Skip to content
Chad Davis Photography
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
  • Home
  • Minneapolis Uprising
  • Travel
    • Belize
    • Bruges, Belgium
    • Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
    • Las Vegas
    • London
    • Tampa, Florida
    • Tokyo
  • Series
    • Minneapolis Uprising
    • Minneapolis and COVID-19
    • NASA Michoud Assembly Facility
    • Outside the 2024 Republican National Convention
    • Tesla Takedown: Minneapolis
    • No Kings – Hands Off – 50501 Protests Minnesota
  • Contact
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Chad Davis Photography
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Chad Davis Photography
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
  • Home
  • Minneapolis Uprising
  • Travel
    • Belize
    • Bruges, Belgium
    • Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
    • Las Vegas
    • London
    • Tampa, Florida
    • Tokyo
  • Series
    • Minneapolis Uprising
    • Minneapolis and COVID-19
    • NASA Michoud Assembly Facility
    • Outside the 2024 Republican National Convention
    • Tesla Takedown: Minneapolis
    • No Kings – Hands Off – 50501 Protests Minnesota
  • Contact
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Chad Davis Photography
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Photo Archive
Along Highway 87 in the central Black Hills National Forest, this view captures the rugged landscape typical of the region’s granite highlands. Massive weathered outcrops rise sharply from the forest floor, remnants of the ancient Harney Peak granite formation that underlies much of this terrain. Scattered ponderosa pines cling to crevices in the rock, while fallen trunks and new saplings trace the slow recovery of the forest from past fires. The setting lies near the scenic Needles Highway corridor—an area known for its narrow tunnels, steep grades, and ever-changing mountain light that defines the wilderness character of western South Dakota.

Granite Outcrops Along Highway 87, Black Hills National Forest

Along Highway 87 in the central Black Hills National Forest, this view captures the rugged landscape typical of the region’s…

Custer State Park, South Dakota
An abandoned mine in South Dakota near the Black Hills.

South Dakota mine

An abandoned mine in South Dakota near the Black Hills.

Abandoned, Mine, Mine shaft, South Dakota
Carved into a rugged slope of weathered schist and limestone, this small mine entrance sits near the historic mining corridors west of Custer, South Dakota — a remnant of the Black Hills’ 19th-century gold rush. The opening, likely hand-dug or expanded with early blasting techniques, leads into mineral-rich rock layers once prospected for gold, silver, and iron sulfides that fueled the regional boom of the 1870s. Surrounding the portal are piles of tailings and fractured quartz veins that reveal the area’s geologic complexity — part of an ancient mountain uplift more than 1.8 billion years old. Today, the forest has begun to reclaim the site, with pines and brush growing over the spoil heaps, blending traces of human industry back into the Black Hills landscape.

Abandoned Mine Entrance, Black Hills National Forest

Carved into a rugged slope of weathered schist and limestone, this small mine entrance sits near the historic mining corridors…

Abandoned, Mine, Mine shaft, South Dakota
Evening light breaks through heavy clouds to illuminate the Needles, a cluster of towering granite spires rising above dense pine forest in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The sharp pinnacles, part of Custer State Park’s Cathedral Spires formation, are composed of eroded granite that dates back more than a billion years, sculpted by time and weather into their distinctive vertical forms. This region, accessible by the winding Needles Highway, is both a geological marvel and a spiritual landscape—its rugged skyline long revered by the Lakota Sioux and later celebrated by photographers, climbers, and travelers drawn to the surreal beauty of South Dakota’s mountain heartland.

The Needles at Sunset, Black Hills, South Dakota

Evening light breaks through heavy clouds to illuminate the Needles, a cluster of towering granite spires rising above dense pine…

Black Elk Peak, Black Hills, Clouds, South Dakota, The Needles
A hiker descends the rugged granite path from Black Elk Peak, the highest summit in South Dakota, as the evening light softens over the Cathedral Spires. The trail—part of the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve within Custer State Park—winds through a landscape shaped by ancient uplift and erosion, where ponderosa pines cling to stone outcrops and fire-scarred trunks bear witness to the region’s cycles of renewal. From this vantage point, the Black Hills stretch endlessly toward the horizon, a place sacred to the Lakota people and enduringly wild in its beauty.

Descent from Black Elk Peak at Dusk

A hiker descends the rugged granite path from Black Elk Peak, the highest summit in South Dakota, as the evening…

Black Elk Peak, Hike, Hiking, Mountain, South Dakota
At the summit of Black Elk Peak, low clouds roll through the granite spires and dense pine forest below, wrapping the mountain in a shifting veil of fog. The historic stone fire tower, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, stands as a testament to early forest conservation in the Black Hills. From this vantage point—the highest in South Dakota—views often stretch into Wyoming and Nebraska, but on misty mornings like this one, the world feels confined to the mountaintop itself, suspended between rock and cloud.

