{"id":29085,"date":"2020-11-05T08:10:25","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T15:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=29085"},"modified":"2021-02-11T06:25:56","modified_gmt":"2021-02-11T13:25:56","slug":"gooseberry-badlands-recreation-area-wyoming-7-14-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=29085","title":{"rendered":"Gooseberry Badlands Recreation Area, Wyoming (7-14-20)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 1 of Day 5 of Lupe’s 2nd summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming & Utah!<\/em><\/p>\n

Towns were usually dullsville in Lupe’s opinion, but as SPHP drove into Worland, her eyes grew in amazement.\u00a0 Whoa!\u00a0 What on earth?\u00a0 Now that was something worth barking at!<\/p>\n

Go back!\u00a0 Go back, SPHP!\u00a0 Did you see that?\u00a0 Unbelievable, it was gigantic, enormous!\u00a0 Cowzilla is right here in Worland!<\/em><\/p>\n

Cowzilla?\u00a0 Hah!\u00a0 Looper, that wasn’t Cowzilla, it’s a mammoth.\u00a0 You want to go back and see it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Of course!\u00a0 It was incredible!\u00a0 Turn around before it gets away!<\/em><\/p>\n

Although there was no danger of the mammoth sauntering off anytime soon, SPHP obeyed.\u00a0 At the Washakie Museum<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, the Carolina Dog was more than a bit disappointed when a few cursory sniffs revealed that the mammoth wasn’t real.\u00a0 Still, the mammoth was an impressive sight.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Oh, it’s just a statue. Had me going there for a minute!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The mammoth incident settled, SPHP fueled up the G6, made a quick stop at the grocery store, then drove S out of Worland on Hwy No. 432.\u00a0 The road eventually curved W, crossed a bridge over the Bighorn River, and almost immediately came to an intersection.<\/p>\n

Today was the first time Lupe had been W of the Bighorns in 2020, and this junction presented a couple of options.\u00a0 S to Thermopolis, or W to Meeteetse?\u00a0 SPHP decided to take Hwy 431, going W along the N side of the wide, shallow Gooseberry Creek valley.\u00a0 The valley was fairly arid looking, all grassland with hardly a tree in sight, but cattle roaming the area made the American Dingo happy.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP had never been on Hwy 431 before.\u00a0 After 20 minutes or so, both were surprised when an opening in the hills on the N side of the highway revealed an impressive display of classic badlands territory.\u00a0 Worth checking out!\u00a0 SPHP turned the G6 around, and went back so Loop could get out and have a look.<\/p>\n

Badlands fit right into the high plains desert theme of Wyoming W of the Bighorns, but this was a particularly nice example.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Look at this! We’ve discovered some amazing badlands along the N side of Hwy 431. Pretty spiffy!<\/em> Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Same area, but looking NW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another mile W on Hwy 431, and a sign appeared.<\/p>\n

Gooseberry Badlands Recreation Area!\u00a0 Never heard of it before.\u00a0 We’ve got time, Loop.\u00a0 Shall see what’s here?<\/em><\/p>\n

Fine with me, SPHP, as long as there isn’t any cactus.<\/em><\/p>\n

Heh.\u00a0 Can’t guarantee you that, Looper.\u00a0 Cactus and badlands more or less go paw in paw.<\/em><\/p>\n

That’s what I’m afraid of, SPHP!\u00a0 Cactus spines in my paws!\u00a0 I notice you don’t go running around barepaw.<\/em><\/p>\n

Beyond the sign, SPHP turned N off Hwy 431 into a huge gravel parking area.\u00a0 Except for one other vehicle, the whole place was deserted.\u00a0 Over along the N side were several displays, all overlooking another even more extensive badlands region.\u00a0 Not a soul in sight.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loopster stops in to check out the Gooseberry Badlands along Wyoming Hwy 431.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SPHP had a look at the displays, which were about the geology, ancient ecology, and modern day wildlife of the Gooseberry Badlands.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Geologic display.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Eocene epoch display.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Wildlife display.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A trail mentioned in a couple of the plaques could be seen heading off into the badlands.\u00a0 Nearby, a box atop a metal pole held a registry.\u00a0 This box, stationed at the top of a flight of stairs leading down to a sidewalk and viewing bench, was the start of the Gooseberry Badlands trail.<\/p>\n

As usual, you’re in luck, Loopster!\u00a0 There’s a trail here!\u00a0 Want to explore it?\u00a0 Shouldn’t have any problem with cactus, if we just stick to the trail.<\/em><\/p>\n

In that case, count me in, SPHP, but maybe you should bring some water?\u00a0 Not a cloud in the sky, and it’s the middle of July.\u00a0 How long is this trail, anyway?<\/em><\/p>\n

How long?\u00a0 No idea.\u00a0 Doesn’t seem to be any information around <\/em>other than that the trail exists.\u00a0 We can always turn back, if it gets to be too much, but yeah, bringing some water is definitely a good idea.<\/em><\/p>\n

10:55 AM, 71\u00baF<\/em> – SPHP went back to the G6 to grab the blue water bottle and a bowl, before signing Lupe in at the registry.\u00a0 The Carolina Dog then trotted down the steps leading to the sidewalk.\u00a0 From the viewing bench area, Lupe already enjoyed a sweeping panorama of the rugged, arid beauty of the Gooseberry Badlands.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Gooseberry Badlands<\/strong> from the sidewalk near the bench.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Off to the L, the sidewalk led to a long boardwalk stairway that curved down into the upper SW portion of the Gooseberry Badlands basin.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Going down the long boardwalk stairway.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the end of the boardwalk, a gravel pathway quickly led to a junction.\u00a0 Apparently, the Gooseberry Badlands trail made a loop.\u00a0 Loopster could either go straight, staying up on relatively high ground, or descend into the lower portions of the drainage basin by turning R.<\/p>\n

Didn’t really matter which way Loop did the loop, but some cool-looking stuff was straight ahead, so Lupe went that way, putting her on course to explore the trail in a clockwise direction.\u00a0 It was quickly evident that the dreaded cacti were plentiful, but as anticipated, cactus issues were easily avoided by staying strictly on the trail.<\/p>\n

The loop first took the American Dingo along the upper edge of a dry wash, then past a wildly eroded ridge.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
By the first dry wash.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Approaching the wildly eroded ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
An amazing pillar at the W end of the ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trail continued past the wild ridge winding along the upper edge of a number of dry washes.\u00a0 Often there was no gravel path in this region; Lupe just sniffed along the hard, baked ground.\u00a0 Brown fiberglass wands marked the route at frequent intervals.\u00a0 Most of these wands had only little white arrows, but some were numbered in ascending order.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Continuing along the upper edge of the maze of dry washes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Beyond a particularly large drop-off.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near the same drop-off.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Horizontal pink, gray, white, and yellow layers produced a beautifully striped effect throughout the strangely eroded badlands.\u00a0 Around every corner, Lupe came to fresh examples of eye-catching pinnacles, pillars, and mounds.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Exquisite mounds (L) and a pinnacle (R).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking back at the first wild wall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Near a pillar (L).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On a platform.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After about 0.5 mile, Lupe came to a series of steps leading roughly 100 vertical feet down into the lowlands of the maze of gullies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Heading down the steps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking back up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
At the bottom, looking up the main ravine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the bottom, the trail turned sharply back toward the start.\u00a0 Lupe now got to see the Gooseberry Badlands from a different perspective, often pausing briefly to examine some of the more interesting formations.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looks different from down here!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
On the Melting Marshmallow<\/strong>, or maybe it was the Gooey Gumdrop<\/strong>?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Mushroom Ridge<\/strong> dead ahead!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time Lupe got back to the intersection at the start of the loop, she had come to 12 numbered wands, and several times that many wands with arrows.\u00a0 Yet the Gooseberry Badlands loop couldn’t have been any more than a mile long, and had been a relaxing, easy trek.<\/p>\n

Although these badlands didn’t cover a large region, the scenery had been stunning.\u00a0 Even at a leisurely pace, the American Dingo was back at the G6 in just under an hour.\u00a0 (End 11:54 AM, 72\u00baF)<\/em><\/p>\n

The Gooseberry Badlands were fun, SPHP!\u00a0 I’m glad we stopped.\u00a0 Never know what kind of adventure might be around the next curve in Wyoming!<\/em><\/p>\n

True enough!\u00a0 This did sort of turn out to be an unexpected treat, didn’t it, Loop?\u00a0 Well worthwhile!<\/em><\/p>\n

Hwy No. 431 ended at junction only a few miles farther W.\u00a0 SPHP turned NW on No. 120 heading for Meeteetse.\u00a0 Lupe’s next Wyoming adventure was going to be much more challenging.\u00a0 Really had been nice to spend a pleasant hour on a beautiful July day exploring the fabulous and entirely unanticipated Gooseberry Badlands.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Back near the start of the loop. Gooseberry Badlands<\/strong>, Wyoming 7-14-20<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

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

W<\/em>ant more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose from Lupe’s Summer of 2020<\/span> Dingo Vacations to Wyoming, Utah & Montana Adventure Inde<\/strong>x<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a> or Master Adventure Index<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part 1 of Day 5 of Lupe’s 2nd summer of 2020 Dingo Vacation to Wyoming & Utah! Towns were usually dullsville in Lupe’s opinion, but as SPHP drove into Worland, her eyes grew in amazement.\u00a0 Whoa!\u00a0 What on earth?\u00a0 Now that was something worth barking at! Go back!\u00a0 Go back, SPHP!\u00a0 Did you see that?\u00a0 … Continue reading Gooseberry Badlands Recreation Area, Wyoming (7-14-20)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1293],"tags":[105,106,26,1308,1307,104,275],"class_list":["post-29085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-summer-of-2020","tag-american-dingo","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-gooseberry-badlands-loop-trail","tag-gooseberry-badlands-recreation-area","tag-lupe","tag-wyoming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_6958.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\/29085","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=29085"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32068,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29085\/revisions\/32068"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}