Wild Life Loop and Needles Highway

Even though we spent so much time on our trip driving, one of the sights that I wanted to see was Needles Highway. A few people had recommended it to me and it sounded like an amazing drive. So, after Jewel Cave we stopped by at the campers for something to eat, threw the kids in the truck (along with the crockpot meal we were having for supper - thank God Josh installed a 12V converter in his truck, it worked awesome for cooking our supper while we saw the sights!) and headed out. There was also another "loop" that we saw on the maps and decided to do both before we hit Mount Rushmore that night. The Wild Life Loop was definitely worth our time, we saw so many fun things, but we missed out on Rushmore that night since it started down pouring on us...

We had barely started the wild life loop when we ran into this buffalo in the middle of the road. Of course Reggie was leading, so they got to see it on the road. A park ranger "drove" it into the ditches so this was our view as we drove through.

We were showing the kids the antelope on the sides of the road and Josh was teaching them the difference between an antelope and a deer when Bella spotted these on the side of the road. "Look Dad, there are more cantelope!"

There was a herd of donkeys on the side of the road. They were as friendly as donkeys can get and the kids had a blast running up to them (and freaking us moms out as we envisioned the donkeys kicking) and petting all the donkeys.

herd of buffalo

another random buffalo on the side of the road

the start of Needles Highway

the first tunnel clearance that we went through... the second was even smaller!

scenic!


one of the "rest stop" areas that was on Needles Highway was called "Hole-In-The-Wall" and you know we had to stop with a name like that!

Bella

first "tunnel" that we went through...

more scenery!

second "tunnel" that we went through...

view above our truck

The lake area that we stopped at for supper. It was gorgeous and if it hadn't started drizzling we probably would have busted out the swimming suits and stayed for a while...