Toadstool Geologic Park, Oglala, Nebraska

     Since I had not been to Nebraskas except to pass through, and that decades ago, I did some online research before our trip. Toadstool Geologic Park is one of the places I came across. As we spent less time in South Dakota than anticipated, we decided to head there from the Badlands.

Toadstool is within the Oglala National Grassland in northwestern Nebraska, which is sometimes referred to as the Badlands of Nebraska.

Created by earthquakes and uplifting, the area was home to prehistoric miniature horses, humpless camels, gigantic tortoises pigs, and rhinoceros.

Huge chunk of rock that calved off.

Along the trail we saw fossilized tracks from 30 million years ago in two places! Above: Marilyn on the trail.

The "toadstools"--so named in the 1800s by passing visitors--consist of sandstone slabs resting on clay pillars. The shape results from the soft lower clay eroding faster than the hard sandstone cap.

I dubbed this formation "The Choir."

And this formation "All the Saints." It reminded me of the saints carved on the outsides of cathedrals. I find this equally as grand, if not more so.

ET?

I discouraged Doug from getting too close to the edge....

On the Toadstool grounds was a replica of a 1930 sod house. 

With few trees to use in building homes on the prairie, sod was cut into strips and used like bricks.

     The constant winds on the plain dissuaded us from camping at Toadstool, so we headed for Crawford, NE. We found the campground at the former Fort Robinson to be nice yet it was just opening, meaning no showers, laundry, or supplies. After an enjoyable time exploring the Fort, where the Buffalo Soldiers were stationed in the late 19th century, we headed to the Crawford City Campground, where trains passed nearby throughout the night.