Shadow Dancer Photography
Paha Sapa
The Black Hills of SD
Paha Sapa are the Lakota words for “hills that are black,” as the pines and peaks rising above the prairie appear black from a distance.
Scroll down to view photos of the following albums.
Wind CaveNational Park
Custer State Park
The Needles Highway
Bear Country
Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave is known to the Lakota as Oniya Oshoka. There was a time when there were no bison or people living on the earth. Oniya Oshoka is the place where the people lived underground in the Spirit Lodge, while they waited for the earth to be prepared for them.
Wind River, landscaped with forested hillsides, rolling prairie grasslands, and an abundance of bison, elk, and pronghorn, was established in 1912, and is one of the oldest National Parks.
Album added on June 19, 2022
The Needles Highway
The Needles Highway, located in Custer State Park, is a 14-mile spectacular drive on a switch-back road with slender granite rock formations, and several narrow tunnels. You can expect the drive to take between 45-60 minutes. Be aware that there are several hair-raising turns with oncoming traffic, but the view is well worth the experience. I apologize that many of my photos were taken through the bug spattered window.
Album added on June 19, 2022
Bear Country
Bear Country, consisting of 200 acres of towering pines and rolling meadows, is a unique wildlife drive-thru park. It is privately owned and has been in operation for 50 years. Here you can observe black bears, mountain lions, buffalo, wolves, and a variety of other wildlife from the safety of your vehicle. This is the third time I have visited this park, and have always found it to be clean, well managed, and the animals to be in great condition.