The Badlands!

When nearly to Rapid City, which I like to call the gateway to the Black Hills (I am sure no one else ever thought of that), you pass on 90 next to South Dakota's Badlands. 

The Badlands is one of the quickest eroding parts of the country. 75 million years ago the region was submerged in a shallow sea. Then various geological things happened, and voila! it is now a starkly beautiful region littered with canyons, gulches, mesas and hoodoos. Yes, hoodoos. It's a truly alien landscape, something out of a science-fiction movie. 

It's like a playground to a seven-year-old, with all the wonderful formations to climb. And it's like a playground of hidden death and rattlesnakes for a two-year-old, who doesn't understand why his dad insists on holding his hand half the time. (Susan: "What? Half?!")

We drove through a cool cloudy day which gave way to punishing sunshine shortly after our arrival. We hiked the two easiest trails, tiny things meant for the elderly, Easterners, and those with small children. And we off-roaded a little so the boys could rave with joy at clambering unfettered, and then complain bitterly when forced back into the car. In fact, you get the full experience of why it's called the "Bad"-lands if you time it so that your kids are hungry and tired and an hour and a half overdue for lunch as you speed out of nature's stark beauty smack into Wall, with its famous tourist shops and restaurant.

Didn't see much wildlife. Just these guys and their cohorts, a couple of jackrabbits, and several vultures circling over us waiting for Josh to falter.

There were truly a huge number of really fun formations, especially fun for little people.

Sam modeling the horizon.

Did I mention the tremendous clamber appeal? 

If you look closely you can see the aforementioned fussing out of Josh. 

Next visit we'll time our arrival better so we can fit in a longer hike, and we won't do it on an empty stomach. Still, this time was both fun and memorable.