national-parks

2024 Cross Country Trip #10

City of Rocks gets its name from the volcanic rock formations found here. The park encompasses a one-square-mile area in the scenic Chihuahuan desert region of southwestern New Mexico at 5,200 feet. The “city” is a geologic formation of large, sculptured rock columns, or pinnacles, rising as high as 40 feet and separated by paths or lanes resembling city streets. These rocks were formed about 34.9 million years ago when a very large volcano erupted. Then, erosion over millions of years slowly formed the sculptured columns seen today, creating an otherworldly landscape. The rock formations at the park are so unique that they are only known to exist in six other places in the world.

Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument – For thousands of years, nomads used the caves above Cliff Dweller Creek as temporary shelter. In the late 1200s, people of the agricultural Mogollon (Southern Ancestral Pueblo) culture made it a home. They built rooms, crafted pottery, and raised children in the cliff dwellings for one or two generations. By approximately 1300, the Mogollon had moved on, leaving the walls behind. Five naturally eroded alcoves contain the homes of the Tularosa Mogollon. About 42 rooms were constructed from local stone. All wooden beams seen in the dwellings are the originals. Tree-ring dates range from the 1260’s through the 1280’s.

October 5, 2024 2

Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon

The final leg of our western swing started with a drive along Big Horn Scenic Highway, in Wyoming. A 58-mile paved highway over the crest of the Big Horn Mountains, the byway winds past thick forest, lush meadows, waterfalls, and deep canyons. Stretching from the Powder River Basin to the Big Horn Basin, the Big Horn Byway follows US 14 from the west outside Greybull.

Beartooth Scenic Byway – This stretch of U.S. Highway 212 between Red Lodge in Montana and Cooke City, zigzags across the Montana-Wyoming border through a series of steep switchbacks, rising from about 5,000 feet to 10,947 feet at the Beartooth Pass. It’s so high that it’s closed in winter due to snow, fortunately for us we completed our crossing before September 24^th when the byway was closed for a few days do to 5 inches of snow and 4-foot drifts.

Craters of the Moon Idaho – Craters of the Moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. We explored this unique landscape by driving the historic Loop Road, stopping in at the visitor center, hiking up a volcano, and exploring a lava tube cave. The scenic Loop Road is nine miles round-trip. Volcanic activity has occurred on the Snake River Plain for many millions of years. The much younger lava flows at Craters of the Moon were formed by eruptions that started only 15,000 years ago and represent the last period of active volcanism in the area. The most recent activity occurred approximately 2,100 years ago. Craters of the Moon is considered dormant, not extinct.

Sawtooth Highway – In the mere length of 115 miles, the Sawtooth Scenic Byway takes the traveler from volcanic sagebrush lands on north into awe-inspiring high snow-covered mountain peaks. Unfortunately, because of smoke from wildfires we did not get to see much. We were hoping to get to the top of Sawtooth and head south on the western slope but we were stopped by park rangers since the fire had jumped our planned route. We had to back track on our original approach and head back to Boise. The good news we could spend more time with our kids and grandkids.

2024 Cross Country Trip #6

Continuing west we spent two days in South Dakota travelling through the Badlands, Custer State Park, and Spearfish Canyon.

Badlands National Park spans over 240,000 acres of rugged terrain and dramatic landscapes. Known for its sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires, the park offers an awe-inspiring vista at every turn. Surrounded by sprawling grasslands, this destination feels both otherworldly and profoundly connected to nature. Badlands National Park is not just a haven for breathtaking landscapes; it’s also a paleontological goldmine. The park’s eroded cliffs uncover a rich array of fossils, including ancient mammals like rhinoceroses and sabretooth cats.

Badlands Loop Road: Driving this road is the park’s most popular activity going through the north unit – it provides stops to get out and explore the major highlights and trails.

We explored a few standout sites:

Panorama Point: Offers sweeping views of the vast landscape.
Yellow Mounds Overlook: Features colorful geological formations that are a photographer’s dream. (YES)
Fossil Show Trail: Provides a glimpse into the past with fossil displays.
Door, Window and Notch Trails: These three short hikes, give you an overall sense of the terrain.
Pinnacles Overlook: Is a scenic overlook on the west side of the park offers one of the best views of that area.

Custer State Park:

One of the few remaining wild places in the country. An area of tall pines, rolling hills, grasslands, and massive granite spires. You can see bison from the Wildlife Loop Road. We experienced pigtail bridges, views of Mount Rushmore, tunnels and giant granite formations from The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, a 70 mile loop via the Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway.