Imagine a jagged lunar landscape with large swaths of grass prairie amidst its bare canyons and high buttes and you'll have an idea what the Badlands of South Dakota look like. Much of this delicate natural environment, shaped by eons of erosion, is protected as part of Badlands National Park. Along with sightseers admiring the extraterrestrial-looking landscape, the national park draws outdoor enthusiasts for its recreational activities and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Daytime Fun
- Driving the scenic loop road and hiking are two of the most popular activities in the park. The Highway 240 Loop Road circles the north unit of the park, providing many overlooks where you can pull off to take in the view. To get a closer view, leave the car and take a hike on any of the numerous trails. Stop at the the visitor center on the loop road for hiking and driving maps and to get advice from park rangers on what trails and routes are best for you.
After Dark
- Badlands has a surprisingly good nightlife. No, it's not bars and clubs with pulsating music and a dance floor -- it's the stargazing. The nighttime sky inside the park is prime stargazing territory due to the lack of light pollution in this remote area. During the summer months, park rangers offer a night sky viewing program on certain nights. But no matter when you visit, you can simply look up on a clear night and behold the Milky Way with a clarity you're likely not used to seeing. Camping in the backcountry area of the park is an especially good place to do some stargazing on your own.
- Bring Your Binoculars
- With 244,000 acres of pristine landscape, it's no surprise that Badlands is home to a lot of wildlife. The best wildlife viewing opportunities are between spring and fall on the backcountry trails, but you could spot animals such as bighorn sheep, bison and the rare black-footed ferret anywhere in the park. Birders frequent the park for the number of avian species that have been seen there. And, since this is prairie land after all, prairie dogs are often spotted frolicking through the grasslands.
Wildlife From A Bygone Era
- Wildlife that doesn't exist anymore once roamed the Badlands area, and you can see their fossils when visiting the park. Scientists have discovered a plethora of fossils from the Oligocene era. These include marine life as well as land mammals, because the Badlands was once the bed of an ancient sea. The visitor center at park headquarters contains a working paleontology lab open to visitors at certain times of year where they can learn more about the fossil record. Visitors have been known to make their own unexpected fossil finds in Badlands. If you stumble upon such a find, report it to park authorities as soon as possible.
