A Badlands Pivot

 The best-laid schemes o' Bison an' Rock Wren / Gang aft agley (with apologies to Bobby Burns).

The view at civil twilight: decidedly wet and rainy.

Our grand plan was an early start to capture a glorious sunrise over the Big Badlands Overlook. Nature, however, had a different agenda. We woke to a downpour, and a quick look at the weather radar showed two massive fronts settling in for the morning. So much for that golden hour light.

First glimpses of the formations from the road.

After a strategic nap, we decided to head into the park anyway, rain or no. And it was the right call. The wet weather brought out a different kind of beauty in the landscape, deepening the colors and creating a moody, dramatic atmosphere that was stunning in its own right. The Badlands are always beautiful, even when wet.

Our planned sunrise spot, completely shrouded in clouds.

The peaks and prairie grasses
were heavy with the morning's rain.

A muddy walk along the normally accessible Door Trail.

The rain gave the landscape an otherworldly appearance.

Evidence of erosion, accelerated by the heavy rain.

A lone hoodoo, carved by endless wind and water.

The jagged peaks looked especially dramatic in the gloom.

This little Rock Wren didn't seem to mind.

A vast landscape under a heavy blanket of clouds.

A bison calmly ruminating in the damp field.

The distant spires fading into the mist.

Wherever you are today, I hope you find the beauty in the unexpected detours.

Don Bergquist – 05 October 2025 – Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA