Custer SP & Mammoth Hot Springs

We started the day with a leisurely breakfast and then headed down toward Custer State Park. The plan for the day was to drive the Iron Mountain Rd and the Wildlife loop. Then head on down to Hot Springs to see the Mammoth Site. Actually, I lie - the plan for the day was to drive the Iron Mountain Rd and decide what’s next after that.

The Iron Mtn Rd is a beautiful drive with pigtail bridges and three tunnels situated such that you can view Mt Rushmore from them. A very well planned road built for the simple purpose of a scenic drive. We were enjoying the drive and had gone through two of the three tunnels, stopping to take pictures of Mt Rushmore. We were at an overlook prior to the third tunnel when a group of motorcyclists pulled in. One of them told us a vehicle was stuck in the tunnel and they were going to wait around the overlook. We figured we had better head back to the picnic area and the only restrooms we had seen so far before we got in line. That detour turned out to take just the right amount of time. Most of the traffic had cleared by the time we got to the tunnel, but it had stopped again and we were third in line. The plug was a truck & trailer which had been able to back out so the traffic could clear earlier. But now he needed to turn around and that took a little time and much, probably unnecessary, help.

Mt Rushmore from near the third tunnel

Waiting for the trailer to turn around

The official clearance for this tunnel is given as 13’4” wide and 12’4” high. But I’ll bet that doesn’t mean a long rectangular box of those dimensions would fit, because that trailer is certainly within those limits. Or maybe he couldn’t control it enough to center it in the tunnel. Or chickened out. I would not have even tried it with my 24’ class C.

After Iron Mtn Rd, we stopped at the Visitor Center in Custer State Park. We were trying to decide whether to take 16A through Custer and then Needles Hwy or take the Wildlife loop. The ranger said plenty of bison had been reported near the road as well as some pronghorn and mule deer. So we took the Wildlife Loop.

Near the beginning of the loop we saw a small herd of bison in the distance – my first sighting of the free roaming animal. We also saw a couple of pronghorn but not much else. However, when we got to the southern part of the loop, suddenly it’s bison all over. And, yes, I know, these bison are fed by the park and encouraged to stick around, but they are still a sight to see.

“Hey folks, these are wild animals!” and “Didn’t you read the signs saying ‘Don’t feed the donkeys’?”	A whole herd coming down the road toward us
This guy came really close	A lone bull we saw near the end of the loop. He seemed bigger than the other one.

At the end of the loop, it was decision time again. North or South? We opted to head south to Hot Springs. My sister had highly recommended going to the Mammoth Site there. That kind of thing appeals to me so off we went.

And now that I’ve been there, I have to agree with her – this site is fascinating. The actual (dried up) sinkhole is small, but the number and variety of skeletons found are amazing. I highly recommend taking the tour. It was both informative and entertaining. I could have lingered longer at the various points of interest, but it was probably long enough for most people. One tidbit we found interesting was that most of the mammoth skeletons came from “teenage” males. These are the ones who would have left their natal herd but hadn’t yet acquired the knowledge to “Stay away from that tempting vegetation over there. Something’s not right.”

Columbian mammoth skeleton	Columbian mammoth model based on a skeleton found in the sinkhole
In-situ bones and tusks	More bones and tusks

Finally, it was time to head toward home (hotel). We headed for US-385 to take advantage of easy driving. It was late afternoon and the angled sunlight made for some striking colors as it peeked through the clouds. I was able to get this shot through the windshield. I love the play of light between the bright green grass and the clouds above. The only enhancement done on the picture was to adjust the contrast to span the full range. These really were the colors.

143 mi, 7:03 hrs, 3.32 hrs moving

[written 11/24/13 – much after the fact]