I drove the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway one night after dinner; Dances With Wolves was shot here.
I took Iron Mountain to Mount Rushmore. Mount Rushmore took 14 years to complete. Washington's eyes are each 11 feet wide, and his nose is 26 feet long. Lincoln's sports a mole that is 16 inches across.
From Rushmore I visited Prairie Berry Winery. They have a great selection of semi-sweet wines and free tastings of five. They also have a wonderful kitchen and a deck to enjoy. Their sister brewery is just down the hill, but their ciders are not good. I had a delicious open faced chicken salad sandwich with a Caesar salad side.
From lunch it was Crazy Horse Memorial, slowly taking shape in the granite, that memorializes the greatest Native American warrior chief. Then it was down Needles Highway. Needles is a truly awe-inspiring drive, but also terrifying.
From there, it was back to Custer State Park and its Wildlife Loop. I had enough time to drive it both directions and was rewarded with a lot of bison sightings.
I ended the day with a Rainbow Alert
