Badlands National Park is a relatively small park in the mid-west. Located in the heart of the Great Plains, the park is surrounded by the vast grass prairies of South Dakota. In addition to the rich wildlife that the park preserves, the area is also filled with interesting topographical and geological features, such as sharp stone pillars and iconic crags and buttes creating a rugged, otherworldly terrain.
The park’s uniqueness is not limited to just its landscape. History too plays an interesting part. Native American tribes migrated into the region thousands of years ago, first following woolly mammoths and later massive herds of bison (which were later driven to extinction by white settlers in their efforts to damage the tribes’ main food source). The Lakota tribe gave this wilderness its name – The Bad Lands, as the region is known for its extreme weather – blazing heat and thunderstorms in summer, and bristling snowstorms in winter.
The park’s sedimentary bedrock was formed in an ancient sea that covered the Great Plains 75 million years ago. The sea was abundant with aquatic life that once dying, sunk to the ocean floor, thus fossilizing. Fossils of fish, sea turtles and different molluscs. The tectonic raising of the Rocky Mountains to the west caused the sea’s water to retreat and a dense forest covered the region. As the years passed, the climate cooled and became drier, and the forests gave way savannas, and ultimately to grass prairies. Each such faze of the park’s history gave creation to different geological features.
The park is in the middle of nowhere. The drive from most travel destinations to the park is long and its surrounding territories seem godforsaken. The park’s remoteness makes it mostly suitable for advanced travellers, who have already visited the more popular national parks in the USA and now want to witness less travelled, more authentic destinations. Badlands is also a great destination for wildlife watching enthusiasts, those who enjoy quiet and vast open spaces, and of course gorgeous star gazing, as, due to the park’s remoteness its nights offer pitch black darkness.
When to visit Badlands National Park:
I recommend visiting the park staring in late spring through autumn as the winters in the park are harsh and cold.
Spring (March-May): The weather in March (and sometimes April) is still cold, and at night the temperature can fall bellow freezing temperature. Starting April the temperature gradually increases, and mid April and May are temperature wise, with wildflowers blooming in late May. Thus, late spring is the most suitable time to visit the park.
Summer (June-September): These months are characterized by hot days (temperatures can reach above 85°F) and cool nights. June is the rainiest month, with precipitation usually coming in the form of violent afternoon thunderstorms. Rainfall decreases from July onwards. Its worth noting that even in June the precipitation is concentrated but is not much, hence the summer months are still a recommended time to visit. September is a great month to visit the park as both temperatures and rainfall drop compared to the summer months.
Autumn (October-November): October sees a fast drop in temperatures that can fall bellow freezing temperature at night. November is already a winter month with all that that implies. It is still possible to travel the park in early Autumn, but warm clothes are required. The end of Autumn might already be too cold to visit the park enjoyably.
Winter (December-February): As mentioned, winters in the park are cold and snowy, with the average night temperature falling bellow 15°F. Most of the park’s roads are closed at this time of year, depending on the weather. Winter is certainly not a recommended time to visit Badlands.
Location and arrival directions:
Badlands NP is adjacent the I-90 freeway. The closest city to the park (an hour’s drive west) is Rapid City SD which has a small regional airport. Denver is a 6-hour drive to the south, and Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis are 12, 11 and 7.5 hours away, respectively. (The drive is mostly between infinite corn fields adorned with picturesque farms).
Badlands National Park – Where to visit and for how long?
Badlands NP consists of three sectors, marked here in different colors. The two southern units (Palmer Creek Unit and Stronghold Unit) are in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and are more difficult to travel through, as they offer less marked trails and access roads. For those arriving on a timed schedule, it is recommended to spend the whole visit in the North Unit. This sector includes the Badlands Loop Road, a scenic byway which offers a comprehensive overview of the park, including wildlife spotting and witnessing the park’s different geological features. Taking a full day to drive the Loop Road and hike the short trails along it is very much recommended. There is a visitor’s center at the start of the road where visitors can obtain additional information.
Road opening schedule:
The main road in the North Unit (Badlands Loop Road) marked here in yellow, is well paved, and therefore open year-round (weather permitting). Rim Road, marked here in pink, is a good dirt road (long caravans should ask about accessibility), yet tends to close more often (due to floods, snow, and ground erosion). If both roads are open it is recommended to drive them both, and if Rim Road is closed it is possible to return to the I90 via the road marked here in black.
Badlands National Park – Recommended locations:
Medicine Root Trail is a highly recommended hike (4 miles, easy-moderate). The trail winds between light colored clay crags and green grass meadows. I recommend hiking the round-trip part of the trail in a clockwise direction.
The trail’s location, marked here in blue:
Other trails worth a stop:
- The short Window, Door, and Notch trails (the first is relatively strenuous and the latter two fairly easy). Easy strolls between marvellous landscapes.
- The short Fossil Exhibit Trail, where fossils are displayed as well as interesting information placards. Nice but not indispensable.
There are fewer hiking trails as you continue further west on the Badlands Loop Road, but there are wonderful scenic lookouts with great views, some of the many tributaries of the Cheyenne River, some of arid plains, and some of round yellow hills rolling between green grass prairies. Some lookouts offer dramatic views of steep monoliths made of volcanic rock. The best lookouts are marked in the following map in yellow. Marked in blue is a ‘Prairie Dog Town’, an immense Prairie Dog colony, which is most exiting to watch. (There are other colonies in the park, but this one is the biggest).
Lodging and Camping in Badlands National Park:
Visitors in the park can lodge in neighbouring Rapid City which has several hotels or at the park’s lodge, or camp in one of two sublime campgrounds located in the park – Cedar Pass Campground and Sage Creek Campground. Sage Creek Campground prettier but offers no flowing water and it is not possible to reserve a site in advance. (Both campgrounds offer very little shade).
Other attractions in the area:
Not far from Badlands NP is Wall Drug Store, a shopping center themed as an old wild west town, where you can buy souvenirs, cowboy hats and boots and more.
- For a map of the park click here.
- For other destinations in the Central USA click here.
- For an overview of all 50 national parks in the lower 48 – ranked click here.
Tents in Cedar Pass Campground, overlooked by some of the parks many crags
Hiking the Medicine Root Trail
A typical view of the rough, jagged landscape
A female Bighorn Sheep amidst the park’s scenery
Prairie Dogs standing guard outside their burrows. When feeling threatened, a Prairie Dog will let out a high-pitched shriek, thus informing his partners to scramble back inside. Watching them is an amusing experience, especially for those travelling with children
Wild Bison in a blooming mustard field (the mustard blooms in early August)
