Tag: Buffalo Gap National Grasslands

Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, South Dakota – Day 4 Campsite

I continued traveling along SD240 checking out views at numerous pullouts and/or viewpoints along the drive through the park.  Checking the park area map, I noted other sections of the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands on the south side of the park.  So I exited the park on the south side, drove SD 377 through the tiny community of Interior, SD, then along SD 44 West along the southern side of Badlands NP.

I topped off my fuel tank at an old convenience store/fuel station in Interior.  The diesel pump was separate from the gasoline pumps and an old fashion type that is not commonly seen at more modern stations.  The lady running the store/station was friendly.  I purchased a copy of a paper back book, “Cactus Needles” that I spotted on display that was only $8.  It is a book of hand drawn cartoons, cowboy poems and ranch stories by John F. Solon of Weta, SD, which is a little east of Interior.

About 6 miles west of Interior, I found an entrance into an area of Buffalo Gap National Grasslands that is set aside primarily for off-road vehicle use.  The information sign near the entrance noted that rock hounding is permitted.  Indeed, the area was strewn with rocks of many kinds and I saw one person walking around picking up rocks.

Camping is permitted here and I decided to make this my home base for at least one night, since it is conveniently located near an area that I planned to shoot at sunset.

Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 18, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo

I drove along a dirt route parallel to a fence line along the east boundary of this area and parked at a secluded location, which I planned to make my campsite tonight.

All Alone, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 18, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo

I had this area completely to myself today.  I had plenty of time prior to going back to the park for a sunset shoot, so I killed  some time by reading the book that I had purchased in Interior and walking along a cow trail parallel to the fence line and shooting a few iPhone photos.

One Sided, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 18, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo

I’m hoping that those big fluffy clouds hang around for my sunset shoot.

Cow Trail, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 18, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo
Cow Trail, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 18, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo

Apparently, cows like to walk the same path repeatedly, since they have created such distinct and deep trails here.

Two Lanes, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 18, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo
Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 18, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo

Looking back along the fence line towards my campsite.  My Sportsmobile is hidden behind the trees.  Although, if one enlarges this image, the Sportsmobile is partially visible.

Next up, sunset shoot in the park,

Ken

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, Part 4

After my morning excursion into Badlands National Park, I returned to the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands Campground Area, picked another campsite, had lunch and waited until it was time to go out again for sunset photography.

Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 1
Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, September 16, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo 2

As the afternoon progressed, like yesterday, storm clouds began gathering.

Visitors, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, South Dakota
Praire Storm
Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, Campsite 2

Rain soon began to fall with gusty winds.  It was apparent that the storm was too fierce for me to venture back out for a late day shoot.  Now I have to look forward to another morning shoot.

Until then,

Ken

 

Badlands National Park, South Dakota – Part 1

After arriving at the park, I drove along the main park roadway for a while to scout possible sunset photos today and sunrise for the next morning.  Then I began to look for my planned camping area, driving a long way down a dusty, washboarded roadway that went to the camping area, which I had found via an online search for camping in the area of the park.  Eventually, I decided that the time it was taking for me to get to my planned camping area was going to be a problem for travel back and forth for sunset and sunrise photography.  Even though the distance might not be great, the road conditions required slow travel speed.  So I detoured off that rough road and began to look for other possibilities.

I found an online reference to another campsite just off of South Dakota Route 240 between Walls and the park, so I set out to find that site.  Before I found the site I was looking for, I again noted campers set up on higher elevation to the east of the roadway.  I had seen those on my initial pass though this area, but I had not seen a way to get to the area where those campers were set up.

I began to pay closer attention to that side of Route 240 and I soon found an inconspicuous, grassy, dirt roadway heading into the grasslands.  I took that trail, hoping it would take me to a camping area, soon coming to campers set up and/or leaving.  I stopped to inquire about this area with one camper that was on the way out.  He assured me that there were plenty of free campsite along this roadway, higher up on the hillside.

I continued on, finding many good campsites.  I later found a second roadway into this area, just a short distance from the park entrance, with a sign designating this area as Buffalo Gap National Grasslands.

There are some campsites right on the edge of a sharp drop off into badlands that are outside of the main park area.  I picked one of these that was level enough that no leveling of my vehicle was required.

A view from Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, South Dakota, September 15, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo

After having a late lunch in my vehicle, I walked around to scout the views from the camping area across the broad area below and to the west of the campground.

A view of an area adjacent to Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, South Dakota, September 15, 2022, PM, iPhone Photo

I found a few places where I thought I might use my 80-400mm lens to shoot down into the adjacent badlands, which were outside the main park area.

One of the problems with driving a camper vehicle, is losing a campsite in these first come first serve areas, if one leaves the campsite even for a short time.  I did not want to lose this campsite and I had not scouted enough in the park to locate a good sunset shoot location and there was a storm brewing, so I decide to get by with shooting from the campsite area and get out early the next morning for sunrise photography.

My shots with the big lens are not great and are a bit flat, but here are a few for the record.

Semicircle, View from Buffalo Gap National Grasslands camping area.
A wider angle view of the area around the semicircle in the upper right
Distant Cloud Shadows and Near Sunlight, View from Buffalo Gap National Grasslands camping area.
Golden Hour and Shadows, View from Buffalo Gap National Grasslands camping area.

These photos may not be very impressive, but the geology shown in these is impressive.  One can see the flat grassy areas that are eroding away revealing the layers of rock beneath the flat surfaces.

That’s it for today,

Ken