May 8-We woke up to blue skies but a blustery day in Badlands National Park in South Dakota.  Making the best of these badlands, we began by watching the film in the visitor center highlighting the geological formations and the wildlife that roams the prairies.  We had also brought the “Passport to our National Parks” that provides regional maps and information about the National Parks with space to collect cancellation stamps at each park.  So, we made sure to stop at each visitor center armed with our passport to get the park stamp!  Hanging on to our hats, we walked some of the shorter trails in the park to take in the expansive views.  Lastly, we drove the Badlands Loop Road as we exited, pausing for a few overlooks and to watch the prairie dogs and pronghorn antelopes.  Our next stop was the much-anticipated Mount Rushmore National Monument in the afternoon.  After obtaining the passport stamp at the visitor center, we watched the video about the massive undertaking of carving the four presidents into the Black Hills and how the sculptor Gutzon Borglum chose each man to represent the most important events in the history of the United States. Touring the exhibits in the center gave more insight into this artistic engineered masterpiece.  On the way to our last stop we pulled over to view Crazy Horse Memorial for a few minutes, another mountain monument.  The last of our 160-mile day was spent driving the scenic loop to Custer State Park, which was filled with wildlife including a charging bison! We spent the night at the Game Lodge Campground nestled amongst the trees and a creek.

May 9-It was only a short drive to Jewel Cave National Monument which contains the third longest cave in the world.  With passport in hand, we hurried inside the visitor center to make the Scenic Tour which included 723 stair steps along the half mile loop dotted with calcite crystals which gives this cave its name.  The tour was interesting but I think we all agreed, one cave was enough on this journey.  We boarded our RV and headed across beautiful expansive views of Wyoming to Devils Tower.  With only 130 miles of driving today, we arrived with enough time to get our passport stamped at the visitor center.  We learned that Devils Tower is the nation’s first national monument and also the location where “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” was filmed.  The geological wonder composed of igneous rock rises 1267 feet above the Belle Fourche River where we camped.   This monolith is considered sacred to native Indians and many of the trees at the base were tied with prayers cloths and shawls.  We also watched rock climbers ascend the parallel cracks as we hiked along the Tower Trail at the end of the day.

May 10-Knowing we had over 380 miles ahead of us to drive, we were anxious to get on the road.  But we woke up to the Devil’s Tower enshrouded by clouds.  We patiently while the clouds lifted so we could photograph the tower against a backdrop of blue skies. The prairie dogs entertained us while we waited.  Heading west, we had to adjust our route due to one of the passes not being open yet.  But lucky for us, Highway 14 into the east entrance of Yellowstone Park was open and was an absolutely spectacular drive!  There were huge vistas for miles and lots of snow near the passes, which provided roaring creeks of snow melt in the red rock canyons that followed.  It was a scenic overload! As we pulled into Yellowstone Park and drove over Sylvan Pass, we realized why that gate had just recently opened.  The snowbanks on each side of the road were as tall as the RV! Majestic buffalo greeted as we neared Fishing Bridge RV park at dinner time.   We pulled into our site which had been plowed clear of snow with just enough room to set a portable grill outside for dinner.

May 11-Chilly temperatures and blue skies greeted us for our first day in Yellowstone National Park, the first National Park in America.  Our first stop was at the Mud Volcano thermal area containing muddy hot springs and fumaroles along a boardwalk.  The pungent smell of hydrogen sulfide “rotten eggs” discouraged us from spending much time here.  With much anticipation, we headed for Yellowstone River to view the impressive Upper and Lower Falls from both the south and north rim.  Unfortunately, several viewpoints were still closed due to snow.  At Canyon Village Visitor Center, we stopped to get the passport stamp, to watch the film, tour exhibits, and to grab some lunch.  Touring Yellowstone isn’t complete without viewing the predictable geyser Old Faithful.  We arrived to the parking lot just as Old Faithful was finishing erupting.  By the time we parked, we discovered we would have an hour and a half until the next opportunity.  So, we watched the video, got another passport stamp and then drove to nearby Black Sand Basin, a collection of mesmerizing chromatic hot springs with a scattering of bison around.  Watching the clock, we arrived back at Old Faithful in time to watch the famous geyser erupt as well as a plume geyser in Biscuit Basin in the far distance.  Upon the return drive home, we stopped to view Gibbon Falls.  While driving over 130 miles in the park, we watched for the tell-tale sign of cars pulled over indicating nearby wildlife!  Our highlight was watching a grizzly bear and her two cubs climb over logs on a hillside.  We sighted elk herds, trumpet swans, duck, geese, a wolf, and many birds, too.  Yellowstone is a geological wonder that is abundant with wildlife!

May 12-Today the north entrance opened to the Grand Tetons! Driving along the rapidly thawing Yellowstone Lake, we headed towards our destination for the day.  We stopped briefly at the Lewis River bridge before entering the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway which took us to the Colter Bay Visitor Center.  After obtaining passport stamps and information about possible hikes, we headed south on Highway 89 to see the impressive Tetons in the morning light along the Snake River.  One of my favorite views was from a Mormon Row historical barn with the iconic Tetons range in the backdrop.  We decided to spend the afternoon hiking from String Lake to Leigh Lake.  The ranger had warned us of “some” snow still present on the trail so we donned our waterproof hiking shoes and grabbed hiking poles just in case.  The hike was “mostly” covered in snow several feet deep in spots and the lakes were still frozen on the edge.  The views were so rewarding, but we earned them by tromping our way over the snow trying to find and stay on the trail.  The stairs leading down to Leigh Lake opened up to a pristine majestic sight just as a golden eagle glided above us.  With another 190 miles added to the odometer, we returned back to our Yellowstone campsite.  I spent the evening adjusting our travel itinerary.  We had originally planned to go to Glacier National Park the next day, but most of the campgrounds and trails were still closed.  So, the new plan was to cross into Canada one day earlier, sadly bypassing both Glacier and Waterton National Parks.   Crossing the border onto new adventures…