Mountain Goats, the Nation's Center and the Badlands

The next morning at Spearfish, another sunny day, we went to Spearfish Falls (above, right), a stunning cascade reached by a short trail from the Lodge before we departed. Next to the highway, a couple of miles further, there were the Bridal Veil Falls, and, closeby, we watched a herd of Mountain goat (below).

 

In the little town of Spearfish we visited the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives (below), established in 1896, one of the oldest operating hatcheries in the country dedicated to fish culture and resource management. There are historic buildings on the vast grounds, a fish railroad car, a museum and fish ponds full with different varieties of trouts. Unfortunately, only the grounds were open, the rest was already closed for the season, but nevertheless, it gave a good idea of the business and leave colors were beautiful, too!

Short drive on to Belle Fourche/South Dakota to see the Geographic Center of the Nation Monument. The National Geodetic Survey designated Belle Fourche as the town closest to the Center of the Nation and a the 21-foot diameter granite monument was placed here, next to the Center of the Nation Visitor Center and the Tri-State Museum (below). The momument is surrounded by “The Avenue of Flags,” which includes all 50 state flags, as well as the national flags of the United States and Canada.

It's been a good three hours of lonesome, but beautiful drive through the prairie towards the Badlands into  North Dakota. After a busy week we eventually were looking foward to a bit of rest on our friends' ranch in Dickinson.