South Dakota's Badlands and Black Hills, August 2012
Jun 14th, 2013, 02:20 PM
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, thank you, kdrogers, for saying so. It is certainly travelers like you who I have in mind when I write the longer captions. I'm glad they've been a help to you. Have a wonderful time in South Dakota - so many interesting things to see and do there!
Jun 15th, 2013, 01:31 AM
#25
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We did a similar trip in August 2011, overlapping with Sturgis. The bikers didn't bother us at all, and in fact added to the interest.
We enjoyed seeing Devil's Tower, and I can also recommend the Vore Buffalo Jump.
We enjoyed seeing Devil's Tower, and I can also recommend the Vore Buffalo Jump.
Jul 5th, 2013, 04:07 PM
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sunday Gulch Trail ... the trailhead for this 2.8 mile hike begins on the far side of the Sylvan Lake walk, near the dam. I didn't allow myself time on this trip to do the full loop trail, but I wish I had .... I did a small portion of it and it looked quite interesting with unique rock formations.
Jul 6th, 2013, 02:24 PM
#30
Thanks for the rec. We did the Sunday Gulch Trail today. I would offer a suggestionfor those who do it when it is hot out. We started counter clockwise, descending the great rocky ledges and steps. It was shaded and quite comfortable for the first half of the trail. the rock formations are fabulous and fascinating. then we walked thru shade along the bottom of the gulch which was quite comfortable.
The ascent back was miserable for several reason. First very minimal sun shade so its hotter later in the am or pm and the sun is blistering. The last ~1/3 of the ascent goes along the road. As a result you hear all the cars, motorcycles and trucks flying by and it can get rather noisy. Add to that the helicopters which fly over MT. Rushmore and you end up with a hot, noisy end to your otherwise lovely hike.
So if you start the trail by going left and walking clockwise you have the sun portion earlier
in the day. I don't think the noise from the cars and helicopters would annoy one as much as they begin their hike. We ran across a few people who did it this way and said they preferred it. They also preferred walking up the rock .25 mile ascent that we started as our decent.
The ascent back was miserable for several reason. First very minimal sun shade so its hotter later in the am or pm and the sun is blistering. The last ~1/3 of the ascent goes along the road. As a result you hear all the cars, motorcycles and trucks flying by and it can get rather noisy. Add to that the helicopters which fly over MT. Rushmore and you end up with a hot, noisy end to your otherwise lovely hike.
So if you start the trail by going left and walking clockwise you have the sun portion earlier
in the day. I don't think the noise from the cars and helicopters would annoy one as much as they begin their hike. We ran across a few people who did it this way and said they preferred it. They also preferred walking up the rock .25 mile ascent that we started as our decent.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
aggiegirl
United States
10
Jul 5th, 2012 05:12 PM
