Author: savannahhamlet

Badlands National Park

As previously stated, the Badlands is one of my favorite places I have visited. I feel it is extremely overlooked. While there is not a lot of hiking, the views from some of the pull offs in the park make up for the lack of exploring you can do at this National Park. There is no shade on any of trails in the park so make sure you bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and wear a hat.

Entrance on SD – 240
© Savannah Hamlet

Where to Stay

Wall, South Dakota

When visiting Badlands National Park, most people stay in Wall, SD. Wall is located North of the Badlands National Park. Now, don’t get me wrong, I understand the appeal of this town for most people. There are tons of attractions, shops, and restaurants to choose from, as well as many affordable hotels, motels, and campgrounds. However, growing up in Tennessee, I can compare it to “The Gatlinburg of the Smoky Mountains.” If you enjoy that type of town and enjoy being around attractions, then Wall is the place for you! Even if you do not decide to stay in Wall, it is worth a visit to have dinner and to walk around and see the town. The National Grasslands Visitor Center is also located in Wall and is a very interesting place to visit and learn more about the Grasslands in the United States.

Interior, South Dakota

Interior is located south of the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. There are a few campgrounds and one motel between the visitor center and the small town of Interior. The original plan was to tent camp at Badlands Interior Campground. However, it was very rainy and windy, so luckily the campground also had a motel. The staff was friendly, and did not charge for cancelling our campsite reservation for a motel room. If you would like to check out this campground/motel, here is a link to their website: https://www.badlandsinteriorcampground.com/

Where to Eat

Wall Drug Store Cafe

While we did not personally eat here, my parents had lunch here when they stayed in Wall. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Typical American style menu with burgers, chicken, and homemade desserts. Wall Drug Store Cafe is located on the main downtown strip of Wall, you can’t miss it!
Here is a link to their website: http://www.walldrug.com/things-to-do/restaurant

Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill

If you want a small town bar menu and a cold beer, this is the place for you! Your choices on food are limited, but your choice on alcohol is large. My one suggestion: get the cheeseballs. The food was great, the beer was cold, and the atmosphere was laid back.
Here is a link to their Facebook website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Bar/Wagon-Wheel-Bar-and-Grill-102210229908005/

Wagon Wheel Bar & Grill – You can “decorate” a dollar bill and hang it in the bar
© Savannah Hamlet

Where to go

Prairie Dogs Field

I am a kid at heart, and o.m.g. did we hit the jackpot entering Badlands on SD – 240. When heading on 240 from Interstate 90 towards Interior, on your right will be Badlands Ranch Store. You will know you are there when you see the BIG prairie dog statue. Basically, you can get as close as you can to the prairie dogs and cry happy tears. Prairie dogs are the cutest animals on this planet and no one will ever change my mind. In my opinion, this is a must do!

Statue at Badlands Ranch Store
© Savannah Hamlet

Ben Reifler Visitor Center

This is kind of a “DUH,” but I always love going into Visitor Centers. I always head straight for the cancellation stamps for my passport book. Did I mention I am a kid at heart? You can also receive tons of information and park maps at the visitor centers. As well as souvenirs for your family and friends.

Fossil Exhibit Boardwalk

This kid friendly boardwalk is technically a trail, but I would consider it more of a place to go in the park. The boardwalk has interpretive panels with fossil replicas you can read along the way.

What Trails to Hike

Notch Trail

If you have looked into visiting the Badlands, this has surely popped up in your searches. Notch Trail is a very interesting trail and why it is the number 1 rated trail in the park. AllTrails rates the in and out hike as moderate and is only 1.3 miles long. I feel the only part of the trail that is moderate is the ladder you have to climb. I really enjoyed this hike and it was only one out of two we were able to hike due to the fact it started raining as soon as we got back to the car and did not stop until after we left. Be considerate when you get to the ladder. When we were descending, a couple decided to climb up at the same time and were completely rude telling us to “move.” Be nice, folks.

  • View from bottom of ladder
    © Savannah Hamlet
  • View from top of the ladder
    © Savannah Hamlet
  • View from the end of the trail
    © Savannah Hamlet
  • View of trail terrain
    © Savannah Hamlet

Castle Trail

This trail is a bit on the lengthy side at 10.5 miles and is rated moderate on AllTrails. Many of the comments say it is an easy hike, however. People also say that while it is a beautiful hike, it can become a bit boring because the scenery is the same throughout the loop trail.

