The Badlands

 The Badlands National Park in South Dakota is worth the little side trip off of 90 going through South Dakota.  I highly, highly recommend you go through there either at sunrise or sunset as it truly brings out the reds of the rock.  When I think about it...and if I remember correctly, sunset will probably be the best as most of the redder, rockier hills are on the east side of the road if you are driving through from the main entrance area.  The above was taken late afternoon but as we drove through and the sun started setting the rocks really showed their color.

 Drive through slowly and watch all around.  You never know what wonders Mother Nature will share with you.  We thought we would see much more wildlife in the matter of pronghorns, mule deers, but the most abundant were, of course, the prairie dogs.  There is one section of the road that on the west, north side of the road (sorry, terrible at the directional thing but I believe it was the more northwest direction) that the prairie dogs have a large colony and will be right up close to the road.  There are a few spots where you can pull over for a bit and watch their fun antics....as they watch you.

We were there at the very beginning of June...in time to see a Pronghorn mom with her newborn...well, it was probably about 48 hours old.  It was amazing to watch it at a distance as it sunk down amidst the sage brush to hide...from whatever.  It blended so well into the landscape.

Definitely a place I will visit again some day...at a slower pace, closer to sunset.