Yes, you can bring your Pet.
You can bring your pets into Badlands National Park with some restrictions. Pets must be kept on a leash no more than six feet in length at all times. Pets are only permitted in developed areas, such as campgrounds, and picnic areas, and other areas open to motor vehicles, such as gravel and paved roadways, and parking lots. Pets are prohibited from hiking trails, public buildings such as visitor centers, and back country areas, including the Badlands Wilderness Area, and areas with prairie dog colonies. Pet etiquette dictates always cleaning up animal waste and disposing of it in trash receptacles. Pets are prohibited in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center unless they are a certified service animal. Emotional support animals are not service animals and are not allowed in the visitor center.
Badlands Entry Fees
Park FeesPrivate Vehicle - $30.00Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 daysIndividual (Hiking, Bicycling, etc...) - $15.00Fee covers the entry of an individual that is hiking, bicycling, etc... for 7 daysMotorcycle - $25.00Fee covers the entry of a motorcycle and its occupants for 7 daysCommercial Sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity - $25.00Commercial sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity. $25 plus $10 per person - 7 days for Original ManifestCommercial Van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity - $50.00Commercial van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity; $50 - 7 days for Original ManifestCommercial Minibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity - $60.00Minibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity; $60 - 7 days for Original ManifestCommercial Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity - $150.00Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity; $150 - 7 days for Original ManifestBadlands National Park charges an entrance fee. You may purchase a 7-day pass valid at only Badlands National Park by selecting from the choices (Private Vehicle, Motorcycle, or Individual). If you are visiting other federal recreation areas consider purchasing an Interagency Pass (Annual, Senior, Access, Military, etc.) when you arrive at the park. If you already hold one of the accepted entrance passes you do not need to purchase any of the 7-day passes.Site Passes purchased on Recreation.gov are non-refundable and non-transferable. Only purchase this Badlands National Park Site Pass if you do not plan to use another pass to cover the entrance fee.
Food and picnic locations in the Badlands
I should probably tell you that The only location to purchase food in Badlands National Park is at the Cedar Pass Lodge, located just down the road from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The Cedar Pass Lodge restaurant offers full sit-down meals as well as snacks.If you are bringing your own food to the park, there are many locations with shaded picnic tables for you to enjoy a meal or snack. The following locations include picnic tables: the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the Big Foot Pass Overlook, the Conata Picnic Area, and the White River Visitor Center. I will be sure to point out each of these sites as we approach them. If you plan on bringing your own food to the park, please remember to pack out what you pack in. Garbage and unfinished food can disrupt ecosystems in the park. Trash cans are available at overlooks throughout the Badlands Loop Road as well as the Ben Reifel and White River Visitor Centers.
Wildlife in the Badlands
We are getting near Badlands National Park so I want to talk about some of the wildlife that we hope to see on our visit. Animals both big and small can be found throughout the park, and getting a glimpse of them can be very exciting. If we do come across wildlife during our visit, keep in mind that these animals are wild, and can be dangerous if approached.Bison are best seen from Sage Creek Rim Road, which overlooks the Badlands Wilderness Area where they live. I will be sure to point you in the right direction as we visit the park. Bighorn Sheep are often seen on the rocky precipices of Pinnacles Overlook and in Cedar Pass areas like Castle Trail and Big Badlands Overlook. All of these locations are on the main drive through the park. Prairie dog towns also exist throughout the park and can be viewed from the road at Burns Basin Overlook, Roberts Prairie Dog Town, and Sage Creek Campground, which are all on the main drive through the park. I will alert you when we get close to all of these locations. Other wildlife such as deer, coyotes, or snakes are scattered across the park, so keep your eyes peeled – they may be just around the corner!
Badlands Trading Post
There are no gas stations in the park. If you need gas or diesel, or If you want to grab some food and snacks, or maybe a souvenir, stop at the Badlands Trading post just up ahead. This is truly where the West still lives. This is a one-of-a-kind store featuring unique Western artwork, custom-designed t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, and more. If you’re hungry, grab a snack at their full-line convenience store. Try a buffalo hot dog or an ice cream cone at the Badlands Trading Post.
Badlands National Park
The name Badlands National Park poses an interesting question: why would you try to entice people to visit a park by calling it bad? In truth, the name is an homage to people that lived in the Badlands before it was a national park. For hundreds of years, the Lakota people have called this area mako sica, which literally translates to “bad lands.” When early French fur trappers passed through this area, they called the area, les mauvaises terres a traveser which stands for, ‘bad lands to travel across’. Since the French trappers spent time with the Lakota, it is likely that the French name is derived directly from the Lakota one. But why? What made this area deserve a “bad” name?The Badlands presents many challenges to easy travel. When it rains in the Badlands, the wet clay becomes slick and sticky, making it very difficult to cross. The jagged canyons and buttes covering the landscape make it hard to navigate. The winters are cold and windy, the summers are hot and dry, and the few water sources that exist are normally muddy and unsafe to drink. These factors make the land difficult to survive in, and evidence of early human activity in the Badlands points to seasonal hunting rather than permanent habitation.One final fun fact about the name of Badlands National Park: In 1922, when Badlands was first proposed as a national park, the suggested name was Wonderland National Park!
Trails in the Badlands
While the scenic byway is a great way to get an overview of the Badlands, hiking the park allows for you to get a closer look at its beautiful natural features. Designated hiking trails range in length and difficulty, from ¼ mile fully accessible boardwalks to 10 miles of varied natural terrain. For those interested in taking the path less traveled, the Badlands also offer many opportunities for hiking in the backcountry wilderness. If you can’t decide where to hike, rangers at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center are happy to give recommendations based upon trail conditions and your experience with hiking. Remember, whether hiking on developed trails or in the backcountry, it’s important to bring water and come prepared with the proper clothing for sun, rain and everything in between.
Big Badlands Overlook
The overlook just ahead is called the Big Badlands Overlook. It provides the opportunity to view the eastern portion of the Badlands Wall, an erosional feature that expands from the east near the town of Kadoka to the west near the town of Wall. On clearer days, you can see Eagle Nest Butte rising on the southeast horizon, which is situated next to the town of Wanblee, South Dakota. This view shows the lower units of the Badlands Formations. The reddish stripes of the Brule Formation which developed about 33 million years ago, dominate the view. The darker gray beds near the base of the outcrops are where the older Chadron Formation formed about 34 million years ago. In the distant viewscape, Eagle Nest Butte is stratigraphically equivalent to Scottsbluff National Monument in Nebraska. There is the potential to see Bighorn sheep, Mule deer, Prairie rattlesnakes, and Various birds at this overlook.
Trailhead for the Badlands
The next stop up ahead is the trail head for four different trails. One is a short easy trail called the Door Trail. It is less than a mile long and can easily be walked in 30 minutes. It connects to other longer trails such as the Window Trail, the Notch Trail, and the Castle Trail. Be sure to wear sunscreen and stay hydrated. The boardwalk may be slippery if it has rained recently. And be sure to watch for the Prairie rattlesnake sunning on rocks or seeking shade under the boardwalk. The first quarter of a mile is on a boardwalk. It leads through a break in the Badlands Wall known as, “the Door”, and to a panoramic view of the Badlands. From there, the maintained trail ends and continues onto Badlands bedrock, with yellow posts marking the primitive portion of the trail. Travel beyond this point is at your own risk. There is the potential to see chipmunks, Bighorn sheep, the North American porcupine, various birds and as mentioned earlier, the Prairie rattlesnake. There are restrooms at this location. A Fun Fact: Some of the asteroid scenes in the 19 98 movie, Arma-geddon, was filmed in this location.If we have any hikers in the vehicle with us, the 1.5 mile Notch Trail is a better option. Plan on spending up to an hour and a half to complete this moderate to strenuous trail. The same potential hazards apply to this trail as well. Sunburn and dehydration are possible. This trail contains steep terrain as well. After meandering through a canyon, this trail climbs a log ladder and follows a ledge to “the Notch” for a dramatic view of the White River Valley. Trail begins at the south end of the Door and Window parking area. Watch for drop-offs. This trail is Not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights. And this trail can be Treacherous during, or after heavy rains, or snow.
Ben Reifel Visitor Center
We are approaching the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, where visitors can get answers to their questions from rangers at the information desk. There, park staff can distribute maps and other park materials, provide directions and local area orientation, hand out Junior Ranger booklets, and answer any questions you might have about earth science, wildlife, history, and more. There is also a self-serve passport stamping station at the information desk. Whether you're curious about what you've already seen in the park or you're just arriving and want to get a preview, you're sure to learn something new in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center's museum exhibits. From the mosasaurs which swam through the Badlands area 75 million years ago to more recent history with the Lakota who live south of the park today, these exhibits cover a vast time period and all of the different stories which come together to make the Badlands special. These exhibits include audio-visual elements and tactile displays.At the visitor center, you can also catch the park film, The Land of Stone and Light. In the spring, summer, and fall, the park film runs on a 25-minute loop. In the winter, the park film is shown as requested -- just ask the ranger at the front desk to play it for you. Captions and audio-descriptions are available on the park's multimedia webpage. Ask the rangers at the desk about these options when you visit.If you're interested in the paleontology of Badlands National Park, don't miss the Fossil Preparation Lab. There, you can chat with park paleontologists as they gradually remove rock from specimens to reveal fossils. Park rangers are also available in the lab to answer any questions you may have about the incredible fossil animals of the Badlands. With millions of years of fossil history recorded in the park's rock formations, there are plenty of fossils to learn about!Benjamin Reifel, also known as Lone Feather, was the first Congressman elected with Lakota heritage, representing South Dakota’s 1st congressional district. Mr. Reifel belonged to the Brule (or Burnt Thigh) tribe. He was also the only Native American Congressman during the 1960’s. He served 5 terms from 1961 to 1971.Reifel decided not to seek reelection in 1971, but still remained in government service during the administrations of President Richard Nixon and President Gerald Ford. During this interval, he spent time serving as Special Assistant for Indian programs to the Director of the National Park Service.
Cedar Pass Lodge
The Cedar Pass Lodge just up ahead, was the first establishment in what would later become Badlands National Park. Founded by Ben Millard in 19 26, it was originally a barn-like structure that served as a dance hall. Famous names, like Lawrence Welk, played to a crowded hall on weekends. Cabins were also available for people wanting to visit the Badlands. Today, the Cedar Pass Lodge has lodging and camping available for visitors as well as a gift shop, convenience store, and restaurant.
Cedar Pass Campground
We are approaching the Cedar Pass Campground. Summer night sky viewing is offered at the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater each evening from Memorial Day through Labor Day. After the evening ranger program, stay to enjoy the spectacular night sky. Telescopes are provided. The ranger will point out constellations, stars, and planets. Everyone is given an opportunity to see impressive objects in the night sky.Rarely do most people have the opportunity to experience the awesome dark skies and the spectacular sights found here. Badlands National Park offers such wondrous sights for those who visit the park. On any given night, visitors will be exposed to more than 7,500 stars. Especially phenomenal is the clarity of our own Milky Way Galaxy. Night sky views include not only galaxies but also star clusters, nebulae, planets and moons. Visitors are also treated to flyovers by numerous satellites and the International Space Station.
Badlands Geology Part 1 of 3
The formations in Badlands National Park are the end-product of two simple processes: deposition and erosion.Deposition is the process of rocks gradually building up. Over the course of millions of years, the layered rocks of the Badlands were slowly stacked on top of each other like a layer cake. These rocks were deposited by a number of natural forces which range from shallow inland seas, to rivers, to wind. Deposition began about 75 million years ago with the formation of the Pierre Shale, the base of the geologic formations in the park. Deposition ended about 28 million years ago with the Sharps Formation, the uppermost unit of Badlands stratigraphy.Erosion is the process of rocks gradually wearing away. The Badlands began eroding about 500,000 years ago as the Cheyenne and White Rivers carved their way through the landscape. They are the reason for the narrow channels, canyons, and rugged peaks of the Badlands which we see today. And the Badlands are still eroding – it is estimated that the Badlands erode at the rate of one inch per year, which is a rapid rate for rocks. In contrast, the granite of the Black Hills, to the west of Badlands National Park, erodes at the rate of one inch per 10,000 years. Scientists estimate that in the next 500,000 years, the Badlands will have eroded completely, so tell your friends that they should come to visit the park while they can.
Badlands Geology Part 1 of 3
The formations in Badlands National Park are the end-product of two simple processes: deposition and erosion.Deposition is the process of rocks gradually building up. Over the course of millions of years, the layered rocks of the Badlands were slowly stacked on top of each other like a layer cake. These rocks were deposited by a number of natural forces which range from shallow inland seas, to rivers, to wind. Deposition began about 75 million years ago with the formation of the Pierre Shale, the base of the geologic formations in the park. Deposition ended about 28 million years ago with the Sharps Formation, the uppermost unit of Badlands stratigraphy.Erosion is the process of rocks gradually wearing away. The Badlands began eroding about 500,000 years ago as the Cheyenne and White Rivers carved their way through the landscape. They are the reason for the narrow channels, canyons, and rugged peaks of the Badlands which we see today. And the Badlands are still eroding – it is estimated that the Badlands erode at the rate of one inch per year, which is a rapid rate for rocks. In contrast, the granite of the Black Hills, to the west of Badlands National Park, erodes at the rate of one inch per 10,000 years. Scientists estimate that in the next 500,000 years, the Badlands will have eroded completely, so tell your friends that they should come to visit the park while they can.
Badlands Geology Part 2
There are a number of rock types that can be found in the Badlands. The formations in our park contain sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, claystones, limestones, volcanic ash, and shale. These rock types come from a number of different sources. For example, many of the sandstones found in Badlands are the remnants of ancient river channels. The occasional limestone lenses found in the park come from calcium-rich groundwater flowing through ancient lakes and precipitating out calcium carbonate, otherwise known as limestone.Volcanic ash found in the Badlands comes from eruptions in the Great Basin, a geologic province including states like Utah and Nevada. Most of this ash was washed into the area along with eroded sediment from the Black Hills, making many of the rock layers an ash-sediment mixture, which often consists of 50% ash and 50% eroded sediment. There is only one layer of pure volcanic ash in the park, called the Rocky Ford Ash.
Badlands Geology Part 2
There are a number of rock types that can be found in the Badlands. The formations in our park contain sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, claystones, limestones, volcanic ash, and shale. These rock types come from a number of different sources. For example, many of the sandstones found in Badlands are the remnants of ancient river channels. The occasional limestone lenses found in the park come from calcium-rich groundwater flowing through ancient lakes and precipitating out calcium carbonate, otherwise known as limestone.Volcanic ash found in the Badlands comes from eruptions in the Great Basin, a geologic province including states like Utah and Nevada. Most of this ash was washed into the area along with eroded sediment from the Black Hills, making many of the rock layers an ash-sediment mixture, which often consists of 50% ash and 50% eroded sediment. There is only one layer of pure volcanic ash in the park, called the Rocky Ford Ash.
Badlands Geology Part 3
The layers of the Badlands correspond with different moments in geologic time. They start with the oldest layer at the bottom, then move upwards in space and time, towards the youngest layer, which sits on top of the formations. To unlock the stories of the park’s different layers, it is often easiest to start where most good stories do: at the beginning.The Pierre Shale, which forms the bottommost layer of the park’s geology, was deposited about 70 million years ago. It was laid down by a shallow inland sea known as the Western Interior Seaway. This seaway stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, covering most of the modern Great Plains in shallow, warm water. This sea contained ancient marine life which would have existed at the same time as dinosaurs, but because dinosaurs couldn’t swim, none of them are found in the Pierre Shale or in the Badlands as a whole. Instead, the creatures that we find from this time include shelled cephalopods like ammonites and baculites alongside mosasaur, a giant marine reptile that could measure over 50 feet long.On top of the Pierre Shale sit the Yellow Mounds, which are just an altered version of the Pierre Shale despite their striking differences in appearance. After the Western Interior Seaway drained North into the Arctic Ocean, the leftover shales weathered into soils. Those soils are now preserved as the Yellow Mounds, which are what geologists call a paleosol. Paleosols are ancient fossilized soils preserved in the rock record, and they often appear as brightly colored layers like the Yellow Mounds, which gets its mustardy color from a mineral called Goethite.The next layer called The Chadron Formation, consisting largely of light gray claystone beds, was deposited about 37 to 34 million years ago across an ancient floodplain. The environment of the Chadron Formation would have been hot and wet, like Everglades National Park is today. It was home to creatures that we associate with these modern environments like ancient alligators, as well as some animals that no longer exist, like the massive Brontothere.The Brule Formation, deposited 34 to 30 million years ago, represents a cooler and drier time in geologic history. The hot, wet vegetated floodplains of the Chadron Formation now transformed into an open savannah, where occasional river channels would cut through the plains. Many grazers, like the oreodonts commonly found in Badlands National Park, made good use of eating the grasses and plants which grew here. Consequently, there were also predators who made good use of the grazers, like Nimr avid, which was a cat-like animal with saber teeth.Above the Brule lies the Sharps Formation, which is the youngest geologic formation of the park at 28 million years old. The base of the Sharps Formation is the Rocky ford Ash, a volcanic tuff formed from ash that came from eruptions in the Great Basin, where Utah and Nevada are today. Much of the Sharps Formation is characterized by sandstone river channels as the climate continued to cool and dry.
Badlands Geology Part 3
The layers of the Badlands correspond with different moments in geologic time. They start with the oldest layer at the bottom, then move upwards in space and time, towards the youngest layer, which sits on top of the formations. To unlock the stories of the park’s different layers, it is often easiest to start where most good stories do: at the beginning.The Pierre Shale, which forms the bottommost layer of the park’s geology, was deposited about 70 million years ago. It was laid down by a shallow inland sea known as the Western Interior Seaway. This seaway stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, covering most of the modern Great Plains in shallow, warm water. This sea contained ancient marine life which would have existed at the same time as dinosaurs, but because dinosaurs couldn’t swim, none of them are found in the Pierre Shale or in the Badlands as a whole. Instead, the creatures that we find from this time include shelled cephalopods like ammonites and baculites alongside mosasaur, a giant marine reptile that could measure over 50 feet long.On top of the Pierre Shale sit the Yellow Mounds, which are just an altered version of the Pierre Shale despite their striking differences in appearance. After the Western Interior Seaway drained North into the Arctic Ocean, the leftover shales weathered into soils. Those soils are now preserved as the Yellow Mounds, which are what geologists call a paleosol. Paleosols are ancient fossilized soils preserved in the rock record, and they often appear as brightly colored layers like the Yellow Mounds, which gets its mustardy color from a mineral called Goethite.The next layer called The Chadron Formation, consisting largely of light gray claystone beds, was deposited about 37 to 34 million years ago across an ancient floodplain. The environment of the Chadron Formation would have been hot and wet, like Everglades National Park is today. It was home to creatures that we associate with these modern environments like ancient alligators, as well as some animals that no longer exist, like the massive Brontothere.The Brule Formation, deposited 34 to 30 million years ago, represents a cooler and drier time in geologic history. The hot, wet vegetated floodplains of the Chadron Formation now transformed into an open savannah, where occasional river channels would cut through the plains. Many grazers, like the oreodonts commonly found in Badlands National Park, made good use of eating the grasses and plants which grew here. Consequently, there were also predators who made good use of the grazers, like Nimr avid, which was a cat-like animal with saber teeth.Above the Brule lies the Sharps Formation, which is the youngest geologic formation of the park at 28 million years old. The base of the Sharps Formation is the Rocky ford Ash, a volcanic tuff formed from ash that came from eruptions in the Great Basin, where Utah and Nevada are today. Much of the Sharps Formation is characterized by sandstone river channels as the climate continued to cool and dry.
The Fossil Exhibit Trail
We are coming up on The Fossil Exhibit Trail. It is a self-guided, fully accessible boardwalk featuring fossil replicas and exhibits of extinct creatures that once lived in the area. The exhibits are tactile, so please feel free to touch them. There are restrooms at this location.
White River Valley Overlook
The next overlook is called the White River Valley Overlook. It is an expansive view of the Badlands close to a set of tall formations, known as the Castle, to the west. The view continues down into the White River Valley.
Big Foot Pass Overlook
Let me encourage you to visit this next overlook known as the Big Foot Pass Overlook. Aside from being an impressive geologic vista, Big Foot Pass is also a historic area. After the murder of Sitting Bull on December 15th, 18 90, approximately 200 Hunkpapa Lakota fled to join Chief Spotted Elk, also known as Big Foot, and his band of Miniconjou Lakota at the Cheyenne Reservation. This group departed for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on December 23rd, seeking refuge with Chief Red Cloud. Five days later, a detachment of the 7th Calvary met the traveling group and escorted them to Wounded Knee Creek. The next day, tensions rose and the 7th Calvary massacred an estimated 150 to 300 men, women, and children at Wounded Knee. They also have restrooms at this site.
