The Good and the Badlands South Dakota

47 thoughts on “The Good and the Badlands South Dakota”

1. Muza-chan July 21, 2011 at 12:12 am

   Amazing photo 🙂

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   1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 11:59 am

      Thanks! 🙂

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2. Leigh July 21, 2011 at 12:38 am

   I visited the Badlands area during the Sturgess motorcycle rally. I remember motorcycles more than Badlands but I do remember how beautiful it was. I especially love your top photo and the title.

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   1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:00 pm

      Thanks, Leigh. I haven’t been to the rally itself, but I’ve been on the road when there are lots of motorcycles headed that way — must be quite an experience in Sturgis during that time.

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3. Jimshu July 21, 2011 at 12:47 am

   Love vistas like this Cathy. Plonk me out there with water and a sleeping bag and I’d happily just mooch around those badlands for as long as I could.

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   1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:03 pm

      I can just see you out there, Jim — you’d love it!

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4. Vi July 21, 2011 at 1:15 am

   Love colors of these badlands.

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   1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:04 pm

      I agree, Vi!

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5. Linda July 21, 2011 at 1:50 am

   Love these photos. I hope to see this one day. I’ve always been drawn to desert landscapes. I hiked a mal pais yesterday, and it was fascinating, and I was intrigued by the type of plants which were clinging to life there. Of course, since this is an island the scope of the landscape is much less, so you don’t quite get that sense of helplessness I think you might get in S Dakota or Namibia or other desert regions.

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   1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:06 pm

      Thanks, Linda. I’ve always been fascinatted by the vastness of landscapes like this, too. Hard to describe the feeling of being there — that “sense of helplessness” you mention may be part of it.

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6. Laurel July 21, 2011 at 2:09 am

   I love the contrast of colors in this photo. We have Badlands near Calgary where I used to live and I always thought they were so intriguing.

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   1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:08 pm

      Thanks, Laurel! I’d love to see the Badlands near Calgary, too.

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7. Renee July 21, 2011 at 9:20 am

   Gorgeous, Cathy! I love the coloration of the dunes. It’s funny….whenever I see the word Badlands, I think of that Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek movie….crazy good.

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   1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:09 pm

      Thanks so much, Renee! I don’t think I ever saw that movie. I’ll have to check it out.

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8. Andrea July 21, 2011 at 9:36 am

   That’s gorgeous! Is it a desert?

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   1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:13 pm

      I don’t think is actually a desert, although it looks like one in places. According the park’s website, it is “… sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires surrounded by a mixed-grass prairie ecosystem.” http://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm

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9. Stephanie - The Travel Chica July 21, 2011 at 10:00 am

   Gorgeous! Definitely a place I want to explore.

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   1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:13 pm

      Thanks, Stephanie. I’d like to spend more time there myself — some hiking would be nice.

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10. Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista July 21, 2011 at 10:23 am

    The colors are amazing. You are right, this is beautiful in a stark kind of way! I have never seen pics of the Badlands so appreciated the opportunity.

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:14 pm

       Thanks for your comment, Debbie — happy to provide your first glimpse of the Badlands!

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11. Michael Figueiredo July 21, 2011 at 10:45 am

    Wow! Amazing photos, Cathy! It looks like Mars….so cool.

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:15 pm

       Thanks for the Wow! It does look a bit like Mars, doesn’t it? Very other-worldly.

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12. jade July 21, 2011 at 2:49 pm

    Totally agree with you Cathy- I’m awestruck by these too. Love the different colors and patterns in the rocks!

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:16 pm

       Thanks, Jade — awesome place.

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13. Eileen Ludwig July 21, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    Great shot – come post your url at http://www.eileenludwig.com/fascinating-photo-thursday-tahoe-gal-paddlewheeler/

    Count on me doing this every Thursday and promote your post there

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:16 pm

       Thanks for dropping by, Eileen. glad you like the photo!

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14. InsideJourneys July 21, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    Not sure where my previous comment went — the page went blank after I hit the Submit button.
    Anyway, love your photos, especially the first one. The colors are amazing. Nature never ceases to amaze me. Thanks for sharing this. Never been to S. Dakota but you make me want to.

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:17 pm

       Sorry you had a problem posting the comment. Thanks for taking the time to redo it! Flattered that the photo has enticed you to travel to S. Dakota sometime!

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       1. Meg July 26, 2011 at 9:38 am

          Hi Cathy! So nice to find you…I am a Wonder Junkie myself as well as a photog and love these images! Its almost as if you have captured the essence of Time itself in these pastel strata of milleniums. Very cool! I will be sure to visit again!

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15. Theresa Torres July 21, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    Hi Cathy, I also love your photos.The colors are amazing! Those hills look like small volcanoes. I agree with Michael, makes one think of beautiful badlands in Mars. I wonder how it would look covered in snow or what the scene would be like at dusk.

    This is definitely one for my bucket list. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:20 pm

       Thanks, Theresa. There are some nice sunset pics (and maybe some with snow) on the parks’s website. http://www.nps.gov/badl/photosmultimedia/index.htm

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16. Norbert July 21, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    That is such a beautiful photo, Cathy! Love the colors of the ground.

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:21 pm

       Thanks, Norbert 🙂

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17. ayngelina July 21, 2011 at 9:07 pm

    You know one of the best things about writing about the deserts of Chile was that so many people shared that there were also incredible landscapes in the US – I had no idea!

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:22 pm

       I read your post about Chile, too. Yes, the U.S. has a wide diversity of landscapes. Hope you’ll get to visit more and see how beautiful this country is.

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18. Michael July 22, 2011 at 12:48 am

    Great shots! I was introduced to the Badlands by a guest post in my site by @travelingted (Ted Nelson). http://easyhiker.co.uk/your-own-badlands-adventure/ Seems to be a great family destination.

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:24 pm

       Thanks! I remember that post by Ted — in fact, I commented on it at the time. It was a good read and I recommend it to anyone reading this!

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19. Abby July 22, 2011 at 7:20 am

    I love the starkness! I’m from New Mexico, and I am so in love with American landscapes. Dying to go to South Dakota.

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:25 pm

       Oh, New Mexico is gorgeous! So much diversity in landscapes there.

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20. Nancie July 23, 2011 at 1:30 am

    Cathy, absolutely stunning!

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:25 pm

       Thanks for the very nice compliment, Nancie!

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21. jana July 23, 2011 at 8:22 am

    the photo is breath taking and indeed very stunning… nature is really beautiful and wonderful in its own way… and the picture speaks for itself.. i hope that i could see it personally..

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:26 pm

       Thanks, Jana – so much beauty in nature. We just don’t always stop and appreciate it as much as we should, I think.

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22. Christina July 23, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    Uh, that’s an awesome landscape! Never been there, your country is so big I’ve only seen a few parts of it. The Dakotas do seem very appealing!

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    1. Cathy Post authorJuly 25, 2011 at 12:27 pm

       You’re so right about the U.S. — so big and has so much to see! Lots of beautiful landscapes.

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23. Luke July 27, 2011 at 10:56 am

    Wow! It almost looks like painted ! Or like its straight from Lord of The Rings or other fantasy movie !

    Great ! Thanks for the share.

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24. AileenCruz July 31, 2011 at 9:37 am

    great looking nature…must be fun taking pics in places like S. Dakota…

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