From Devils Tower we took Hwy 24 via Spearfish and than Hwy 14A (the „Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway“)

 Via Savoy, Cheyenne Crossing, Lead and Deadwood. This route is wonderful and has reminded us on the Blackforest in Germany. We wanted to stay overnight in Deadwood but were quite disappointed - too much commercial and no old flair anymore. So we continued via I-90 to Wall. Here the famous „Wall Drug“ was on the list. But the same thing: totally commercialized with only cheap „kitsch“ from China. Not worth visiting.

They are called „The Wall“. It lays like a huge, natural wall 100 miles long across the dry prairie in South Dakota. A wall, which is carved from wind and water with bizar columns and winding canyons. When you cross the prairie in the south you can´t miss it; like a city in lying in ruins - fossilized.

And what is especially thrilling - the colors. Depending of position of the sun they vary. And you have all shades of yellow, of brown, of grey and some areas are green. And what surprised us is to find flowers - in this dryness.

There are interesting trails - we hiked the „Notch Trail“ and had to climb a steep ladder.

We saw many Bisons. They even visited us at our Campground - and we were happy to sleep insight our vehicle and felt a bit bad for the campers in their tents.

And we saw bighorn sheeps - but far away.

They are in the Black Hills and are the huge heads of the following presidents:

• George Washington; the first president of USA („Birth“ of the Nation)
• Thomas Jefferson; who represents the „Expansion“ of the country (Purchase of Louisiana).
• Theodor Roosevelt; he stands for „Development“ (Panama Canal, Trust Buster and National Parks). 
• Abraham Lincoln; he represents „Preservation“ of the USA (saved the Union during the Civil War).

The monument was built by Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers and the cost was nearly 1 mio. US$. It was started in 1927 and finished in 1941. The heads are 60 feet high. And the material is hard granite. It is definitely an impressive monument - especially for the patriotic  Americans.

The „Mickelson Trail“ is a former railway track converted into a bicycle trail. It is unusual for USA. 109 miles long from Deadwood to Edgemont direct through the Black Hills. The landscape is very similar to our „Black Forest“ in Germany.

We started in Hill City and biked to Deadwood - a former gold mining and gambling town - today only gambling. We stood overnight in a very old hotel and rode back next day. The route is very pictoresk along creeks and valleys and it was Indian summer (fantastic tones of yellow and brown and green). The ascents not more than 4% - so quite pleasant. We passed old tunnels and saw cattles, deer and wild turkeys. We rode 174 km and we were proud of not getting muscle ache the next day. We can recommend this tour!!

1939 Sioux Chief Henry Standing Bear and other Indian leaders decided to built a monument which show the world that not only white people had heroes. They requested the sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski (1908 - 1982) to start the work. And they choose  Chief and Warrior Crazy Horse as the modell. The wanted this as the Indian counterpiece to Mt. Rushmore.

Ziolkowski had no money when he started in 1949 and alone and with the simplest means many years he struggeled. But after the years he got more and more financial supporters and slowly he could show visitors some progress and ask for entry-fees. After 60 years the head, the outlines of arm and horse can be seen. In the meantime millions of tons of granite has been removed (with dynamite).

This monument will be the largest in the world - 10 times larger than Mt. Rushmore and even bigger than the pyramid of Gizeh - it will be 172 m high and 195 m long.

It is admirable what Ziolkowski has created. He died 1982 and his wife and some of his 10 children continue the work. And what especially impresses is the fact that no government funding is accepted - it is only financed by entry fees and privat donations. A wonderful project.

Here we spent the weekend to avoid the thousand of vehicles which pass through the park every weekend and block all parking places. In Estes Park was the „Elk Fest“ and we have seen Western Shops and the dances and music of local „Plains Indians“.

On Monday we drove through the Park. We took the „Trail Ridge Road“ which climbes up to 12.182 ft or 3.713 m. From „Rock Cut“ a trail leads at least additional 100 m up to spectacular „Hoodoos. And from here you can see the many peaks above 4.000 meter at the south - a fantastic view and realy breath taking!!

Unfortunately the weather turned bad and it began to rain and snow. So we decided to leave the park and continue to „Hot Sulphur Springs“ - to warm up.

This is a small village which smells a bit strong - sulphur. The resort has 24 hot pools with different hot mineral water (between 100°F and 110°F). The water comes from a depth of more than 30.000 ft (10.000 m). Hundreds of years ago it was already used by the Indians - they bathed here together with horses and dogs - and it did good to all of them. Not too many visitors - we had quite often a pool just for us. We really enjoyed it.

150 m away is a campground direct on the banks of the young Colorado River - and it is even free of cost. And also free are the passing by goods trains with 4 locomotives and extrem loud horning (we heard at least 4 of them). God knows how the Amircans can tolorate this noise.

We took Hwy 40 from Hot Sulphur Spring via Kremmling and from here a very scenic gravel road to Radium and State Bridge always along the young Colorado River.

And than Hwy 131 to Walcott and here with the I-70 through the narrow and steep „Glenwood Canyon“ to Glenwood Springs.

And than via Hwy 133 (also a beautiful Scenic Byway) southwards. We stopped overnight in „Paonia“ with heavy rain. Next day via Hwy 187 to Hotchkiss and than Hwy 92 to Crawford. From here via a small gravel road to the North Entrance of the National Park. This total route is very recomendable.

After a very quite night in Paonia we took Hwy 133 to the nearby National Park. This 85 km long canyon was carved by the formerly wild river Gunnison over 2 mio. of years.

700 m deep - nearly vertical - in pure rock and only 300 m wide. In contrary to the Grand Canyon which is much wider.

A poet has discribed this canyon: „some canyons are longer, deeper or wider but none combines the deepness, the steepness and the narrowness in one“ - very true.

We hiked to several over looks and wanted to stay two days but unfortunately the next day was very rainy - even snow and cold - so we said good bye.

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