Prairie Wind Overlook
We are approaching the Prairie Wind overlook. This overlook provides a serene view of the mixed-grass prairie at Badlands National Park. . The tall-grass prairie ecosystem of Badlands hosts the largest preserved mixed-grass prairie in the United States. Today, the native prairie only retains about 2% of its original range. Invasive plants further threaten what little is left, pushing out native plants virtually unchallenged. Badlands National Park does what it can to manage these invaders with various tactics, including prescribed fires and spraying herbicides.In mixed-grass prairies, such as the grasslands surrounding Badlands National Park, grasses can range in height from ankle-high to waist-high.Because they are in this transition zone, mixed-grass prairies have a greater number of plant species than any other type of prairie. There are over 400 plant species in Badlands National Park. Although trees, shrubs, and forbs grow in the Badlands, grasses dominate the landscape. The most common grass in the park is Western Wheatgrass, which grows one to three feet tall and is the state grass of South Dakota!Prairie ecosystems support and rely on many different animals. Prairie dogs, bison, pronghorn, and many other species munch on the grasses and forbs which grow in grasslands. Predatory animals like coyotes, rattlesnakes, and birds of prey use the open space of the prairie as hunting grounds. Many animals also take shelter by using burrows in the prairie, like prairie dogs, and badgers.While this environment supports all of these animals, it also relies on them! Prairie dog towns are a hub of plant diversity in prairies, where their digging churns up soil and encourages new plants to grow. Prairie dogs also trim the grasses around their colony, which helps forbs grow in place of grasses. Bison also help grasslands grow and stay healthy. A study at Badlands National Park by the Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network found that native plant diversity was higher in places where bison graze. Bison wallows, large depressions in the ground created by bison lying down and rolling around, collect rainwater and provide an environment where more water-dependent plants can grow.Grasslands were once the most extensive biome in the United States, stretching from Canada to Mexico. Today, mixed-grass prairies throughout the Great Plains have been reduced to just 30% of their original range. How did this happen? What actions are being taken to protect the prairie?Division and destruction of American grasslands began in the mid-1800s. In 1862, the first of the Homesteading Acts was passed. These acts encouraged people to move west by offering plots of land to any US citizen willing to live and farm that land. Most of this land was located in grasslands, where human development took over prairie ecosystems. The 1887 Dawes Act stripped over 90 million acres of tribal land from Native Americans and redistributed it for agriculture and ranching. With these acts, prairies were first divided and destroyed by human development. Prairies across the United States today are still used for agricultural and ranching purposes.
Journey to Wounded Knee
We are coming up on an overlook in the Castle Butte Township, known as Journey to Wounded Knee. The marker at this overlook reads as follows. December 24th, 18 90 a bitter Christmas Eve wind rattled the wagon in which Minneconjou Chief Big Foot lay waiting while his people cleared a pass down the Badlands Wall. Several hours of hard work with axes and spades made the unused trail passable. The band of 350 men, women, and children continued their flight from units of the United States Army.
Burns Basin Overlook
We are quickly approaching the Burns Basin Overlook. The overlook has a boardwalk for visitors to utilize. This overlook is named after the homestead of Wilson Burns, who raised sheep in the basin during the early 20th century. A freshwater spring was a rare commodity that kept this operation going. Now wells must be dug a few thousand feet deep. This site overlooks the old homestead of Wilson Burns.
The Badlands Wall
The Badlands Wall is the primary feature of the Badlands National Park North Unit. As the White River carved into the landscape, it created a valley with badlands formations on either side with an erosional “wall” on the north side of the valley spanning east to west. The Badlands wall, consisting of the rock formations the park is famous for, separates the lower prairie to the south and upper prairie to the north. This feature was virtually impassible by wagons or larger caravans in the days when the landscape was undeveloped. The challenging landscape gave a band of Lakota people the advantage to remain undetected on the BigFoot Trail shortly before the Wounded Knee Massacre.The Badlands formations are eroding close to 1 inch per year. As rainfall slides down the formations, it picks up small bits of sediment which makes any stream water undrinkable. The terrain, sparse drinkable water, and weather made these bad lands to travel across or to live in, which is how Badlands earned its name. This is not as true today, since we have roads, running water, and air conditioning in buildings and vehicles. However, if you decide to venture out and explore, don't forget to wear appropriate clothing for the field, apply sunscreen, and carry as much water as you need for your trip, approximately 1 gallon per person per day.
Homestead Overlook
Just up ahead is the Homestead Overlook. The Homesteading Acts were laws issued by the US government to promote Westward expansion by giving away free land. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the first Homesteading Act into law. Under this initial law, a US citizen could claim a 160-acre plot of public land in the West by filing an application, living on and improving the land for a minimum of five years, and filing for a deed within seven years.While the Homesteading Acts offered free land to settlers, this “free” land came at a great cost to Native Americans. Much of the land offered as homesteading plots was seized from the Native Americans who previously inhabited the Great Plains through legislation like the Dawes Act.
Conata Basin Overlook
The next overlook is called the Conata Basin Overlook. It has some incredible views of the park’s paleosols. Paleosols are ancient soils that often take on bright colors in the rock record. Here At the Conata Basin Overlook, we can see two of the park’s most vibrant paleosols: the Yellow Mounds and the Interior Paleosol.
