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Badlands National Park protects a stark, eroded landscape in southwestern South Dakota, where layers of sediment have been carved into buttes, spires and gullies banded in shades of tan, red and gray. Around them stretches one of the largest protected areas of mixed-grass prairie in the country. The rock layers are also rich in fossils of ancient mammals, which has made the area important to paleontology. Lakota people have long known this land, and part of the park lies within the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Many visitors begin at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, which explains the geology and fossil record. Nearby, the short Door Trail and Window Trail lead into the formations, and the Notch Trail includes a log ladder climb to a ledge overlooking the White River Valley. The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail passes through a pocket of juniper woodland, and the Fossil Exhibit Trail displays casts of fossils found in the area. Along the main loop road, the Yellow Mounds Overlook shows striking colored hills, while the Pinnacles Overlook and Panorama Point offer wide views.
The gravel Sage Creek Rim Road leads to Roberts Prairie Dog Town and bison herds in the Sage Creek Wilderness. The park pairs well with the Black Hills, and the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site lies just to the east. Summer can be very hot.
WiserMap travel guideBadlands South Dakota Fossils Bison and Loop Road OverlooksPlan a Badlands trip: the Loop Road overlooks, Notch and Door trails, fossils, bison on Sage Creek Rim Road, Minuteman Missile and the town of Wall.Read the guide
Two short trails that start from the same parking area near the park's northeast entrance. The Window Trail is a brief boardwalk to a natural opening in the wall, while the Door Trail passes through a gap into a maze of eroded formations. Follow the numbered posts on the Door Trail, as it is easy to lose your way.
A 1.5-mile round-trip hike near Cedar Pass that follows a canyon, climbs a steep log ladder and runs along a narrow ledge to the Notch, a gap with a wide view over the White River Valley. It is one of the most popular hikes in the park. Skip it in rain or high wind, as the clay becomes slick.
A half-mile loop of boardwalks and stairs near Cedar Pass that climbs through a slumped block of earth where juniper trees grow, a green pocket in the dry badlands. Wildlife such as bighorn sheep and birds are sometimes seen. It is a good short walk for families, with a viewpoint over the White River Valley.
A quarter-mile accessible boardwalk on the Badlands Loop Road with fossil replicas and signs about the ancient mammals that lived here millions of years ago, such as early horses and rhinos. Real fossils still erode out of the hills, so if you find one, leave it in place and report it to a ranger.
The main visitor center at Cedar Pass, with exhibits on Badlands geology, fossils, wildlife and Lakota history, plus a short park film. In summer you can watch paleontologists work on fossils in the lab. Stop here first for trail maps, ranger program times and current road and weather conditions.
One of the most colorful stops on the Badlands Loop Road, where soft mounds of yellow, red and purple soil layers sit below the gray and tan peaks. These yellow layers formed from ancient seafloor sediments. Late afternoon light brings out the colors best, and there is a short pullout with parking.
Two high overlooks on the Badlands Loop Road with sweeping views over jagged spires and deep canyons. Pinnacles Overlook is near the entrance closest to the town of Wall, and Panorama Point is a short drive east. Both are popular at sunrise and sunset, and bighorn sheep often graze near Pinnacles.
The first overlook inside the northeast entrance off Interstate 90, with a boardwalk leading to the edge of a long wall of eroded buttes. It is one of the best sunrise spots in the park because it faces east and south. Arrive about 30 minutes before sunrise and bring a jacket, since mornings are often windy.
An unpaved road through the western part of the park with views over mixed-grass prairie and the Badlands Wilderness. Roberts Prairie Dog Town has hundreds of burrows and busy prairie dogs, and bison and bighorn sheep are often seen along the road. Drive slowly, as the gravel can be rough after rain.
Bison were reintroduced to Badlands in 1963 and now roam the Sage Creek Wilderness in the park's western section. They are often seen from Sage Creek Rim Road and near the free Sage Creek Campground. Stay in your car or keep at least 25 yards away, as bison are fast and can be dangerous.
A Cold War site near the park with a visitor center at Interstate 90 exit 131, a launch control facility called Delta-01 and the Delta-09 missile silo, where you can look down at a missile through a glass top. Ranger-led tours of Delta-01 are limited, so reserve them in advance online.
A sprawling roadside store in the small town of Wall, just north of the park, that grew famous after offering free ice water to travelers in the 1930s. Inside are western wear, souvenirs, a cafe with homemade donuts and five-cent coffee, and quirky displays. It makes an easy stop for food and supplies.
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