South Dakota hiking — Black Hills and Badlands are a better trip than people expect

Hiked around South Dakota and it surprised me. The Black Hills give you real forest, granite and creeks, and the Badlands are a completely different planet an hour away — eroded spires, almost no shade, and hiking that is mostly off established trail. Notes: - Badlands heat is serious and there is no water. Carry all of it. - The clay gets slick and sticky when wet and clings to boots in heavy clumps. - Wildlife is excellent: bison, bighorn, pronghorn. Give the bison a very wide berth. - Black Hills trails are gentler and better for a mixed-ability group. Great combination trip if you want two very different landscapes in one week.