Yellow Mounds Overlook
The next overlook is called Yellow Mounds Overlook, and the marker at this site reads as follows; A jungle grew here, Before that, a shallow sea covered the land. Both are gone now, but both left evidence of their passing.The sea's signature is ammonites, baculites, and clams, pearly fossils entombed in a fossil mud called the Pierre Shale. This shale is exposed in the gully below you. A jungle sprang up after the sea drained away about 65 million years ago. For a long time, tree roots broke up the shale, and chemicals from decaying plants produced a yellow soil. About 37 million years ago sediment from the west washed over the jungle.The jungle rebounded, converting the new sediment into a red soil. Buried by later sediments, both yellow and red soils were fossilized. We call them the Yellow Mounds Paleosol and the Interior Paleosol.
Conata Picnic Ground
Highway 509, which is also known as Conata road, is just up ahead and will take you quickly to The Conata Picnic Ground. This is one of the more remote rest stops on Badlands Loop Road. Vault toilets and picnic benches are available. This area is also fairly easy to explore on foot. The west side of the parking lot hosts the Deer Haven trailhead.
Bighorn Sheep
Let’s talk about BigHorn Sheep. They live in separate groups based on their sex and age. Lambs and ewes live in large herds. Lambs nurse for up to 6 months. If the lamb is female, it will stay with its mothers herd throughout its life. If the lamb is male, however, it will leave its mothers herd at the age of about 2 to 4, and seek out a bachelor group. Bachelor groups of rams can consist of up to 10 rams and are typically led by a dominant ram whose dominance is established during rut.Bighorn are grazers, eating grasses and shrubs. After descending to grasslands to quickly eat large amounts of vegetation, bighorn will then retreat to cliffs away from predators. On these cliffs, bighorns regurgitate their food and chew it as cud before digesting it fully. Bighorns have a complex four-chambered stomach which allows them to get nutrients from hard, dry forage.Although predators are a problem for many wild bighorn throughout the country, the bighorn in Badlands National Park are very lucky. There are few to no natural predators of adult sheep in our park. This means that the most common way for bighorn to die is by accident or by disease. When sheep die by accident, it is typically when a lamb missteps while climbing or descending a slope and takes a fatal fall. When sheep die from disease, it’s commonly pneumonia or epizootic hemorrhagic disease.
Ancient Hunters Overlook
The next overlook is called the Ancient Hunters Overlook. We will be able to see an archeological site. The geologic slump that you will see, provides a slightly wetter area where trees grow in abundance. Arrowheads and bison bones have been found at this archeological site, suggesting that it may have been an ancient location where animals were slaughterd.
Pinnacle Overlook
This next overlook is called the Pinnacles Overlook and has a marker titled, Born of Volcanoes. The marker reads as follows: Thirty-seven million years ago, the ancient crystalline core of the Black Hills had already been exposed to erosion. The long blue profile of those mountains, visible to the west, looked much as it does now.About that time, streams flowing from the west began to deposit sediments in this area. Most of the sediment was wind-blown volcanic ash that had settled into the watershed which fed the streams. Occasionally the rivers brought gravel and stream-worn rocks from the Black Hills themselves. The ash weathered into clay, and turned into rock.Erosion did not begin to gully the Badlands layers and foretell the present landscape until quite recently, perhaps only half a million years ago.
Sage Creek Rim Road
Sage Creek Rim Road, also known as Highway 5 90, is just up ahead. This will be our best opportunity to see some wildlife, especially bison, and prairie dogs. It is a dirt and gravel road that travels through the Sage Creek Wilderness Area of Badlands National Park. It provides access to several overlooks and the Sage Creek Campground, as well as opportunities for backcountry access and wildlife viewing. In addition to Bison, and prairie dogs, bighorn sheep and a wide variety of birds are also frequently seen. Sage Creek Rim Road travels for 19 miles, down to the town of Scenic South Dakota, but I recommend we only travel 5 miles of the Sage Creek Rim road to the Sage Creek Campground and then return back here to continue the loop road.
Hay Butte Overlook
The next overlook is called the Hay Butte Overlook. It provides another view into the Sage Creek Wilderness Area. This vantage point also displays a massive, grass-capped butte of Badlands formation known as Hay Butte, one of the major landmarks in the wilderness area. Bison and Bighorn Sheep are known to frequent this area, and they are not shy of roads, vehicles, or people.
Badlands Wilderness Overlook
The Badlands Wilderness Overlook is the next stop. It begins to display an even transition from near completely eroded Badlands formations into the prairie. Bison are known to frequent this area, and they are not shy of roads, vehicles, or people.
