Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

After the drive from Badlands NP, we set up camp, which for us takes about 30 minutes max...we are pretty minimalist. The sky was crystal clear and the temp was perfect. We had hours of daylight left so we decided to go hike the Cathedral Spires trail. This trail gains 500 feet of elevation in about 1 mile, but most of that comes in 2 short sections.

I don't have enough adjectives to accurately portray the beauty of this trail. It feels like a heavenly cathedral of stone towers. The trail itself feels carpeted with diamonds from the amount of sparkling silica that is literally everywhere.

My favorite trails are the ones you have to work for...rugged and on the edge of my abilities....maybe it makes me feel young still to be able to conquer a bit of a challenge.

My all time favorite trails are:
#1 Panorama Trail Yosemite NP....11 miles but almost all downhill. The boys never allowed me to pick a trail unsupervised again. I had to carry Sam the last mile...he was 10.
#2 Narrows of the Virgin River Zion NP. I think it was about 7 miles and I broke my wrist 6 miles in....but it was incredible.
#3 is Cathedral Spires /Black Elk Peak, Custer State Park. We are hiking Black Elk Peak tomorrow morning and I can't wait. Just over 7 miles, a lot of similar scenery to Cathedral and a huge payoff at the Peak.

I have yet to hike Angel's Landing in Zion. It's a bucket list must-try for me. The boys were too young to attemp it at the time but they did it last year and loved it. I'm not sure I can do it now, but Pat and I will attempt it next summer. I'm sure it will be right here in my all time favs whether we make the top or not.

A hike like today's with the gravel crunching under my feet absolutely is my happy place. Custer State Park is one of my all-time favorite places.

Pat took a hyperlapse video that let's you see a section of this trail. Enjoy the photos!Read more