The Black Hills, named after the dark green carpets of pines that cover the hills, are a geological wonder. Covering some 125 miles north to south and 65 miles east to west, the Hills rise 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the red valley floor. Below lie Salt and Beaver creeks where bur oak grows. Above the valley floor, ponderosa pine and aspen groves cling to limestone cliffs, clay soil, and red sandstone. History, geology, and wildlife remain alive in the Salt Creek Valley. The Sioux believed the Great Spirit lived in these hills. Pioneers came here to mine for coal and oil. Small towns like nearby Cambria sprang up as fast as they were deserted. Tales of gunfights, stage robberies, and gambling endure among those who never left. White-tailed deer roam through the pines and aspen. Wild turkeys scratch through leaves and needles along the creek bottoms in search of acorns and seeds. Brought here from New Mexico in 1948, turkeys are now the most widespread game bird in northeastern Wyoming. These shy, elusive birds do not let humans get too close. At night, they roost in treetops and return to the ground at daybreak to forage.