South Dakota Badlands in April

[Richard Raymond]

I will be making a drive back east from Las Vegas and want to get up to the South Dakota Custer State Park and then on to the Badlands. I should be there around the 10th of April. Any ideas on top sites to visit at this time of year?
Thanks
Ric

[lenser]

Wall Drug is always a hoot after you finish up with the photography.

[Richard Raymond]

Thanks. I was at Wall Drug about 10 years ago when we went through the area in the summer. I don't think that the "experience" has quite worn off yet so I do not feel a driving need to return at this time :) As I had not been to the badlands area in the spring I am hoping to find some areas of wildflowers, animals and water features.
However, I will definitely keep Wall Drug in mind as part of a backup plan. I am sure that there must still be signs pointing to the place :eek:

Ric

[jnantz]

sylvan lake is always nice
i was there soon after the big fire in 1988 ...

if you want to see some cool cars and pinball machines
stop at pioneer auto village ... it is
a few airplane hangars and quonset huts full of fun :)

[GSX4]

That's a great time to visit the Black Hills area.... On your way, I would recommend a detour to Devils Tower if you can swing it? It's well worth the trip and is only about 1.5 Hrs from the Black Hills area.. If you like caves, there is Jewel Cave. From a town perspective Deadwood/Lead are a must, as is Sturgis. Up near Sylvan Lake that John mentioned is The Needles Highway... Great pull out area for granite rock formations and such things.

[Jan Pedersen]

Much more fun to go there in the first week of August, there will be plenty of "Animals" :D

[Chauncey Walden]

Jan, you can expect a visit tonight from your local branch of the Angels!

[Jan Pedersen]

Great, i guess i need to stop and buy some beer on my way home :)

[Chauncey Walden]

Jan, that may help, but, just in case, you'd better ship me your lenses today for safekeeping;-)

[Peter De Smidt]

You might check out this thread: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=48307&highlight=badlands

[lenser]

Almost forgot about the beauty of Spearfish Canyon and the Needles Highway. Might as well take in the Crazy Horse monument and Mount Rushmore while you're that close.

[Kuzano]

Much more fun to go there in the first week of August, there will be plenty of "Animals" :D

Are you suggesting that the Bikers are in Sturgis during the first week of August?...
Good call, if so.

Also, with all the lawyers, doctors, accountants, brokers and other professionals riding to Sturgis these years, do that many Angels actually show?

[Jan Pedersen]

Jan, that may help, but, just in case, you'd better ship me your lenses today for safekeeping;-)

Haha, you wish Chauncey. Good try..

[Two23]

Wall Drug has one of the best displays of old pioneer photos in a large building in the back. I could spend an entire day looking at them. They were taken by a dentist around 1905 on full plates, I think. They should really make a book from the images. As for Badlands, be on the south side of them before dawn if it's clear. The white cliffs reflect the color in the sky like a giant projection screen. I want to take my monolights and photo the place at night sometime. Should still be plenty of snow left in Black Hills, and it will likely be cold. Several nice restaurants out that way. Also some some interesting general stores tucked in out of the way places. Do not mess around with buffalo out there. They will kill you.


Kent in SD

[Jeff Bannow]

Several nice restaurants out that way.

Any pointers on this? We went a few years ago and did not manage to find one decent meal in 10 days.

[Jan Pedersen]

Also, with all the lawyers, doctors, accountants, brokers and other professionals riding to Sturgis these years, do that many Angels actually show?

Actually, most of the yuppies park their bike trailers a hundred miles away so they don't need to ride on these uncomfortable bikes for days to get there :rolleyes:

Don't think much have changed though but my last ride to Sturgis was in 2000 so who knows.

[Richard Raymond]

Folks,
Thanks for all the help. Peter .. I did read your posts before but thanks for the pointer. Storms still rolling through the north. Even here in the southwest US we are still getting snow. I am hoping that this will provide me with some interesting photos. Thanks also for the tip on Devils Tower.
Now .. where are those restaurants where I can warm up and do some food photography!! Just before I get REALLY involved in the subject. :)
For the trip I am doing my last minute equipment check and run through. I am planning on doing mostly 4x5 as I find it a little easier when I am traveling. I will use the Mamiya RB for snapshots :)
Thanks again.
Ric

[Peter De Smidt]

Richard,

When I went I bought a photo guide. I can't for the life of me remember who did it, but it was quite good. Perhaps a web search will turn it up? The roads can be quite bad in bad weather. You'll have to be careful, especially off the main road. Like most things, the light makes a huge difference.

[Two23]

There are two good restaurants in Spearfish, one is Italian and one is more eclectic (Bay Leaf.) Hill City has a great restaurant in the old hotel, Chute Rooster is good for steaks. You might have a problem finding places that are open because it's still going winter here. Around the Badlands, about the only place to eat is Wall Drug, and it's just OK. Further east at Oacoma is one of my favorite restaurants but that's at least an hour & half away. In the Badlands, if they are wet they are very miserable. The ash/clay is extremely slippery. The white mud will stick to boots and if left on will eat them away. One of these nights I'm going to try and light up Devil's Tower with all my monolights. There are some cool old general stores out that way too that are still in busines.

Kent in SD

[jloen]

The Needles highway comes to mind for B&W rocks and views.
If you are a hiker, Harney Peak is a moderate hike from Sylvan Lake. Good views from the old stone lookout tower, and often some mtn goats hanging around.
The game road on the east side of Custer State Park is where the buffalo seem often to be, and there are some nice open views there as well.