Sheep Mountain Table Road, Badlands National Park

A place of power and serenity

A visit to Sheep Mountain Table rewarded us with one of the Badlands most outstanding vistas. So grand it’s almost hard to find words. This 4 mile long plateau covered in prairie grasses is surrounded by steep drop offs and is accessible by a 7 mile long minimally maintained road - parts of which only a 4-wheel drive, high clearance vehicle can traverse. Due to its remoteness, and heavily rutted roads, this area is not populated with visitors - we passed only one other vehicle on our way up to the overlook, where, once there we were filled with an incredible sense of peace. Because this place is sacred to the Sioux and Lakota people, there are many prayer offerings and ceremonial artifacts - one of note but not pictured out of respect was a beautiful and craggy cedar tree, adorned with prayer flags that gently fluttered in the wind, along with the word “Now” carved into its bark. Mako Sica - we are so grateful to have experienced your amazing beauty, under skies so wide it almost breaks your heart. Making photos here with Douglas Beasley and friends will remain a sacred memory, with hope to return again in future when the time comes.