{"id":1359,"date":"2015-07-18T08:50:24","date_gmt":"2015-07-18T14:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1359"},"modified":"2025-03-31T14:22:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T20:22:55","slug":"black-hills-sd-expedition-no-136-cascade-falls-7-12-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1359","title":{"rendered":"Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 136 – Cascade Falls (7-12-15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cascade Falls isn’t really\u00a0much of a waterfall.\u00a0 Instead, it is\u00a0a short series of pools and rapids on Cascade Creek.\u00a0 The small upstream pools\u00a0are very clear and clean with swiftly flowing waters.\u00a0 They are\u00a0no more than 3 or 4 feet deep.\u00a0\u00a0Just downstream of the small pools, Cascade Creek\u00a0pours over a large fan-shaped mineral deposit\u00a05 or 6\u00a0feet high into a big deep (over your head!)\u00a0blue-green swimming hole.\u00a0 There are more large pools farther downstream, but unlike the clear upstream pools, they tend to be mucky.\u00a0 Very few tourists\u00a0ever visit this remote location, but Cascade Falls\u00a0is often\u00a0busy with locals\u00a0cooling off on hot summer days.<\/em><\/p>\n

On 7-9-15, Xochitl flew in from Chicago.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP picked her up at the Rapid City regional airport.\u00a0 She was in town for just a few days to visit friends and family.\u00a0 Her plans included spending\u00a0July 11th\u00a0at her class reunion at the\u00a0South <\/span>Dakota School of Mines &<\/span> Technology<\/span><\/strong><\/a> and celebrating her birthday\u00a0on July 12th\u00a0with family and friends at Cascade Falls.<\/p>\n

On 7-10-15, Xochitl\u00a0and SPHP went for a hike from Sylvan Lake up to Little Devil’s Tower<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(6,960 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 This should have been Black Hills, SD\u00a0Expedition\u00a0No. 136 for Lupe, but sadly Lupe didn’t get to go.\u00a0 She had to stay home due to injuries sustained on Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 135<\/a><\/strong><\/span> on 6-27-15.\u00a0 FrankenPuppy was a very dejected Dingo when SPHP told her she couldn’t come with.\u00a0 She had gotten all worked up when SPHP had started packing up the backpack.\u00a0 It really didn’t feel right at all to leave Lupe to mope on the floor, but it had to be done.<\/p>\n

\"Cone-On<\/a>
Cone-On the Luparian didn’t get to go to Little Devil’s Tower on 7-10-15. She had to stay home to continue healing up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Xochitl<\/a>
Mysterious Ms. X\u00a0at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park<\/a><\/span><\/strong> on 7-10-15.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"P1060462\"<\/a>\"P1060463\"<\/a>\"P1060464\"<\/a>The trek to Little Devil’s Tower proved to be a bit more than Xochitl had been expecting (like twice as much) and the round trip on the trail\u00a0took more like 4+ hours than the 2 hours she had allotted, but she made it.\u00a0 (SPHP’s fault for always being overly ambitious.)\u00a0 Xochitl went to her class reunion on the 11th.<\/p>\n

\"Thistle<\/a>
Thistle along the trail to Little Devil’s Tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Xochitl<\/a>
Xochitl near Cathedral Spires<\/span><\/a> (6,840 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0on the way to Little Devil’s Tower.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Xochitl<\/a>
Xochitl on Little Devil’s Tower. Cathedral Spires in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Marmot<\/a>
Marmot along the trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 12th was Xochitl’s birthday and the last full day she was going to be in the Black Hills.\u00a0 Since Lupe was soon going to get her staples and stitches out anyway\u00a0on the 14th (which was days\u00a0later than required by the veterinarians), SPHP decided Lupe may as well come with.\u00a0 There wasn’t going to be any long trek where\u00a0Lupe might re-injure herself, just some wading and swimming.\u00a0 Lupe was ecstatic to be going anywhere!\u00a0 Once in the G6, SPHP allowed Guille to take Lupe’s head cone off too, and it stayed off for the rest of the outing.\u00a0 Loopster couldn’t believe her good luck – she was finally\u00a0free of that torture device!<\/p>\n

SPHP was somewhat reluctant to classify Lupe’s trip to Cascade Falls as\u00a0one of her\u00a0official\u00a0Black Hills, SD Expeditions.\u00a0 All her other expeditions have involved hikes through the mountains.\u00a0 However, it wasn’t Lupe’s fault she got injured on Expedition No. 135.\u00a0 SPHP decided to relent and consider this mere outing an official expedition.\u00a0 Time to cut the wounded Carolina Dog a little slack!\u00a0 So worthy of the title or not, Cascade Falls officially became Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 136 for Lupe.<\/p>\n

