Most RVers would agree that some of our best memories are made in national or state parks. Although we have had plenty of great experiences while visiting the parks, the best of them were made at first light. And among those are three extraordinary experiences that will stand out forever in our memories.
During our second year of traveling, we parked at the Badlands/White River KOA campground near the entrance of Badlands National Park, or as the National Park Service calls it, the “Land of Stone and Light.” The animals, of course, define much of the Badlands, but for me, it was the exquisite light and the power it has over the rocks that made us want to experience the park at first light.
Several minutes before sunrise, we pulled into an empty parking lot along the park’s scenic loop drive that overlooked the endless Badlands landscape. Meanwhile, beautiful clouds formed in the sky, and soon they were painted with pastel blues and pinks that come only at dawn’s early light. We were surrounded by an exquisite scene of sandstone cliffs and pinnacles as the rising sun began to work its magic on the rocks. Dawn is truly the best time to experience the Badlands’ brilliant palette of colors. I photographed for an hour and the only human we saw was in a car that passed by.
A week later, we stayed at Heartland RV Park, about 12 miles from the entrance of Custer State Park in South Dakota’s Black Hills. One morning, I set out alone on the very popular Wildlife Loop Road and carefully drove south as the morning light began to peek over the hills. Suddenly, I was stopped in my tracks on a lonely highway. I sensed something special was about to happen. The sheer size of the American bison is enough to stop anyone in their tracks, even if one is driving a full-ton pickup. But it was not one bison; it was at least 50. I put the truck in park. Soon, I realized 50 was only the beginning as a line of bison as far as I could see came toward me.
The sauntering procession continued to pass me by. The only sounds were the gentle clopping noises of even-toed hooves on the pavement and the occasional loud bison grunts and snorts. Minutes passed, and at one point three pronghorn leapt briskly through the scene. No vehicle in front, no vehicle behind, no gawking bystanders – just me and the bison.
The following year, we stayed at North Park Campground in Dickinson, North Dakota, approximately 37 miles from the entrance of Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s south unit. As usual, I was out the door well before sunrise, and I entered the park’s scenic loop drive as the sun began to appear on the horizon. Somewhere along the highway, a large animal standing in an open prairie caught my eye. Although there are plenty of bison in this park, it was, instead, a horse.
I pulled into a nearby rest area where I could see the horse and seven others, including a day-old filly. With camera and long lens in hand, I walked toward the herd and then stood my ground far enough away to not disturb them. Once the dominant female appeared to relax and paid no more attention to the stranger, I continued to observe and photograph them for the next two hours from a distance while the adults grazed, and the filly exercised her new legs. I was alone with the horses and noticed no more than two or three passing vehicles during that time.
If you want a special wilderness experience while visiting a park, I recommend you enter it before sunrise if allowable. With no crowds or traffic to disturb you, and with the best light of the day, your experience will leave an impression on you forever. And don’t forget the camera!
|
|
Connie Mier and her wife Vivian have been living the fulltime RV dream since 2018. They have traveled the United States and Canada exploring the wilderness parks, touring cities and small towns, and learning American history and culture. When not traveling, their home on wheels is parked on Chokoloskee Island, Florida. You can read about their adventures and see more of Connie’s photos at
Leave a Reply