We were running east on Route 40 when we saw that thru travel was closed as a result of the Native lands closing off access to the reservation due to COVID. We changed tack and jumped up on I-90 instead, a little disappointed that we were on a four lane highway so soon. Once back at the town of Wall we turned south and shortly turned onto Sage Creek Road. The landscape was flat and sparse...
Our intent was to make our way to the National Grasslands that lay south of the Badlands National Park to find dispersed camping as it is not allowed within the NP itself. But than we stumbled upon the Sage Creek Campground, a NP site, and realized if we stayed there it would give us an earlier start in the mornings than having to roll out of the Grasslands. So finding a spot we claimed it.
The campground is a circular drive with tent sites within the oval of the road. It’s a first come first served affair with a pay station kiosk. Pay your fee, post the tag at your site and your good to go. The track pitches towards the campsites for drainage so a vehicle doesn’t sit level parked at the site. We opted to move away from folks and parked in an overflow area that was level and a bit apart. The neighbors were nosey though.
Camp pitched we walked up on the ridge above camp and checked out the view.
And than we checked out the course of Sage Creek.
Here the creek was pretty dry and long pools of still water made up the creek bed. There was just enough flow to say it was running but hardly. Along the banks we came across some odd geology in the form of cannondale formations. Large egg shaped conglomerates of sand stone with black centers. You could see them up on the banks and as erosion worked them free they tumble to the creek bed and break apart. Pretty cool rocks.
As the sun set a lone Buffalo bull wandered through camp unconcerned as could be by the campers.
But he minded his own business and the others campers did as well and the evening transpired nicely.