Black Hills and Badlands - Gateway to the West

Nestled in the heart of America s great plains are contrasting tastes of a sacred land that beckons the visitor to enter the nation's mysterious and glorious West. A land of soaring pinnacles, deep canyons, hidden caves, national monuments and countless wildlife sanctuaries. It is also the place of the inglorious death of famed gunslinger, Wild Bill Hickok and the most sacred spot for the Lakota Sioux.
These contrasting tastes of the West, one soaring, rich in forests and water and the other barren and deeply eroded, are brought together by a shared geology and history. They are the Gateway to the Great American West. They are the Black Hills and the Badlands.

[@joycefranklin8981]

One of the best vacations we ever took was to the Black Hills and southwest South Dakota. Camping, wildlife, history, scenery. I am from Ohio and it was a last minute change of plans and the best choice we ever made!

[@nealfry2230]

I'll Always remember my vacation in The Badlands of South Dakota.

[@Raliugar]

Great video! I have one tiny correction: the Black Hills Gold Rush was NOT the last great American gold rush. That dubious honor goes to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1900. Source: I was a ranger at Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, Skagway Unit.

[@lindakay9552]

My Scottish English 2nd great grandfather was in those hills before Custer showed up. My great Grandpa was born in the Black Hills in 1888, and he was one of his youngest siblings born there. We've been on this continent since at least 1634. My ancestors were part of a religious sect called the Ancient Brethren. The Hutterites who exist in America now have my ancestors to thank. As soon as gold was discovered in the black hills, my great grandpa went even farther north, seeking more desolate land for the Hutterite colony. He met my great grandma in Montanna, and they were married in Keremeos, BC. They finally settled in Orriville, WA. By the time Custer arrived here, there had already been at least some "white natives" in the area for at least a full generation. And we got pushed farther north and west by gold seekers.

[@pattyaaron2759]

I have seen the bad lands which are breath taking. I would like to see the black hills someday

[@Alohabutterfly]

I'm headed there next week!

[@mid-westerngamehunter5720]

I am the opposite to you. I have seen the stunning Black Hills and Mount Rushmore and places like Custer State park, keystone, Custer, a few different lakes, and a lot of great people out west. Still would like to visit the Badlands sometime after I explore the Black Hills further. That country is beautiful country. The history behind it is just sad. There is no other way to put it except these words “Manifest Destiny”. The ideology that the U.S’s expansion was inevitable and decisions would have to made to make room for the coming expansion. Unfortunately, this is what has inevitably become. It’s incredibly saddening when you look into it. The Native Americans who were here before all of us now, losing their lands from the coming powers of the growing American population. Behind every stunning smile is a dark and deep memory of the past. That is unfortunately the case of the Black Hills. Stunning country with an incredibly unfortunate backstory.

[@littlebirdie2]

Patty, I totally agree! I have enjoyed both several times in my youth. They are striking each in their own unique way & can be viewed on the same ‘road trip’ route! Both SO interesting geologically AND captivating in their mysterious artistic beauty !! SO much opportunity for unique photos and sketching! Hope you see the Black Hills soon!

[@Wanderlust598]

Make it a two for one deal and spend a week in each. That's what I did when I was doing seasonal work en route to North Dakota.

[@Wanderlust598]

It is completely worth it.

[@applepie6313]

During Covid, we were desperately searching for place we can travel to without lots of restrictions. And we found South Dakota. And we would never expect that would become one of our favorite vacations! Tons of great memories: the landscape, the wild animals, the hike up to Peak Harney…we will be back

[@anhtran-neal6263]

Sir, It is Smokey Bear, no word THE in between Thank you for the video

[@conniedean9466]

Greatv video! Thank you!

[@cunderw12]

It’s actually pretty sad seeing how much we’ve destroyed on the grasslands.

[@jimjr4432]

As to the Sioux guy, I thought they were kicked out of Minnesota. Any rebuttal?

[@TimT2024]

Antelopes can run 55 plus a deer can run 45 .

[@1m2rich]

Bad lands are awesome. Lots of Chpmonks.

[@jackisblue5702]

Starts off w saying land where colonizers found gold is indigenous owned... Says military turned a blind eye to colonizers trespassing in that land and taking resources from it... Then says the Indians massacred the colonizers...jfc They didnt want us on their land. When we didnt listen they defended themselves. I'd love to see just one american documentary giving perspective from indigenous americans sides and not just skim over this important history w 'there was a war and the colonizers won and now everything's all better now'

[@stefanhernold345]

What he calls "the modern rhino" (there`s actually 5 different types of `em) ain`t no "lumbering animal" either. While not accelerating easily, it effortlessly outruns, by a wide margin, *any* human being incl. Usain Bolt, once got going.

[@gorporpio]

It's Crazy Horse's mountain, not theirs. CRT.

[@georgebradleejr]

Japheth b. Boyce 21 minutes and 21 seconds in the video you start to try to explain how the badlands were maid. Nope school thought u what they want u to know!!! in Siberia there is permafrost melting away leaving huge craters . Guess what’s left after it melts !! Huge craters with formations that look like the badlands in South Dakota Sorry for proving your years of paleontology wrong . I’ll still watch the rest of the show to point out other things u any other people learn that’s a lie.!!!!

[@gorporpio]

You really need a college level course in stratigraphy and sedimentation. But hold off until you know the difference between maid and made. After all, strat/sed is a writing intensive course. Fool ...

[@georgebradleejr]

@@gorporpio lol a college course in guessing hmmm I think this formed this way and that way blah blah blah

[@Raliugar]

All it takes is one look at a map to see that the Badlands is not full of craters left over from explosions, but is instead a landscape shaped by uplift and erosion.