Summit Fog on Black Elk Peak

At the summit of Black Elk Peak, low clouds roll through the granite spires and dense pine forest below, wrapping…

Black Elk Peak, Black Hills, Fog, South Dakota
Low clouds sweep across the granite pinnacles of the Cathedral Spires in the Black Hills of South Dakota, wrapping the rugged landscape in drifting fog just after dawn. These towering formations—some rising more than 5,000 feet above sea level—are part of the Needles range within Custer State Park, a region shaped by millions of years of erosion and uplift. The rock spires, composed primarily of Harney Peak granite, are a hallmark of the park’s dramatic geology and a favorite destination for climbers and photographers. On mornings like this, the fog often settles in the valleys below, creating a fleeting illusion of islands floating above the forest, while the peaks catch the first light breaking through the storm-heavy sky.

Cathedral Spires in Morning Fog, Black Hills

Low clouds sweep across the granite pinnacles of the Cathedral Spires in the Black Hills of South Dakota, wrapping the…

Black Elk Peak, Black Hills, Cathedral Spires, Clouds, Fog, Mountain, South Dakota
Horseback riders navigate a mist-covered trail near the summit of Black Elk Peak in South Dakota’s Black Hills. The fog clings to the ponderosa pines, softening the rugged landscape that rises above Custer State Park. This peak—renamed in 2016 to honor Lakota spiritual leader Black Elk—has long served as both a place of pilgrimage and a vantage point over the vast granite formations and pine forests of the region.

Horses on Black Elk Peak in South Dakota

Horseback riders navigate a mist-covered trail near the summit of Black Elk Peak in South Dakota’s Black Hills. The fog…

Black Elk Peak, Fog, Hiking, Horse, Horseback, Mountain, Rain, South Dakota, Trail
A narrow trail winds through the fog-drenched forest of Black Elk Peak, South Dakota, as light rain dampens the granite path and pine needles. The area—part of the rugged Black Hills—sits at over 7,200 feet, the highest elevation east of the Rockies. The mist settles among ponderosa pines and spruce, creating a hushed, atmospheric climb through terrain sacred to the Lakota people and known for its sweeping, often cloud-hidden views.

Misty Trail on Black Elk Peak

A narrow trail winds through the fog-drenched forest of Black Elk Peak, South Dakota, as light rain dampens the granite…

Black Elk Peak, Fog, Hike, Hiking, Rain, South Dakota
A dense fog envelops the granite summit area of Black Elk Peak, the highest natural point in South Dakota at 7,242 feet. The rocky terrain and scattered pines of the Black Hills fade into the mist, creating an ethereal atmosphere above Custer State Park. Once known as Harney Peak, the mountain holds deep spiritual significance for the Lakota Sioux and remains a striking natural landmark where weather and history intertwine in quiet solitude.

Fog atop Black Elk Peak

A dense fog envelops the granite summit area of Black Elk Peak, the highest natural point in South Dakota at…

Black Elk Peak, Fog, Hike, Hiking, South Dakota
A fog-covered hiking trail winds through the dense pines and granite slopes of Black Elk Peak in South Dakota’s Black Hills. The path, slick with rain and scattered with stones, climbs steadily toward the summit through ponderosa pine, birch, and spruce. This mountain—sacred to the Lakota and once called Harney Peak—rises to 7,244 feet, making it the highest natural point between the Rockies and the Pyrenees. In the early morning fog, the quiet forest and damp earth lend the trail a timeless stillness, recalling centuries of spiritual and geological history beneath the mist.

Mist and Pines on the Black Elk Peak Trail

A fog-covered hiking trail winds through the dense pines and granite slopes of Black Elk Peak in South Dakota’s Black…

Black Elk Peak, Hike, Hiking, South Dakota
A mist-laden trail winds through the ponderosa pine forest near the summit of Black Elk Peak in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The fog softens the rugged terrain, reducing the visibility of distant ridges and creating a quiet, atmospheric stillness in the morning air. This area, once known as Harney Peak, stands as the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains and is a sacred place to the Lakota Sioux, where natural beauty and cultural heritage converge in the clouds.

