Day 6: Wind Cave National Park to Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Joined the 9:30 am Natural Entrance ranger-led tour of Wind Cave NP, after an aborted attempt the previous morning due to the long wait (the cave tours are very popular, and I have a hard time waiting around). Although I’m not one for guided tours in general, the tour was worth it - I enjoyed looking at the intricate boxwork formations that Wind Cave is known for, as well as learning a bit about the geological and cultural history of the park. After Wind Cave, my plan was to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP), home to North Dakota’s badlands. Slightly out of the way for my westward trip, but close enough that I figured this was a good opportunity to check it off the list. On the drive towards TRNP I took a detour to visit the Devil’s Tower National Monument, a geological marvel that stands tall and alone over the surrounding prairie. I spent the afternoon hiking near and around the tower, pondering what it would be like to climb the sheer vertical walls of the tower, as I saw a few climbers doing, or to circle over it from the air, as I saw many turkey vultures doing - it was a beatiful, sunny day and the tower looked like a great thermal trigger. After the tower I continued my drive north, setting up camp after dark at the Rough Rider State Park, next to the South Unit entrance of TRNP.