Bison in the Badlands
Bison were once abundant in the American landscape. Their natural range extended from Canada to Mexico and from New York to Oregon. Scientists and historians estimate that there were at least 30 million bison roaming the country before the Euro-American settlement of the West.These millions of bison were a major part of life in Lakota culture. The Lakota people lived as nomads, following herds of bison and hunting them when necessary. Different parts of a bison supplied everything the Lakota needed – food, clothes, blankets, knives, fuel – and every part of the animal was put to use once it had been killed. Bison also played, and continues to play an important spiritual role in Lakota life, appearing in many oral histories and spiritual narratives.When settlers expanded into the American West, these animals nearly disappeared. Major hunting of bison began in 18 hundred and increased with time as legislation like the Dawes Act and Homesteading Acts passed. While the Lakota utilized every part of the animal, this systematic hunting resulted in a lot of waste – Euro-Americans used only hides, which could be sold as robes or rugs, and tongues, which could be sold as a delicacy. Although this hunting was often for sport, there was a secondary motive: the US government wanted to disrupt and disband Native American ways of life, and one way to do that was to kill off bison, which were central to the culture and well-being of many plains tribes.Plummeting from a previous population of 30 million, there were an estimated 325 wild bison left in the country by 18 84. Luckily, a few conservationists had the foresight to protect the last of this species, and their efforts in the late 19th century are the reason why about 20,000 bison now roam public lands.While Badlands National Park is well within the historic native range of bison, they had to be reintroduced after the species suffered devastating losses in the late 19th century. Bison were returned to the Badlands in 19 63, with a source herd transferred from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The Badlands herd now consists of around 1,200 bison.The Badlands bison roundup occurs each fall. During the roundup, rangers collect as many bison from the park herd as they can. Rangers collect biological data from each bison, and tag the recently born bison. Sick and injured bison also receive treatment at this time. After all the information has been collected, the park divides the bison the park will keep, from the ones it will not. The bison that the park does not keep will go to liv on other public lands or will be given to groups like the Intertribal Buffalo Council, which is a coalition of Native American tribes dedicated to preserving traditional buffalo practices.I want to encourage you to keep an eye out for bison on our trip through the Badlands, but please remember that they are wild animals. Maintain a distance of 100 feet whenever possible and do not provoke these bison. These animals can cause severe injuries or even deaths if angered.
Roberts Prairie Dog Town
We are coming up on a stop called Roberts Prairie Dog Town. This stop provides a perfect view of the largest prairie-dog town in the accessible areas of Badlands National Park. Other than the mounds of dirt where the prairie dogs have made their homes, the first thing you will likely notice is the high-pitched squeaks and noises coming from the Prairie dogs.
Sage Creek Basin Overlook
The next stop is the Sage Creek Basin Overlook. It provides a view into a pristine mixed grass prairie. Here, Badlands formations have eroded away almost entirely, revealing an underlying terrain more suitable for grasslands soil development. Trails are visible throughout this area, but they are not developed or maintained by the park. These are game trails made by bison.
Fossils in the Badlands
In 2010, a young park visitor came across a fossil at Badlands National Park and reported it to rangers. Much to her surprise, this visitor’s discovery turned out to be an incredibly rare, well-preserved skull of a saber tooth cat. Saber tooth cats aren’t the only creatures hidden among the layers upon layers of sediment in the Badlands, though — fossils of all kinds of animals and plants including rhinoceroses and marine reptiles can be found in the park. Fossils in the Badlands date back to the late Eocene and Oligocene epochs, when three-toed horses, camels, creodonts and other intriguing mammals roamed the world — so don’t expect to find any dinosaurs here. Most of these fossils are about 30 - 40 million years younger than the last dinosaurs to roam the earth. If you come across a fossil while exploring the Badlands, please do not move it. Instead, report it to a ranger so that it can be studied in place and possibly taken to the park’s Fossil Preparation Lab for research and testing. Between the second week of June and the third week of September, you can visit the Fossil Preparation Lab in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to watch paleontologists work and learn more about the ancient life they get to handle every day.
The Lakota People
The Lakota people – members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe – have lived in the Badlands region since time immemorial. Many notable Native American leaders and warriors were members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, including Crazy Horse and Red Cloud. Today, the southern unit of Badlands National Park, including the White River Visitor Center, is on Pine Ridge Reservation. This part of the park is managed in cooperation with the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The White River Visitor Center has exhibits that offer information about Lakota history and culture, and on select dates, visitors can experience cultural demonstrations involving music, dancing, crafts and more.
Badlands Star Gazing
Mixed Grass Prairie
Many know the Badlands for their spectacular geologic formations. But did you know that Badlands National Park has one of the largest expanses of mixed-grass prairie in the country? Aptly named, mixed-grass prairies contain a mix of ankle-high grasses characteristic of short-grass prairies and waist-high grasses characteristic of tall-grass prairies. Among these grasses you can find colorful patches of wildflowers, especially if you visit after a rainy spring. May-June present the best times for wildflower viewing in the park. In addition to being beautiful on their own, these wildflowers also attract 69 species of butterflies. Please enjoy the butterflies, but do so at a respectful distance — do not net or capture them. It can be useful to have your camera and binoculars ready when viewing these fantastic flying insects.
The Pierre Shale
If you look to the north, you can see a great view of The Pierre Shale, which developed approximately 71 million years ago. It is the oldest exposed geologic unit in Badlands National Park. The outcrop along the river bank displays the typical dark-gray to black sediment known from this formation. Any fossils recovered from this formation are most commonly marine invertebrates, such as clams and various shelled relatives of squid and octopus.
Sage Creek Campground
The Sage Creek Campground up ahead is where most park visitors turn around and head back to the main loop road. It is a primitive campground nested within a low valley in the wilderness area. Prairie dogs are present in the area and Bison can occasionally be found wandering through the campground. Horseback riding is allowed in the park for people who can bring horses, but this campground has the only accessible corral. Trails are visible throughout this area, but they are not developed or maintained by the park. These are game trails made by Bison. You are free to explore the area using these trails, but please maintain good safety practices if Bison are in the area.
