One of two national parks in South Dakota and one of the few located in north-central United States, Badlands National Park is a rugged landscape featuring sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles, alongside the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the country. Known for its vibrant formations that evoke the Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert in Arizona, the term “badlands” refers to a geographical term typically used to describe soft sedimentary rocks that erode easily. Remarkably, regardless of easy erosion, the Badlands formations have a lifespan of about one million years, eroding at a rate of approximately one inch per year. Hence, the otherworldly landscape of Badlands National Park has been shaped over millions of years, creating a striking environment that feels almost Martian in appearance.

A distinctive feature of the rock formations throughout Badlands National Park is their ability to reveal Earth’s history, providing a glimpse into the planet’s past. The layers of rock correspond to various moments in geologic time, with the oldest layer at the bottom and the youngest layer capping the formations.

• Pierre Shale: The oldest layer, forming the foundation of the Badlands.
• Yellow Mounds: An altered version of the Pierre Shale, characterized by vibrant hues.
• Paleosols: Ancient fossilized soils that often appear as brightly colored layers, offering a glimpse into past ecosystems.
• Chadron Formation: Composed mainly of light grey claystone beds, this layer was deposited about 37 to 34 million years ago.
• Brule Formation: Dating from 34 to 30 million years ago, this formation represents a cooler and drier period in geological history.
• Sharps Formation: The youngest geological formation, formed approximately 30 to 28 million years ago.

Together, these layers tell a complex story of environmental change, showcasing the dynamic processes that have shaped the Badlands over millions of years.

Badlands National Park was established as Badlands National Monument in 1929 and officially upgraded to a national park in 1978. Originally designated as a reservation for the Oglala Sioux Native Americans, the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868 initially promised that the Sioux would maintain control over the Badlands, ensuring the land would remain theirs forever. Unsurprisingly, this treaty was broken in 1889 when the U.S. government confiscated the Badlands. In an effort to rectify this, in 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court awarded the Sioux compensation for the dissolution of the treaty. They did not accept the money.

Located approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes east of Rapid City, the area covers a vast expansion of 242,756 acres (379 square miles). Despite this, Badlands National Park doesn’t even rank among the top ten largest national parks in the U.S. It certainly feels immense, with visitors able to spend an entire day or several days exploring its many nooks and crannies.

The park features two visitor centers strategically located at opposite ends:

• The main center, Ben Reifel Visitor Center, situated in the North Unit at 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750, which is open daily year-round from 8am to 5pm and offers various amenities, including museum exhibits, a bookstore, a Fossil Preparation Lab, an air-conditioned theater, and restroom facilities.
• The White River Visitor Center, located in the South Unit at 2734 BIA 2, Porcupine, SD 57772, which operates daily from 9am to 4pm during every season except winter, officially closing on October 14^th. Though significantly smaller than Ben Reifel, it provides essential services such as a staffed information desk, exhibits, restrooms, picnic tables, and water.

Badlands National Park offers 8 official trails, each showcasing the unique landscape and geological features of the area.

• Door Trail: a 0.75-mile round-trip trail rated as easy. It begins with a 0.25-mile boardwalk that transitions into a walk across the rugged terrain, leading through a break in the Badlands Wall known as “the Door.”
• Window Trail: a shorter, 0.25-mile round-trip trail, also rated easy, that leads to a natural “window” offering stunning views into a beautifully eroded canyon.
• Notch Trail: a 1.5-mile round-trip trail rated as moderate to strenuous. It takes hikers through a canyon, ascending a log ladder, and following a ledge to reach “the Notch,” which provides a dramatic vista of White River Valley. This trail is not recommended for those with a fear of heights.
• Castle Trail: the park’s longest trail at 10 miles round trip and is rated moderate. It begins at the Door and Window parking area and stretches 5 miles one way to the Fossil Exhibit Trail.
• Cliff Shelf: a 0.5-mile round-trip loop rated as moderate, featuring boardwalks and stairs that wind through a juniper forest along the Badlands Wall. Hikers may spot a small pond (weather permitting) that attracts wildlife like deer and bighorn sheep.
• Saddle Pass: a short but strenuous 0.25-mile round-trip trail that climbs steeply up the Badlands Wall, offering breathtaking views of the White River Valley.
• Medicine Root Loop: the second-longest trail in the park, spanning 4 miles round trip and rated moderate. It connects with Castle Trail and allows hikers to explore the mixed grass prairie.
• Fossil Exhibit Trail: an easy 0.25-mile round-trip trail featuring a fully accessible boardwalk. It showcases fossil replicas and exhibits of now-extinct creatures that once inhabited the area.