Lupe arrived at Cascade Falls around 11:30 AM.\u00a0 It was a hot, sunny day in the low 90’s – way too hot for a typical hiking expedition, but perfect for a day at Cascade.\u00a0 Xochitl, Guille, Erik, Ana, Steve & SPHP were all there with Lupe, plus a ton of strangers enjoying the falls too.\u00a0 There was a picnic with elk burgers, cherries,\u00a0chips, lemonade, etc.\u00a0 Lupe just stuck to her Taste of the Wild – even turning down perfectly good elk burgers for it!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe in Cascade Creek. She liked walking (or running) along the shallow lip of the pool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the picnic, Erik & Ana weren’t into swimming or even wading and left long before the rest of the gang did.\u00a0 Lupe, SPHP and the rest of the gang made lots of treks\u00a0back and forth\u00a0from the picnic table down to the creek\u00a0during the afternoon.\u00a0 Lupe had been to Cascade Falls<\/a><\/strong><\/span> before, but never to spend the day in the creek.\u00a0 She was having a good time, but sometimes seemed to be wondering what she was supposed to do or what was going to happen next.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe and Guille at Cascade.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Xochitl,<\/a>
Xochitl, Guille & Steve with Lupe at Cascade.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Xochitl<\/a>
Xochitl & Lupe at Cascade on Xochi’s birthday.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>\"Lupe<\/a>Many strangers were very kind to Lupe.\u00a0 Some asked about her wound.\u00a0 Others wanted to pet her.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0enjoyed wading in the creek.\u00a0 She really didn’t want to swim though.\u00a0 She doesn’t like water over her head.\u00a0 Those dingo paws want to be on terra firma.\u00a0 She seemed\u00a0genuinely concerned about Xochitl, Steve & SPHP whenever they swam in the big\u00a0deep blue-green pool.\u00a0 That dingo wasn’t about to leap in to rescue any of them, though, unless they showed more signs of distress.\u00a0 American Dingoes aren’t fools, you know!<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe claims an island above the big pool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe near her island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Cascade Falls is just out of the Black Hills. Here Lupe is near the edge of the picnic ground. Cascade Creek is down in the trees. This photo looks WNW towards the surrounding countryside. It’s very unusual for it to be so green approaching mid-July!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Lupe, it was\u00a0a most puzzling expedition.\u00a0 SPHP had never just hung out in the water before.\u00a0 And having all these people around was very strange, too.\u00a0 On the other hand, she loved the attention from everyone\u00a0and seemed to enjoy being cool and partly wet.\u00a0 She was determined not to get completely wet, though.\u00a0 It was funny to watch her immediately leap out of the deep water whenever she stepped into a pool where it got up to her chest.<\/p>\n

\"I'm<\/a>
I’m not so sure about this!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe asks Xochi if she is OK down there in the big pool. Is it really safe?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"You<\/a>
You got yourself in there – you can just get yourself out!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cascade<\/a>
Cascade Falls – the big swimming hole.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A little after 5:30 PM, it was time to leave Cascade Falls.\u00a0 Lupe was sleepy after all the activity and had a relaxing ride home in the G6.\u00a0 Back home, Xochitl\u00a0became head chef for her own birthday dinner of curry chicken sweet potatoes.\u00a0 Steve, Erik & SPHP assisted to some degree.\u00a0 Although dinner turned out to be quite yummy, Lupe held out for cake and ice cream when it was all over.<\/p>\n

\"Xochitl's<\/a>
Happy birthday Xochi!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cake<\/a>
Cake created by Pillsbury and SPHP!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Xochitl says good-bye to Cone-On the Luparian the morning of 7-13-15 before flying back to Chicago.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cascade\u00a0Falls is easy to find.\u00a0 It is\u00a0about 10 miles S of Hot Springs, SD on the W side of Hwy 71 (a mile N of the Cheyenne River) at the very S end of the Black Hills of South Dakota.\u00a0\u00a0On flat grassland overlooking the\u00a0creek\u00a0is a gravel parking lot,\u00a0a few\u00a0covered picnic tables, and a restroom.\u00a0 No water or other services are available.\u00a0 There are no fees or permits required.\u00a0 There is no lifeguard – just a delightful\u00a0old-fashioned swim\/wade at your own risk creek and swimming hole!<\/em><\/p>\n

Cascade Creek originates just 2 or 3 miles upstream at a series of warm water springs (67\u00b0F).\u00a0 There is another picnic ground called Cascade Springs 2 miles closer to Hot Springs than Cascade Falls.\u00a0 That picnic ground is more shaded by trees and the creek flows through it, but there is no swimming hole there.\u00a0 <\/em>Other attractions near Cascade Falls include the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, Evans Plunge<\/a><\/span><\/strong> and the Mammoth Site<\/a><\/span><\/strong> in Hot Springs, SD, and Wind Cave National Park<\/span><\/strong><\/a> N of Hot Springs.<\/em><\/p>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Black Hills Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Black Hills Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s Black Hills Expeditions Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cascade Falls isn’t really\u00a0much of a waterfall.\u00a0 Instead, it is\u00a0a short series of pools and rapids on Cascade Creek.\u00a0 The small upstream pools\u00a0are very clear and clean with swiftly flowing waters.\u00a0 They are\u00a0no more than 3 or 4 feet deep.\u00a0\u00a0Just downstream of the small pools, Cascade Creek\u00a0pours over a large fan-shaped mineral deposit\u00a05 or 6\u00a0feet … Continue reading Black Hills, SD Expedition No. 136 – Cascade Falls (7-12-15)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1380,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[105,9,106,129,1289,104,304,1138,596],"class_list":["post-1359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-hills","tag-american-dingo","tag-black-hills-expeditions","tag-carolina-dog","tag-cascade-falls","tag-guille","tag-lupe","tag-south-dakota","tag-steve","tag-xochitl"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/P1060479.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1359"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1359\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63512,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1359\/revisions\/63512"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}