Wild West Trip - South Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah

I started out May 9, 2018 at the Elk Mountain Campground in the Wind Cave National Park.  It was a beautiful day to drive across the rest of South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, and part of Nevada.  Before the day was done, I drove 858 miles over 14 hours.  I took one hour-long break to walk around Independence Rock, Wyoming, and a few minutes to look at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

Elk Mountain Campground, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

Elk Mountain Campground, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota

When I was in elementary school, we would play a game called Oregon Trail on the old Apple II C and E computers.  In the game, we would go from place to place on aboard a covered wagon, have to figure out what provisions to bring along, and which chances to take on the trail.  There were many landmarks along the route, one of which was Independence Rock, marking the halfway point between the Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean.

When I was driving through Wyoming, I saw the signs for Independence Rock, and thought it would be fun to see the landmark.  I knew I had a long way to travel that day and didn't think there was time to take a side trip.  However, I pulled over at a scenic rest stop, and found that I was actually at Independence Rock.  The historian in me wanted to take a walk around.  Independence Rock is deceptively large, and it took about an hour to circumnavigate it on foot.  I saw evidence of the pioneers on the rock, and saw some great wildlife in the surrounding countryside.

Independence Rock, Wyoming

Independence Rock - Wyoming

American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhychos) at Independence Rock, Wyoming

American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhychos) at Independence Rock, Wyoming

The Pronghorn (Antilocapra american), fastest animal in North America, sprinting by Independence Rock, Wyoming.

Path Around Independence Rock, Wyoming

Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) at Independence Rock, Wyoming

 The next state I drove through was Utah, a state I had never set foot in before.  I enjoyed the scenic mountains and saw the sun set over the Great Salt Lake.  In Salt Lake City, I took a little detour to see the Mormon Tabernacle.  When we took road trips out west growing up, we would often listen to a recording of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir called Best Loved American Folk Songs: This Land is Your Land.  It seemed fitting to catch a glimpse of the place the recording happened on my own road trip out west.

Mountains in Utah

Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah - The Mormon Tabernacle is visible through the trees.

 In a few more hours, I arrived at my cousin's house in Elko, Nevada.  The first half of the trip, I had driven around 24 hours, and covered 1,984 miles.