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Southwestern South Dakota

Inspired by the formation's innate beauty I'm immediately filled with a need to experience them up close and personal. With motivation in hand I jump on my mountain bike and head deeper into the park on a dusty dirt road. The road runs westerly and traverses the northern reaches of the park.

As I ride down the dirt road, open prarie reveals itself to the north. Badlands National Park is enveloped by Buffalo Gap National Grassland and it is this vast grassland I see in the distance. The last photo shows a lone buffalo grazing in the distance.

To the south I continue to see the classic Badland formations. They seem to diminish in size and shape however as I continue my westerly trek. They are more like giant, colorful speed bumps than anything else.

The erosion escallates as I continue on down the road.

The interesting scenery slowly slips away, turning more grassy and less colorful.