A couple weeks ago, we wanted to explore an area my husband had heard about. It's called Toadstool Geologic Park, and is just about an hour south of us in northwestern Nebraska.
When we looked it up on the map, I realized that this area is the setting of a book in an upcoming western series I'm planning!
Can you say, "research trip?!?"
So we packed our picnic (with plenty of water in the cooler!) and headed out.
We took the wrong road, which allowed us to see some gorgeous buttes we would have missed, but we finally found our turn...and started our 15 mile journey on the dirt/gravel/mud road. We have rarely been more thankful for our four-wheel-drive on the truck!
When we finally got to our destination, the park didn't disappoint us. It was fascinating! This area is an extension of the South Dakota Badlands, but with unique geologic formations.
Do you see why it's called Toadstool Park?
The top layer of these formations is made of sandstone, while the lower layers are made of clay-stone. Clay-stone is not as hard as sandstone, and erodes faster. So the sandstone is left standing on top of a clay-stone pillar. Pretty cool, isn't it?
We followed the self-guided walking tour and every turn held new sights.
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| There are no guardrails - you need to be careful! If you look carefully, you can see the poles marking the trail in the distance. |
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| That roof is going to be beautiful when those cactus bloom! |
Outside of the park, ranching still flourishes.
We're at the edge of the Oglala National Grasslands, and I wish you could hear the silence. It's broken only by bird song, but what could be better than that?
To find out more about Toadstool Geologic Park, and perhaps plan your own visit, follow this link.
I hope you enjoyed today's tour! Have you ever been to a place like this park?
Jan Drexler lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband and growing family. When she isn't writing, she loves hiking in the Hills or satisfying her cross stitch addiction.
You can find Jan on Facebook, Jan Drexler, author, or her website, Jan Drexler.com.
Jan, thank you for the lovely tour to Toadstool Geologic Park. The pictures added so much. Oh, for the peace of the country like that. I enjoy hearing the birds early of a morning before the sunrise--so peaceful. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteThis was an awesome place to visit! I'm glad you enjoyed the "virtual tour!"
DeleteJan, I've never heard of Toadstool. How interesting. And yes, I can just imagine the silence in the grasslands. I love hearing those birdsongs.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of it before, either, but I'm ready to go back some time. It was fun to branch out into another state on our explorations!
DeleteThis is so cool!!! But those toadstools look like they could topple and scrunch some unsuspecting hiker! And are the rock gnomes to go with the rock toadstools? As gorgeous as that scenery is I think I like the sky the best. That blue! and the clouds! And that open skyline! This city dweller is in awe.
ReplyDeleteThe prairie skies are so beautiful...they can't be beat!
DeleteAnd those toadstools are pretty steady. People climb on top of them all the time. :-)
Jan, those formations are amazing!! Such cool scenery. I'm glad you got to make the trip and even combine it with research!
ReplyDeleteJust like in the Badlands, I look at this landscape and wonder how the early ranchers survived. But just beyond these formations are the grasslands - perfect for bison and cattle. I could imagine my cowboy characters chasing cattle up these canyons!
DeleteIsn't it amazing how things form based on composition and then weather? Or glacier movements, or long-silenced volcanoes? What a fascinating world we stroll! Beautiful, Jan. Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat always strikes me is that there are so many different kinds of beautiful. This landscape is SO different from the Tetons, or the ocean, or the rolling farmland of Iowa, but it's all wonderful.
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