Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
From Shut-Ins To Elephant Rocks
From the rushing waters of Johnson’s Shut-Ins to the summit of Taum Sauk Mountain and the massive granite boulders of Elephant Rocks, this trip through the St. Francois Mountains revealed Missouri’s deep geological history. I wrapped up the day photographing a quiet lake at sunset—a perfect ending to a full day of exploration.
Jewel Cave
My Black Hills day began with a Jewel Cave tour, where a ranger guided us deep into the underground world of crystals, geology, and history. From there I headed to Custer State Park, caught Kevin Costner’s Spirit of Tatanka film, and went for a bike ride past deer, pronghorn, buffalo, and a plaque about South Dakota’s first poet laureate, Charles “Badger” Clark.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit)
The North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park surprised me with its rugged beauty, quiet roads, and some unexpected geology lessons. Driving the 14-mile scenic road brought me to wide river overlooks, bison herds, and one of my favorite features of the park—the Cannonball Concretions. These perfectly round rock formations are still partly a mystery, but standing among them felt like walking through nature’s own sculpture garden. At moments, during the golden hour, the display of colors on the sides of the mountains was spectacularly breathtaking.