In and Near Custer State Park

 

In and Near Custer State Park

 Our next exploring stop was at Custer State Park.  The park has a great drive around its interior called the Wildlife Loop Drive.  We drove it one morning we were there and were not disappointed!  After that, we checked out another cool site to see!

What a relaxing place this state park is!!  Even thought we’re not far off the “main drag” that runs into the town of Custer, SD, it is generally so quiet we felt like we were miles and miles away from anyone else!  I loved the pattern made in the tree trunk when it was cut (image on the upper right).

We ran into an area full of the chirping of prairie dogs as they talked to each other…about us!  Well, actually, I think it was about Max, and they were driving him crazy!!  Here’s a photo of two of them on the other side of the fence from us.  They kept sitting there looking at us, and just talking to each other, and, at times, the other prairie dogs!!

And so we begin with what seemed like a lone bison grazing in a field.  I thought that was a very peaceful scene, and wondered where the other bison were…

And here they are.  This was the beginning of a herd of bison that tied up a road through the state park, just meandering around, sometimes munching on grass, and others checking us out.  I especially liked the bison, below.  He just seemed to settle in on the ground, watching the cars go by, ever so slowly, and munching all the time!

Here is the end of the herd.  Some were just standing in the road, and we drove slowly around and past them.  One of my favorite scenes is the one on the lower right – watching one bison munching in the shade of a tree.  Might as well be comfortable when eating!

Not that much farther down the road were some wild burros.  We were told in the state park information not to feed the burros, but apparently, people disregard that notice, as the burros kept coming up to the cars asking us for food.  I have to say, those eyes were hard to resist!!  Good thing we didn’t have any appropriate munchies for them!!

We weren’t quite finished with the wildlife in the state park, though!!  We ran into some pronghorn antelopes, with one munching right at the side of the road.   This one barely noticed that we were there!!

The last image I want to share wasn’t from the state park, but about a half hour away from the park, at the Crazy Horse Monument.  I had never been here, and Jeff said he was here several years ago, and was eager to see how much more had been done.  Oddly, we really couldn’t find any real change in the monument.  Perhaps the work being done is on the far side of the monument, and we weren’t able to visit that side.  Maybe next time!!

Enjoy!