Wind Cave and Rushmore

We spent our last day in South Dakota today and will have our final night at the Alex Johnson Hotel in Rapid City, SD. 

We first went to the Wind Cave National Park, which was very interesting. 

The cave is the 4th longest in the world (and possibly the longest since they believe it is connected to the second longest cave in the world, the nearby Jewel cave).

It’s hard to get a good photo in a cave, but here are two.  First, notice the intricate “boxwork” structure of the rocks in Wind Cave.  It’s estimated that 90% of the world’s “boxwork” is located here. Second, notice the relatively cramped space here.  It’s not a giant cavern like Mammoth Cave or Carlsbad Caverns.  It’s pretty narrow and small throughout.  They offer a 4-hour tour with strenuous climbing and undeveloped routes.  That would cool.

 

After this, we headed over to Mt. Rushmore, where we planned to stay about an hour, and wound up there about four.  We enjoyed the Visitor’s Center, the movies about building the monument, a hike around the “President’s Trail”, and then stayed for the lighting ceremony.  It was great!

 

Next stop…Parker, CO to have dinner with the Vaughans and spend the night in Denver.  Then two more stops before we get home… Great Sand Dunes NP, and Mesa Verde NP, both in CO.