South Dakota

Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Custer State Park is home to a variety of wildlife and magnificent scenery spanning 71,000 acres; it is the second largest state park in America.  Nearly 1,300 buffalo roam the prairies and hills of Custer State Park, along with pronghorns, elk, mountain goats and adorable burros.   Clearly, I was most enthralled with the buffalo and burros, because those seem to be the only photos I took in this magnificent state park!

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Signs all over the park remind you that buffalo will kill you if

you harass them.  People seem to forget these are wild animals. 

Pronghorns are a common sight in the park. 

This is a herd of "wild" burros.  They were SO cute.

(I was not the one feeding them) 

I couldn't resist this photo op!! 

And, he was a willing participant! 

South Dakota certainly doesn't make vegetarians feel welcome!

Mt. Rushmore (2006)

Beautiful Mountain Goats at Mt. Rushmore

Unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial

The model of a finished Crazy Horse

Site of the Wounded Knee Massacre
(there is also a small cemetery there)

Beautiful South Dakota Badlands

Corn Palace (Mitchell, South Dakota) - A must-see!