Last Day at TRNP

Good evening!  Becky has had a bit too much vacation and needs a break so you're stuck with Steve again!

We got another early start this morning as we wanted to get some North Unit hiking done before it got too warm out.  We also wanted to catch the various animal herds out and about before they found their own afternoon shade and we were not disappointed!  Lots of deer, bison, and (finally!) longhorn cattle were just waking up for breakfast.

We saw the longhorns!

Longhorn up close!

A bison who thinks it is hiding.  :-)

A deer who isn't doing the best job at hiding either.  :-)

Bison reading the National Park signs.  :-)

Or chewing on them instead.  (I promise that's what he was doing.)

Staring us down after we were laughing at him.

We started our hiking day with a 2-mile hike to Sperati Point from the end of the scenic drive.  The views from the point were probably the best during our time in North Unit.  We pretty much had the trail to ourselves so it was peaceful, too. 

Our next hike was a short, 0.7 mile nature trail hike that took us to the edge of the Little Missouri River.  While we were a bit disappointed in the lack of wildlife it was a relaxing jaunt to a view that is pretty rare in the park.  

After a picnic lunch we set out on our last hike, a nature trail in a valley called a "coulee".  This was a chance to get up close with the badlands again and learn more about the unique geology and ecology.  After 1.6 miles we were pretty done for the day.  We tracked down the bison herds one more time and made our way out of the park to start our way home.  

Cannonball Concretion

Hiking in the badlands

Petrified wood

This guy was right by the entrance station to greet people coming into the park and to say goodbye to those leaving the park.

Tonight we're staying over in Bismarck before really getting some mileage towards home under our belts tomorrow.  Before getting to the hotel (and having a yummy steak dinner!) we checked out another Atlas Obscura spot a few miles away.  Bismarck is home to the gravesite of the man who invented the tags that go on license plates: Leonard Mennes.  There is a monument to this feat by his gravesite in a local cemetery. 

Tomorrow promises lots of driving, but we have a few fun stops planned, too.  Time to finish off tonight's Covid-style beer in small glasses and call it a night.