Whether you’re seeking a leisurely stroll or a challenging hike, Badlands National Park has a trail for everyone to explore and enjoy its interesting landscapes. Badlands National Park features a unique Open Hike Policy, allowing visitors to hike off-trail at their own risk during daylight hours, from dawn to dusk. However, pets are not allowed on any trails.

During our visit to Badlands National Park, we explored three trails: Door Trail, Window Trail, and Fossil Exhibit Trail. All three trails we chose were easy to navigate, especially Window Trail and Fossil Exhibit Trail. Door Trail was the most challenging of the trio, primarily due to the heat and rocky terrain. However, my 7-year-old managed to make it there and back, only needing assistance from me a handful of times.

I highly recommend Door Trail, as it takes you almost 0.4 miles into the vast Badlands terrain, away from the boardwalks, parking lots, and paved roads, allowing you to immerse yourself in the true essence of Badlands National Park. It truly feels like you’ve been teleported to another planet – like you’ve left Earth’s surface and landed on Mars. The Fossil Exhibit Trail is particularly intriguing because it’s educational, featuring numerous informative signs that provide insight into the ancient creatures that once roamed this land.

We also drove the renowned Badlands Loop, stopping at numerous breathtaking viewpoints, including Toadstool Rock, White River Valley, Bigfoot Pass, Panorama Point, Conata Basin, Yellow Mounds, Ancient Hunters, and Pinnacles. Despite this, we only scratched the surface, as these viewpoints represent just a fraction of the numerous scenic overlooks scattered throughout the park. While some of these viewpoints offered similar views, others presented unique perspectives, particularly Bigfoot Pass, Yellow Mounds, and Ancient Hunters. These three viewpoints were my favorite, as Bigfoot Pass showcased the expansive prairie landscape, Yellow Mounds highlighted the vibrant colors of the Paleosols layer, and Ancient Hunters provided a sweeping view of the surrounding national park’s vast terrain.

For a more immersive experience, camping is allowed year-round at Badlands National Park, including backcountry camping. There are two designated backcountry camping locations: Deer Haven and the Sage Creek Wilderness Area, where permits are currently NOT required. However, park officials request that visitors register their plans at various locations, including the Medicine/Castle Trail Loop, Saddle Pass Trailhead, Conata Picnic Area, Sage Creek Basin Overlook, and Sage Creek Campground.

The park features two established campgrounds: Cedar Pass Campground and Sage Creek Campground. Cedar Pass Campground, located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, offers 96 level sites and accommodates RVs. For further information regarding reservations and fees, contact Cedar Pass Lodge at (605) 433-5460. Sage Creek Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis, with 22 sites situated along Sage Creek Rim Road, which is unpaved and may be closed after winter storms or spring rains. Note that motor homes, pull-behind trailers, and other recreational vehicles longer than 18 feet are prohibited, though this restriction does not apply to horse trailers. Camping also ensures the best chance to see the beautiful night sky.

Lastly, Badlands National Park is an excellent place to spot wildlife – if you’re lucky. You might see bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, deer, coyotes, snakes, and more. For the best chance of spotting bison, take a drive down Sage Creek Rim Road. We were fortunate enough to spot several bighorn sheep while driving along the Badlands Loop, which caused a small traffic jam, but was awesome, nonetheless. We also encountered what seemed like hundreds of prairie dogs!

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Overall – and truthfully – out of the 14 national parks I have visited, Badlands National Park does not rank high on that list. This is purely a personal opinion, as I’m sure many people consider Badlands their favorite national park. In fact, out of the 8 places my daughter and I visited on this trip, she chose Badlands as her favorite. I tend to prefer forests and mountains, and the Badlands reminded me too much of Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert, which I’ve already seen and experienced. However, despite it not being one of my favorites, I am still thrilled to have finally visited and feel blessed to mark it off my list. It’s a beautiful place, one rich in history, colorful rock formations, and wildlife. If you’re ever in the Black Hills or Rapid City, South Dakota area, I highly recommend setting aside a day, or even half a day, to explore this vast geological wonder!