Fog on the Black Elk Peak Trail

A mist-laden trail winds through the ponderosa pine forest near the summit of Black Elk Peak in the Black Hills…

Black Elk Peak, Clouds, Fog, Hiking, South Dakota
A dense morning fog envelops the Ponderosa pines of the Black Hills in South Dakota, softening the outlines of the forest and muting the green tones of early summer. The moisture-laden air clings to the tall trunks, creating an atmosphere of quiet stillness and mystery. This type of fog commonly forms in the higher elevations near Custer State Park and the Needles Highway, where rapid temperature shifts cause mist to settle among the rugged hillsides and conifer stands, briefly transforming the landscape into an ethereal woodland veil.

Black Elk Peak Fog in South Dakota

A dense morning fog envelops the Ponderosa pines of the Black Hills in South Dakota, softening the outlines of the…

Black Elk Peak, Black Hills, Fog, South Dakota
A newly paved stretch of Highway 44 cuts through the rugged formations near Scenic, South Dakota, beneath a vivid summer sky. This east–west route skirts the southern boundary of Badlands National Park, where blacktop meets eroded buttes carved by millennia of wind and water. The low-angle view emphasizes the contrast between the engineered precision of the highway and the raw geologic textures of the surrounding landscape—an enduring symbol of travel through one of the Great Plains’ most striking natural corridors.

Highway 44 Through the Badlands

A newly paved stretch of Highway 44 cuts through the rugged formations near Scenic, South Dakota, beneath a vivid summer…

Badlands National Park, Highway 44, National Park, Road, Scenic, South Dakota
Amazing storm clouds rolling into Interior, South Dakota at our camp site near the Badlands National Park. It seems every year we get at least one really great thunderstorm when camping.

Badlands from Interior, SD

Amazing storm clouds rolling into Interior, South Dakota at our camp site near the Badlands National Park. It seems every…

Clouds, Ghost Town, Scenic, South Dakota, Storm Clouds, Tatanka Trading Post, Trading Post
A lone wooden shed stands among fields of wild grasses and yellow blooms as storm clouds gather near Interior, South Dakota, on the outskirts of Badlands National Park. The layered sky hints at an incoming summer storm sweeping across the plains, with the rugged formations of the Badlands visible on the horizon. The muted colors and boarded windows evoke both isolation and endurance, capturing the tension between human settlement and the vast, unpredictable prairie environment.

Prairie Storm Over the Badlands

A lone wooden shed stands among fields of wild grasses and yellow blooms as storm clouds gather near Interior, South…

Badlands National Park, Clouds, Fence, Ghost Town, Interior, Landscape, National Park, South Dakota, Storm, United States of America
An approaching storm looms over the rolling grasslands near Interior, South Dakota, at the edge of Badlands National Park. The layered clouds form dramatic bands above the wetland and open prairie, where a small structure and fence line mark the human presence in this otherwise vast and untamed landscape. From this vantage point near the White River, the eroded formations of the Badlands rise faintly in the distance, emphasizing the contrast between the lush foreground and the arid, sculpted terrain beyond.

Storm Front Over Interior, South Dakota

An approaching storm looms over the rolling grasslands near Interior, South Dakota, at the edge of Badlands National Park. The…

Badlands National Park, Clouds, Fence, Interior, Landscape, National Park, South Dakota, Storm, United States of America
A dirt road cuts through the rolling prairie of Indian Creek Drive in the western reaches of Badlands National Park, near the small town of Scenic, South Dakota. Storm clouds build over the mixed-grass plains, casting dramatic light on the green hills and wildflower fields typical of the park’s early summer landscape. This remote section of the Badlands, less traveled than the main loop road, reveals the quieter beauty of the park—where erosion-carved ridges and open grasslands merge under a vast and changeable sky.

Indian Creek Drive, Badlands National Park

A dirt road cuts through the rolling prairie of Indian Creek Drive in the western reaches of Badlands National Park,…

Badlands National Park, Clouds, National Park, Sheep Mountain, South Dakota, Storm Clouds
Sheep Mountain in South Dakota near the Badlands National Park.

Sheep Mountain sign in South Dakota

Sheep Mountain in South Dakota near the Badlands National Park.

Badlands National Park, National Park, Sheep Mountain, South Dakota
A weathered wooden sign marks the rugged entrance to Sheep Mountain in the southern reaches of Badlands National Park, South Dakota. This remote area, surrounded by the sweeping prairies of Buffalo Gap National Grassland, offers one of the park’s most dramatic and less-visited overlooks. The region sits within Oglala Lakota lands, where erosion has sculpted colorful buttes and steep ridges over millions of years. Accessible by an unpaved road, Sheep Mountain remains a quiet, untamed corner of the Badlands, revealing the deep geologic and cultural layers of the Northern Plains.

Sheep Mountain, Badlands National Park

A weathered wooden sign marks the rugged entrance to Sheep Mountain in the southern reaches of Badlands National Park, South…

Badlands National Park, National Park, South Dakota
The Tatanka Trading Post in Scenic, South Dakota, stands as a weathered relic of roadside commerce along the gateway to Badlands National Park. Once a small but lively hub for travelers and locals, the post’s peeling white paint and simple gabled design speak to decades of wind, sun, and changing times on the Great Plains. The name Tatanka—Lakota for “bison”—reflects the deep cultural ties of the region’s Indigenous heritage and the area’s rugged frontier identity. Today, the building endures as a quiet landmark of rural South Dakota’s layered history.

Tatanka Trading Post, Scenic, South Dakota

The Tatanka Trading Post in Scenic, South Dakota, stands as a weathered relic of roadside commerce along the gateway to…

Ghost Town, Scenic, South Dakota, Tatanka Trading Post, Trading Post
An old steel truss bridge spans Split Rock Creek near the town of Garretson, South Dakota, carrying a narrow, weathered wooden deck over the rocky gorge below. Built in the early 20th century, this Pratt through truss design reflects an era when such riveted steel frameworks connected small Midwestern towns before the advent of modern concrete spans. Its utilitarian geometry and riveted latticework remain intact, framed by the lush, tree-lined valley of Split Rock Creek—a setting that once hosted flour mills, quarries, and river crossings essential to the region’s early development. The bridge now stands as a quiet relic of rural American engineering, linking history and landscape on the edge of the prairie.

Historic Garretson Truss Bridge, South Dakota

An old steel truss bridge spans Split Rock Creek near the town of Garretson, South Dakota, carrying a narrow, weathered…

Bridge, Google, Google Maps, Palisades State Park, South Dakota, Split Rock Creek, State Park
← Previous 1 2
  • Current Events  (6)
    • 2024 Republican National Convention  (1)
    • Annunciation Catholic Church Shooting  (1)
    • Minneapolis and COVID-19  (1)
    • No Kings, Hands Off, Good Trouble Protests  (1)
    • Tesla Takedown  (1)
  • Series  (1)
    • NASA Rocket Factory  (1)
  • Travel  (382)
    • Asia  (55)
      • Japan  (55)
        • Tokyo  (55)
    • Central America  (205)
      • Belize  (85)
      • Costa Rica  (51)
      • Guatemala  (69)
    • Europe  (18)
      • France  (18)
        • Paris  (18)
    • North America  (104)
      • United States  (104)
        • Massachusetts  (12)
          • Boston  (12)
        • Minnesota  (15)
          • Minneapolis  (15)
        • Nevada  (66)
          • Las Vegas  (66)
        • South Dakota  (10)
        • Wisconsin  (1)
          • Milwaukee  (1)

2024 Republican National Convention 2024 RNC 50501 Abandoned Ambergris Caye Art Bar Barricade Belize Biking Black Lives Matter Boards Bridge Brooklyn Center Brooklyn Center Police Burned Building Central America Chicago Ave Cityscape Construction Courthouse Daunte Wright Deona Marie Knajdek Derek Chauvin Derek Chauvin Trial Donald Trump Downtown Minneapolis E 38th St Election Elon Musk Fire Flyer George Floyd George Floyd Square Golden Valley Graffiti Graffiti Artist Green Bay Guatemala Hennepin Ave Hennepin County Government Center Hotel Japan Lake Street Las Vegas London March Memorial Metro Transit Midtown Greenway Milwaukee Minneapolis Minneapolis-Cityscape Minneapolis Police Minneapolis Police 3rd Precinct Minneapolis Police Officer Minneapolis Skyline MinneapolisUprising Minnesota Minnesota State Capitol Mural National Guard Neon Sign Nevada New York New York City NFL Stadium Nicolelt mall No Kings People Police Police Officer Police Station Politics Protest Protester Protest Sign Rally Republican National Convention Retail Store Riot Security Sign Snow South Minneapolis Squad Car Stadium State Subway Sunset Tesla Tesla Takedown Train Train Station Trial Trump Uptown Minneapolis USA Winston Smith Wisconsin

  • Home
  • Minneapolis Uprising
  • Travel
    • Belize
    • Bruges, Belgium
    • Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
    • Las Vegas
    • London
    • Tampa, Florida
    • Tokyo
  • Series
    • Minneapolis Uprising
    • Minneapolis and COVID-19
    • NASA Michoud Assembly Facility
    • Outside the 2024 Republican National Convention
    • Tesla Takedown: Minneapolis
    • No Kings – Hands Off – 50501 Protests Minnesota
  • Contact

© 1996-2025 Chad Davis
chad@chaddavis.photography

Built in Minneapolis.