Wind Cave National Park Photos

This last autumn a disastrous forest fire restricted access to the interior of Wind Cave National Park. It was caused by a downed power line. I had recently purchased a new camera and hoped to augment my collection of photos of the park, but the restriction of access put that interest on hold for a while. Previous to that I had collected various photos and was in the process of providing captions to each, but that project got interrupted by another project etc. etc.

Anyhow, for those planning trips through the area this spring and summer, you might wish to check ahead on status of the recovery area. Double anyhow, here's the collection of photos to give you a glimpse of what the park was like before the fire. I tuckered out on providing the captions after all the interruptions. Oh yeah, the park will grow back.

For Ole time sake, watch me mess this up (yuk, yuk):

Winter:

2014-12-24-50-WICA-BolinTH:
Evening bull elk movement on Christmas Eve:



2014-12-24-54-WICA-BolinTH:
Looking south down the Red Valley:



2014-12-24-60-WICA-BolinTH:
Off-trail between the Red Valley and Bolin Ridge:



2016-12-29-09-WindCaveNP:
Prairie dog on a cold, winter day:



2016-12-29-19-WindCaveNP:
Pronghorn evening lineup:



2005-01-16-RankinRidge017:
Looking northward from the approach to Rankin Ridge Tower:



2005-01-16-RankinRidge020:
The Rankin Ridge Tower:



2005-01-16-RankinRidge024:
Looking northward from near the Sanctuary Trail:



2005-01-16-RankinRidge033:
Near sunset in January:



2010-01-19-093-RankinRidge:
Sunset from Rankin Ridge:



2011-01-19-16-WindCaveSnow:
Late January snow:



2011-01-19-29-WindCaveSnow:
Off-trail near Highland Ridge:



2011-01-19-37-WindCaveSnow:
Looking northward from near the Highland Creek Trail:



2011-01-19-46-WindCaveSnow:
Bison grazing off the Highland Creek Trail:



2017-02-15-28-WindCaveNP:
The scenic bridge over Beaver Creek:



2006-02-20-WindCave04:
The Centennial Trail down Beaver Creek Canyon:



2006-02-20-WindCave15:
Braided bison tracks near the Centennial Trail:



2006-02-20-WindCave16:
Rankin Ridge from the Centennial Trail:



Springtime:
2008-04-08-WindCaveNP-22:




2008-04-08-WindCaveNP-33:



2008-04-08-WindCaveNP-35:



2010-04-24-047-WICA-Highland:



2010-04-24-081-WICA-Highland:



2010-04-24-092-WICA-Highland:



2010-04-24-119-WICA-Highland:



Summer:

2017-06-29-05-WICA-Loop:



2005-07-03-WindCaveNP001:



2005-07-03-WindCaveNP005:



2005-07-03-WindCaveNP016:



2005-07-03-WindCaveNP024:



2005-07-03-WindCaveNP026:



2005-07-03-WindCaveNP032:



2005-07-03-WindCaveNP046:



2005-07-03-WindCaveNP048:



2017-09-14-016-WindCaveCoyotes:



Autumn:

2016-10-27-072-WindCaveNationalPark:



2016-10-27-104-WICA Bison



2008-11-18-06-WindCaveNP: Charging bison escape route



2008-11-18-62-WindCaveNP: