Mt. Rushmore with a little snow in clear, crisp, and incredibly frigid conditions
Temperatures around the United States have absolutely been scorching and the forecast here in Chicago calls for more of the same. Temperature and humidity levels look to be approaching 100 respectively. In honor of the 4th of July, this post features a trip to the iconic Mt. Rushmore, where I visited two founding fathers and two other great U.S. Presidents.
When I visited the rock sculpture in the Black Hills outside of Rapid City, South Dakota the temperature could not have been more drastically different. I drove all night from Chicago to South Dakota for a backpacking trip in the Badlands National Park.
The temperature rose to 9 degrees by the time I reached Mt. Rushmore, but the wind chill was making it feel like below zero
I have a thermometer on my mirror in my car, and I watched in horror as it dipped below zero. I absolutely froze at each gas stop as the wind was whipping up the cold temperatures and making life miserable.
I began to get a little worried. I do not mind cold temperatures and winter backpacking, but sub zero temperatures with chilling winds are no conditions to be outside in.
Although my plan was to backpack in the Badlands, I wanted to go to Rapid City and check out Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, and the Black Hills. I was just going to drive around for a day, hike a few trails, and get a hotel in Rapid City for the night. I would then start my backpacking adventure the next day and backtrack back east to the Badlands.
When I arrived at Mt. Rushmore on Thanksgiving Day there was not one car in the parking lot. I had George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Teddy Roosevelt all to myself. If anyone is looking for a travel tip on when it is a good time to visit Mt. Rushmore, then come when it is so cold your hands are freezing to your camera on a holiday.
Not another soul but me at Mt. Rushmore on Thanksgiving Day
I took a quick couple of pictures of the four amigos and hustled back to the car. I needed to get out of the freezing wind. Just down the road from Mt. Rushmore was a highway that cuts through the Black Hills to Custer State Park. I found some amazing views of Mt. Rushmore from this road. Instead of going back to Rapid City via Keystone, I turned right on Highway 16A. This highway had some amazing views of Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills.
Mt. Rushmore from the backroads
Let’s zoom Teddy, George, Abraham, and Thomas in a bit
Mt. Rushmore from a distance
Mt. Rushmore zoomed in
At one point there was a tunnel bridge where you can get the president’s faces lined up in the distance through the tunnel bridge. Unfortunately, the sun was too bright and the tunnel too dark, and I could not get the image of Mt. Rushmore to show as vividly as I was seeing it in real life.
Perhaps a better photographer than me could have better manipulated the light to capture this amazing scene
The rest of the day I spent in the warmth of my car and intermittently getting out to walk in the amazing Custer State Park and the Black Hills. The weather warmed up to a balmy 30 degrees. I enjoyed the beauty of the Black Hills so much that I decided to hike three days in the Black Hills and then visit the Badlands for day hikes on the way back instead.
With temperatures ready to melt us I wish I was back in the cool Black Hills
The temperatures stayed pretty cold, but with temperatures nearing the 100s I find myself missing the cool and even cold temperatures. Although I do not miss the sub zero temperatures with the frigid winds that first greeted me in South Dakota. I am not that crazy.
Stay tuned,
TT
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It has always been on my bucket list to get Teddy some spectacles, without them many people don’t recognize him. Mt. Rushmore has always fascinated me for some reason. I have often dreamed of roaming the badlands surviving on nothing more than my Boy Scout/Indian skills.
Robb714 recently posted..Handling the Holidays
At first when you mentioned Teddy, I thought you were talking about me?
I was going to do the same thing on this trip in the Badlands, but I really fell for the Black Hills. On my way back home I stopped in the Badlands and drove around and did some hiking. Beautiful spot, and I will definitely return.
So far the only way I could accompany you would be if I started a campaign to get Teddy his spectacles! I know he would like that but do you think it would take away from majesty of this beautiful masterpiece? I can not be the only one that thinks he needs his iconic specs! Next to George, Thomas and Abe, he was my favorite! Ironically, he was an adventurer like your self and started the national park reserve system.
Robb714 recently posted..Handling the Holidays
I have always loved Teddy myself as well. I was called Teddy as a kid and I did a report on him as a grade schooler. Always appreciated his adventurous side and his conservation work. He definitely needs his specs.
I like catching destinations off-season when the crowds are thin. However, I’m not sure I’m in favor of becoming a human Popsicle!That area is on my list to visit someday, thanks for sharing!
Erika recently posted..What’s in my pack: A pair of Holeys clogs
I am just glad it moderated after a freezing morning. The rest of the trip was in the 30s. Perfect for backpacking!
What a wonderful holiday post! Great pictures and I love how you captured angles I’ve never seen before. Mt. Rushmore, Badlands and Black Hills has been on our road trip list for awhile now. While we love visiting National Parks in the off-season, I’m not sure about the single digit temps though. Looked like you had fun.
Mary @ The World Is A Book recently posted..Belize with kids: Cave tubing to hell and back
The angles I captured were purely by accident. I was driving back to Rapid City, and I saw the turn off. I decided, I am going here and was delighted to find all the amazing view points of Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills.
Isn’t Rapid City incredible? We were fortunate enough to get a helicopter ride over Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. We only had a few days in town, but there was so much to do and see. We absolutely loved Rapid City.
Tawny- Captain and Clark recently posted..Getting a taste of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
That whole area is really awesome. Helicopter cruise sounds great. I missed Crazy Horse. Will have to do that next time.
I’ve never been to Mt Rushmore or South Dakota, I’m ashamed to say. I think it is such an amazing place, but I’ve just never found myself there. I think the closest I’ve been was Wyoming or Montana. Once again, Ted, you’ve taken me to another place I need to visit. And you gave me the chills, both literally and figuratively, to boot.
Leah Travels recently posted..A Brush with Fame: BBC & My Cruise Contempt
I would not be ashamed. I did not make it to the iconic sculpture until I was 40. There is a lot to see out there.
I have never been there and had never seen pictures from the perspectives you present so didn’t have a sense of how it is. Very cool.
Raul (ilivetotravel in Twitter) recently posted..A Fourth of July Celebration at the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta
Raul,
I just randomly came across the road that took me through the Black Hills. It was totally by accident. I had never seen photos from these vantage points either, so I was surprised.
Fascinating tour of Mount Rushmore my friend and extraordinary photographs! Wow, only 9 degrees though…boy that’s cold especially to this Floridian! What an extraordinary entry to the monument with the roadway flanked by the flags with the founding fathers / Pres peering out into the South Dakota horizon. Bet it was nice having the entire park to yourself despite the frigid temps.
Jeff Titelius recently posted..EuroTravelogue To Embark With Viking River Cruises in Amsterdam
It was quite an experience Jeff. I could not believe it was open. None of the stores or shops were open, but the grounds itself was not closed.
Looking back on my cross country adventure now, it is quite possible my time in South Dakota between the Badlands and Custer State Park was one of the best stops… This is a great part of the country. Thanks for letting more people be aware of it.
Also, I was there in June and it was still cold, not sub-zero, but I still froze in my tent.
Craig Zabransky recently posted..Sunset Sunday – L’Ametlla de Mar, Catalonia Spain
Hey Craig,
I have been to many cool places in the U.S. like Grand Canyon, Zion, Smoky Mountains, but the Black Hills and the Badlands rates right up there as far as beauty and outdoor recreation. Glad you enjoyed the area as well.
totally on our list–we’re embarrassed to say that we haven’t seen enough of the states.
the lazy travelers recently posted..annnnd we’re back!
You can’t see everything. I recommend you do it sometime though. You may want to wait until it is warmer though.
i love that you posted this in honor of the 4th of July, Ted. i have never been to Mt. Rushmore. i hear mixed reviews but i still think it would be great to see it with my own eyes. i think it’s incredible that you had the whole place to yourself. that would be *priceless*
lola recently posted..Palm Springs & the desert cities: retro chic + modern cool
Mt. Rushmore itself is pretty cool, but the best part of the area is the beauty of the Black Hills.
After the weather we’ve had here, Ted, I’ll gladly take the subzero temps of a South Dakota winter! I’ve been to and through South Dakota a handful of times but I’d love to go back and explore some more. You are right: the Black Hills are incredibly beautiful.
Francesca recently posted..Impromptu Iowa and Amana Colonies
The weather we had last week was atrocious. I would take anything over going through that again anytime soon.
Wow, it’s eerie seeing Rushmore with no one around. The two times I’ve been, it was absolutely slammed with people. Seems like such a drastically different environment.
John recently posted..11 Colorful Puertas of Granada, Nicaragua
Although a little warmer would have been nice, I will take the cold and the solitude anyday. It was nice having Teddy, George, Abe, and Thomas to myself.
Well, you certainly escaped the Chicago tropics! 😀 Nice pictures, Ted.
Pola recently posted..Melodies and Travel Memories
I don’t think tropics is the word to describe the weather the last week or so. More like Chicago hell. Thankfully, it has been beautiful the last couple of days!
Will you take me there… please? I am actually serious!
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted..Tipping around the world…
Come on down Mrs. O!
Wow, how lucky you were to have it all to yourself! However, I hate the cold, so I won’t be there all alone, that’s for sure. I think it’s amazing that you backpack during the winter!
The World Wanderer recently posted..From Carry-On to Backpack.
Winter backpacking is actually the perfect time to hike. It is just the camping part that is really cold.
I went to Mt Rushmore in 2004 and absolutely loved it. It is such an amazing piece of work.
Mt. Rushmore is pretty cool, but in my opinion, the surrounding scenery is even more outstanding.
One day, when our civilisation is gone, some other life forms might look up at Mt Rushmore and study our remains and wonder as we do today when we look at the Galapagos Islands – were those their gods?
I love your blog for serving up all this National Park stuff. Thanks for that!
Rob at World Traveller recently posted..Dance with the Sun in the Snow
Just came back from South Dakota. Visited Mt. Rushmore, Custer, Windcave and Badlands. It was an awesome experience. I feel like an American!
Glad to hear it. South Dakota is great. I would like to go back. I did not get to see Windcave and Crazy Horse Monument. A lot to see right there.