Badlands National Park
The name Badlands National Park poses an interesting question: why would you try to entice people to visit a park by calling it bad? In truth, the name is an homage to people that lived in the Badlands before it was a national park. For hundreds of years, the Lakota people have called this area mako sica, which literally translates to “bad lands.” When early French fur trappers passed through this area, they called the area, les mauvaises terres a traveser which stands for, ‘bad lands to travel across’. Since the French trappers spent time with the Lakota, it is likely that the French name is derived directly from the Lakota one. But why? What made this area deserve a “bad” name?The Badlands presents many challenges to easy travel. When it rains in the Badlands, the wet clay becomes slick and sticky, making it very difficult to cross. The jagged canyons and buttes covering the landscape make it hard to navigate. The winters are cold and windy, the summers are hot and dry, and the few water sources that exist are normally muddy and unsafe to drink. These factors make the land difficult to survive in, and evidence of early human activity in the Badlands points to seasonal hunting rather than permanent habitation.One final fun fact about the name of Badlands National Park: In 1922, when Badlands was first proposed as a national park, the suggested name was Wonderland National Park!
Trails in the Badlands
While the scenic byway is a great way to get an overview of the Badlands, hiking the park allows for you to get a closer look at its beautiful natural features. Designated hiking trails range in length and difficulty, from ¼ mile fully accessible boardwalks to 10 miles of varied natural terrain. For those interested in taking the path less traveled, the Badlands also offer many opportunities for hiking in the backcountry wilderness. If you can’t decide where to hike, rangers at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center are happy to give recommendations based upon trail conditions and your experience with hiking. Remember, whether hiking on developed trails or in the backcountry, it’s important to bring water and come prepared with the proper clothing for sun, rain and everything in between.
Wildlife in the Badlands
We are getting near Badlands National Park so I want to talk about some of the wildlife that we hope to see on our visit. Animals both big and small can be found throughout the park, and getting a glimpse of them can be very exciting. If we do come across wildlife during our visit, keep in mind that these animals are wild, and can be dangerous if approached.Bison are best seen from Sage Creek Rim Road, which overlooks the Badlands Wilderness Area where they live. I will be sure to point you in the right direction as we visit the park. Bighorn Sheep are often seen on the rocky precipices of Pinnacles Overlook and in Cedar Pass areas like Castle Trail and Big Badlands Overlook. All of these locations are on the main drive through the park. Prairie dog towns also exist throughout the park and can be viewed from the road at Burns Basin Overlook, Roberts Prairie Dog Town, and Sage Creek Campground, which are all on the main drive through the park. I will alert you when we get close to all of these locations. Other wildlife such as deer, coyotes, or snakes are scattered across the park, so keep your eyes peeled – they may be just around the corner!
Food and picnic locations in the Badlands
I should probably tell you that The only location to purchase food in Badlands National Park is at the Cedar Pass Lodge, located just down the road from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The Cedar Pass Lodge restaurant offers full sit-down meals as well as snacks.If you are bringing your own food to the park, there are many locations with shaded picnic tables for you to enjoy a meal or snack. The following locations include picnic tables: the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the Big Foot Pass Overlook, the Conata Picnic Area, and the White River Visitor Center. I will be sure to point out each of these sites as we approach them. If you plan on bringing your own food to the park, please remember to pack out what you pack in. Garbage and unfinished food can disrupt ecosystems in the park. Trash cans are available at overlooks throughout the Badlands Loop Road as well as the Ben Reifel and White River Visitor Centers.
Badlands Entry Fees
Park FeesPrivate Vehicle - $30.00Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 daysIndividual (Hiking, Bicycling, etc...) - $15.00Fee covers the entry of an individual that is hiking, bicycling, etc... for 7 daysMotorcycle - $25.00Fee covers the entry of a motorcycle and its occupants for 7 daysCommercial Sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity - $25.00Commercial sedan, 1 to 6 passenger capacity. $25 plus $10 per person - 7 days for Original ManifestCommercial Van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity - $50.00Commercial van, 7 to 15 passenger capacity; $50 - 7 days for Original ManifestCommercial Minibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity - $60.00Minibus, 16 to 25 passenger capacity; $60 - 7 days for Original ManifestCommercial Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity - $150.00Motorcoach, 26 or more passenger capacity; $150 - 7 days for Original ManifestBadlands National Park charges an entrance fee. You may purchase a 7-day pass valid at only Badlands National Park by selecting from the choices (Private Vehicle, Motorcycle, or Individual). If you are visiting other federal recreation areas consider purchasing an Interagency Pass (Annual, Senior, Access, Military, etc.) when you arrive at the park. If you already hold one of the accepted entrance passes you do not need to purchase any of the 7-day passes.Site Passes purchased on Recreation.gov are non-refundable and non-transferable. Only purchase this Badlands National Park Site Pass if you do not plan to use another pass to cover the entrance fee.
When we head back
Yes, you can bring your Pet.
You can bring your pets into Badlands National Park with some restrictions. Pets must be kept on a leash no more than six feet in length at all times. Pets are only permitted in developed areas, such as campgrounds, and picnic areas, and other areas open to motor vehicles, such as gravel and paved roadways, and parking lots. Pets are prohibited from hiking trails, public buildings such as visitor centers, and back country areas, including the Badlands Wilderness Area, and areas with prairie dog colonies. Pet etiquette dictates always cleaning up animal waste and disposing of it in trash receptacles. Pets are prohibited in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center unless they are a certified service animal. Emotional support animals are not service animals and are not allowed in the visitor center.
