The Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Parks, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills: four gems in a rugged country filled with wildlife and stark beauty. These photographs were taken in May 2012 in a limited exploration of the parks, mostly by auto. Home to abundant wildlife, the parks have the largest expanse of protected prairie ecosystem and one of the world's richest mammalian fossil beds. The remarkable canyons, spires, buttes, and wind/water sculpted terrain make for fabulous landscapes as the light changes during the day. As photographers, we were entranced by the beauty of the land and only wished that we had more time to take advantage of the changing light and the many stunning vistas. And the wildlife was extensive: antelope, bison, rabbits, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, eagles, and vultures that were easily seen, as well as the multiple creatures (especially the rattlesnakes) that were less conspicuous but part of the allure of this magnificent country. It's a place well worth time, energy, and lots of gigabytes of photographs.