Thank you for hiking Elk Mountain Nature Trail. You have seen and experienced a lot in a short time. As you've seen the prairie, forest and riparian ecosystems blend to create a truly spectacular landscape. However, when viewing the park over a distance it is easy to conclude that the land, with its gentle rolling hills, lacks complexity. This deception in itself is amazing. In a way the terrain is somewhat like the sea. From the shore it appears to be little more than rolling waves. Who would suspect, without close examination, that below the surface lies a complex web of life that may never be fully understood? That complexity and the forces that make it possible are important to a balanced ecology. 

Wind Cave National Park is working to protect this balance by allowing natural processes to continue to shape the land. This is a difficult task. There are many challenges to be met, such as the encroachment of non-native plants onto the prairie and misunderstandings of the importance of fire.

As you travel across the prairie, along the riparian habitat or through the forest, think of the broad spectrum of life that each supports. Also, remember that the park's staff is eager to disucss natural resources and the challenges that lie ahead.