One of the most adorable “Northwest Encounters” we experienced was hiking through a prairie dog town (yes…that is what a group are called) in Wind Cave National Park. A beautiful destination less than an hour away from Mount Rushmore, this lesser known park is definitely a must see.

While its claim to fame is the boxwood cave, we chose to see the park from above ground, thus affording us a chance to have the park almost entirely to ourselves. From the marsh along a stream to the hike up a mountain and through the prairie, the diversity of its landscape is really amazing.

To learn more about this unique and fascinating park, click here.