Wind Cave: green oasis in failed red state

Dropping into the Cheyenne River then winding up the Cascade north of Ardmore was a verdant deliverance from the brown, drought-claimed 700 miles of desolation south of it: no wonder there were wars fought over the Black Hills. Hot Springs looks great, too.

The rig left SD71, took US385 to just north of town where county gravel leaves her and heads east toward Buffalo Gap. After going through Gobbler Canyon, the Red Valley Road spun me north for a view of Negro Wool Ridge to the west (fifth photo) then into Wind Cave National Park.

Several bowls led me over a tiny cattle guard separating genetically pure bison on federal ground from the mongrels living along the intersecting Mal-named State Park Wildlife Loop. Thankfully, interested party soon escaped into Lame Johnny Creek, then plunged into the real-world traffic of north SD79: