Explore Badlands, South Dakota

Bandlands National Park was established as a national monument in order to protect the abundance of fossils within the land’s natural stone structures. While visitors and fossil hunters still loot the park of its fossils today, it is forbidden by the National Park Service. Instead, use your treasure-hunting skills to find one of the most endangered mammals in the world – the black-foot ferret. Only about 300 black-foot ferrets exist today and Badlands National Park is one of the few places it calls home. 

For eleven thousand years, American Indians used the Badlands as their hunting grounds. You can walk in their shoes as you venture out and explore the hills and dirt-trail terrain. If staying the night, you can find lodging and campgrounds for your overnight stay. 

We spent an entire day driving, hiking and exploring various trails and scenic overlooks throughout the park. At what seems like every turn, there is a pull-off or trail offering up its hidden treasures. As you drive around, regardless of what the speed limit is, you’ll be driving at a snails pace. This is for various reasons. Everyone here is taking their time, enjoying the drive around the park. No one is in a hurry to miss out on the bighorn sheep grazing in the field or the bison blocking the roadway. It’s a welcome change of pace to your normal day-to-day life. 

As we coasted around the park, our next adventure was usually pretty easy to find. A ton of cars pulled off to the side of the road was usually a good indicator of wildlife such as deer, bison or mountain goats (like in our case) out and about. Other times we would roll up to a large pull-off area where the scenic views were jaw dropping. In one instance we noticed a wide-open field with dirt mounds. We pulled in and saw dozens of prairie dogs playing and chase one another.

GAS STATIONS: One word of advice when planning a trip to Badlands: make sure you fill up your tank before you drive through the park. You won’t be encountering gas stations inside the park. The two gas stations are located on either end of the park. If you happen to need a fill-up, we stopped by the old gas station Cowboy Corner. This is a classic and wonderful flashback to the good ol’ days. The gas pumps are analog and you’ll need to flip up the pump the old fashioned way. The country store is a great throwback of the old country store you might have grown up with — the one with delicious jerky in jar and a drink cooler that doesn’t shut all the way. 

If you’re considering a trip to Bandlands then allow us to recommend it to you. It is one of the most unique parks that we’ve been to and one that will certainly be a memorable experience for you. 

Rules & Tips

• Always carry water! Two quarts per person per two hour hike is recommended.
• Hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are strongly encouraged. Rain gear is also recommended, since weather conditions can change rapidly.
• Wear sturdy boots or shoes to protect your feet from cactus spines and snake bites.
• Keep a distance of at least 100 feet from all wildlife encountered during your hike. If wildlife reacts to your presence at all, you are too close.
• Remember that all park resources — fossils, plants, animals, artifacts, and rocks — are to remain as you find them. All visitors are entitled to the same sense of discovery you experience when traveling the park trails, and collecting these items is illegal.