary Owen, MT.

Gary Owen, MT, is a crossroads located on the former site of Sitting Bull's camp, on the way to the National Monument. The museum is closed due to the Covid pandemic. This monument and grave of an unknown soldier are located outside the museum.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

Custer National Cemetery.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

The 7th Calvary Memorial monument.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

Markers showing where soldiers fell on last stand hill. The black marker in the center is where Custer fell.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

Spirit Warrior Sculpture at the Indian Memorial

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

The Deep Ravine trail, a 1/4 mile self-guided walking tour. The Little Big Horn River valley, where the Indian village was, is that green strip in the distance.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

Marker where Pvt. Thomas E. Meador of Company H fell. My mother's maiden name was Meador. I may have an ancestor who died with Custer.

Pompeys Pillar

Doesn't look too impressive but it is the tallest thing for miles around.

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South Dakota, Wyoming, & Montana, September, 2021

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