Door Trail

From the same parking lot for Notch Trail, you can take an easy breezy short .8 mile walk to some amazing views. Great for kids and non-hikers to enjoy. You can also see beautiful flowering plants along the way.

View from the end of the Door Trail
© Savannah Hamlet

Where to Stop

Winding through the park is a 31 mile scenic drive with many pull-outs and overlooks where you can see some amazing sights of the Badlands. Here are a few must stops along the scenic drive.

  • White River Valley Overlook
© Savannah Hamlet
  • Yellow Mounds Overlook
  • Pinnacles Overlook
© Savannah Hamlet
  • Big Badlands Overlook

Hopefully if you were on the fence on whether or not to take time to visit the Badlands, my post has convinced you to not miss this National Park! If there is anything I forgot to mention or you have any questions, leave a comment below!

Peace.

Just a Jeepin’

During the summer of 2018, my best friend, Sara, and I took a 3 week road trip of a life time. We drove in a 4 door Jeep from Tennessee to South Dakota to Wyoming to Montana and then back down to Wyoming. We were able to visit 4 National Parks, 3 National Forests, 2 National Monuments, and many more spectacular places. I will give a brief overview of where all we went, and have more detailed blogs in the near future of each location we visited.

Our first stop after two LONG days of driving was Badlands National Park. I was extremely excited about Badlands National Park. I personally feel that the Badlands do not get enough credit. C’mon guys, look at the views!

Door/Notch Trailheads parking area
© Savannah Hamlet

Next, we headed to the Black Hills National Forest. We only had one night in the Black Hills, so we made the most of it. Within 24 hours, we saw Mt. Rushmore, drove the Needles Highway at sunset, saw a laser show at Crazy Horse (SO COOL), visited Sylvan Lake, visited Sturgis (our dads, both bikers, were extremely jealous), AND went to Devil’s Tower. Needless to say, we had a blast and saw A LOT.

Sylvan Lake at sunset
© Savannah Hamlet

After a couple of days of exploring the Badlands and Black Hills, we were Montana bound! We took a scenic route through Bighorn National Forest, and stayed in a charming small town, Greybull, WY. We then took the Beartooth Highway and stayed the night in Bozeman. I know, weird, but it was the only way we could drive the highways and not have to backtrack.

Shell Falls between Bighorn National Forest and Greybull
© Savannah Hamlet

After leaving Bozeman, we took a long, rainy drive to Glacier. We stayed an entire week in Glacier and WOW WOW WOW. If you have never visited Glacier, cancel your current travel plans and go, now!

Two Medicine Lake at Glacier National Park
© Savannah Hamlet

The last week of our trip, we visited Yellowstone and Grant Tetons National Park. I have nothing to say about Yellowstone, you will see a whole blog about Yellowstone later on. Grand Tetons were GORGEOUS. Just fab, y’all. 10/10 would recommend.

Grand Teton National Park
© Savannah Hamlet

This post really does not serve a purpose except to set up the next few blogs I post about each location. You at least got to see some awesome pictures taken with an iPhone, pretty impressive for a phone, huh?

Peace.

Hey, y’all!

First things first, I’m Savannah aka Van. How do blogs work? Do I just start posting? Do I need to tell you who I am? Do you care who I am? Whatever, here goes nothing.

I am from a very, very small town in Tennessee and got out as soon as I could…an hour away #rebel. I went to MTSU in Tennessee and I have a degree in Photography. Film photography. I love it; the patience required to find the correct exposure, seeing your freshly developed images on film, the smell of chemicals in the darkroom. My first love, film photography. Then, the real world sets in and everything is digital. Go back to school they say, it will pay off in the end, they say. I then went CU in Tennessee, got a Master’s Degree in Special Education. BOOM, Nashville explodes, housing market is unrealistic and I am working on a teacher’s salary. Life if wonderful.

Now I don’t want to sound like I am complaining at all, but you are on my blog and that’s how I feel about it all. However, I do love my current job. I love my students an every day is a new crazy. Do I miss the photography field, every damn day. Do I have summers off to where I can try to get back into it, sure do. So, here I am, on my digital platform, trying to just figure out how to balance my current job with my first love.

Will every image I post be a film scan? Have you seen how expensive film is now….no. Will I brag when I do post an amazingly beautiful film scan…yes. I have NO CLUE what this blog will end up becoming. This may be the only post I ever manage to publish. Who knows? Oh, did you see my obligatory picture of myself at Machu Picchu? Peace.