I didn’t much care for the Black Hills of South Dakota at first. That was in the mid-fifties when I first traveled and camped there with my parents. The Bad Lands were bad, hot and dusty. Wall Drug, famous throughout the land, as a tourist Mecca was just that. Crowded and chintzy. There were junky stores everywhere. And later gambling at Deadwood was not my thing.
For years my brothers and later sons and I zipped on by the Hills on our way to the fabled fly fishing streams of southwestern Montana. No time for traffic jams and tourist traps for us.
And then one Easter vacation in the new century, with a new camper in hand, we, the empty nesters, decided a short trip to the Black Hills would be a just in order. It was a late Easter that year and the weather in Minnesota was mild and sunny. Highs in the mid fifties. We weren’t tenting anymore and the new camper had a furnace. We imagined the crowds wouldn’t be too bad. Heck, I might even try some trout fishing.
We made camping reservations at a place named Custer Mountain Campground. Naturally, it was a mile or two from Custer, South Dakota on the southern edge of the Black Hills. When we arrived the temperature was a balmy 75 degrees. Even more surprising the campground with 60 sites, 4 camper cabins and 5 new luxury cabins had only one other camper.
The owner informed us we were " a little early in the season." After discussing things to do, we took his recommendation to drive the Custer State Park "loop road."
In July and August the road might have hundreds cars checking out the beautiful vistas and wildlife. On this first occasion though it was magical. For hours we had it all to ourselves. There was wildlife everywhere. I fell in love right then and there.
Since then we have made it a habit to visit the fabled Black Hills at least once a year. The joys of retirement living now make it possible for us to pick either spring or fall. The magic never goes away. A couple of years back our son and grandson came up from Colorado to join us for a week of camping.
Hi tb,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! Your posts about the western lands got me wondering if you have ever read anything by William Vollmann? This is his latest:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/books/review/the-dying-grass-by-william-t-vollmann.html?_r=0
DC
Wonderful trip! Thanks for taking me along with you. Cute grandson, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've never been to the Dakotas but really want to go. Had a friend who lived near the bad lands and sent me hundreds of photos, one lovelier than the next. Someday...
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you now love a place you previously didn't care for. Amazing how a few things can make such a big difference in our enjoyment of a place.
ReplyDeleteTaking your grandson camping must have been a special treat. He certainly looks like he's enjoying himself.
ReplyDeleteOff season is the way to go. I hate fighting crowds. Sounds like you've found the perfect time for the Black Hills.
You introduce me to places that I didn't even know existed. Thanks for the journeys!
ReplyDeleteI love that area, and also enjoyed doing the loop road once!
ReplyDeleteso glad you found the best way/seasons to enjoy it. i went thru many years back and just remember wall drug and all their signs. then it was a let-down when we finally got there.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot to be said for visiting tourist areas off-season, if only because of the lower prices!
ReplyDeleteRetirement has a lot to be said for it. Days and hours, for the most part, become yours at last. Nice that you decided to check out this place and found it had some terrific wild sites. Wonderful that your grandson has had an opportunity to experience such a place with his grandfather and grandmother! .-- barbara
ReplyDeleteI have great memories of camping in the Black Hills and Badlands, too. September is my favorite month to go, but we usually ran into snow. Nice you could make some memories with your grandson there.
ReplyDeleteNice way to see places that are crowded in the summer. I'm so close to retirement I can taste it and I want to do what you guys do--visit places in the spring and/or fall.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your new love of the Black Hills. My father loved them and was interred at the Black Hills National Cemetery. Have you been to Devil's Tower? Very interesting place.
We haven't been to the Black Hills since summer of 2006. The Badlands, Custer, Needles Highway.. brings back fun memories! There is much to do out that way.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures.