Devils Tower Loop - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 345

2. Sundance
The Sioux Indian Sun Dance, a grueling four-day ceremony that tested the fortitude of
young braves, has lent its name to this town and to neighboring Sundance Mountain. Per-
formed as thanksgiving, to cure disease, and to offer prayers, the intricate ritual was above
all a way to symbolize the triumph of good over evil.
One white man whodid not win that particular struggle was Harry Longabaugh, whose
crimes as part of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang earned him the nickname the Sundance Kid.
The life and legend of the Kid, who was imprisoned for a short time in the local jail, are
recalled by exhibits at the Crook County Museum and Art Gallery.
To enjoy the town's natural treasures, follow Rte. 14 to the north, where a paved spur
road leads visitors to the Warren Peak Lookout. The fire tower offers a preview of Devils
Tower off to the northwest and, nearer at hand, a look at the somber black hills of the Bear
Lodge Mountains.
Departing Sundance via Rtes. 14 and I-90, the drive skirts the eastern edge of the Bear
LodgeMountains,thenontoRte.111,headingnorththroughalandscapeoffarms,ranches,
and quiet creeks.
3. Aladdin
The modest settlement at Aladdin offers little more than a general store—a venerable old
building, erected in 1890, that continues to serve as a gathering place where locals come
to swap tales and pass the time of day. In August, however, the town's peaceful ways
are pleasantly interrupted by the Bronc Match and Horseshow, complete with an old-time
rodeo that always draws a crowd.
ThenextlegofthedrivefollowsRte.24intothewesternmostsectorofBlackHillsNa-
tional Forest. Meadows, tree-lined creeks, and 23-acre Cook Lake are among the notable
sights in the area. Also memorable are the distant views of the vast plains to the north that
are revealed by occasional gaps between trees and hills.
Theforestsareattheirloveliestinthefall,whentheleavesofaspens,oaks,andbirches
explode into a riot of reds and golds that contrast vividly with the dusky dark green of the
predominant ponderosa pines. Any time of year, though, offers opportunities for spotting
white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and even elk.