2021-01-19 11:30:22
Land Of Stone And Light The Lakota people named this area “mako sica,” or “bad lands,” because of how difficult the terrain is to traverse. Today, those same deep draws, high tables and the rolling prairie beckon travelers to explore Badlands National Park. ABOUT THE PARK Badlands National Park consists of 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed-grass prairie in the U.S. These striking geologic deposits also contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. VISITOR CENTER Familiarize yourself with your surroundings at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Rangers are on site to answer your questions and provide you with park materials. Watch an impressive 22-minute film. Learn about the history and stories of the park through photos, audio-visual elements and lifesize models. Shop the Badlands Natural History Association Store for souvenirs to commemorate your visit. The White River Visitor Center is located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the South Unit of the park. Talk with rangers about the significance of the Badlands in Lakota heritage, learn about the area’s history through exhibits, and get maps and additional information about the park. SOUTH UNIT Since 1976, the National Park Service and the Oglala Sioux Tribe have partnered in managing Badlands National Park. Plans are in place to establish the park’s South Unit as the nation’s first tribal national park. WILDERNESS AREA The park is home to the sprawling 64,000-acre Badlands Wilderness Area — the largest example of mixed-prairie grassland in the U.S. See strangely eroded hills and gullies alternate with a rolling sea of grass in the northern unit of the park. Bison roam alongside deer, rattlesnakes and bighorn sheep. The Sage Creek portion of the wilderness area houses Roberts Prairie Dog Town. This former homestead has been converted into one of the largest colonies of blacktailed prairie dogs. For Badlands National Park business listings, turn to page 133. SEVEN ESSENTIAL THINGS TO DO In Badlands National Park 1 TREK THROUGH THE PARK Explore the park on established hiking trails that range from flat stretches through prairie landscape to uphill climbs through the pinnacle formations. The Fossil Exhibit Trail, a National Scenic Trail, is one of the most heavily used and gives visitors a glimpse into the park’s distant past. Chat with a ranger at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center for advice. 2 TAKE A SCENIC DRIVE Explore the park from the comfort of your car. Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway meanders through towering buttes, dramatic cliffs and striated spires. Stop at one of the many scenic overlooks along the way. Travel along the northern rim of the Badlands Wilderness Area on Sage Creek Rim Road. The gravel road hugs the dramatic drop off that separates the South Dakota prairie from the alien landscape below. 3 WATCH FOR WILDLIFE The park is home to many resilient creatures, including some of the most endangered species in North America. Keep your eyes peeled for bighorn sheep, black-footed ferrets, pronghorn and prairie dogs. The park’s herd of over 1,000 bison are easy to spot in the northern unit. Remember to always watch wildlife from a distance. 4 CAPTURE THE MAGIC HOUR The Badlands are ideally viewed early or late in the day when subtle shades of red, yellow, and tan in the pinnacles and buttes become deeper and richer. A fresh rain reveals profound colors in the formations, too. The long rays of light in the magic hour cast dramatic shadows, adding a three-dimensional quality to photographs. 5 ENJOY THE NIGHT SKY Take advantage of zero light pollution and marvel at over 7,500 stars visible in the sky, including the phenomenal clarity of the Milky Way Galaxy. In the summer, rangers point out constellations and provide telescopes during Night Sky Programs at Cedar Pass Amphitheater. The Badlands Astronomy Festival, held annual in July, celebrates the beauty of the night sky and the wonder of space exploration. 6 WATCH PALEONTOLOGISTS See paleontologists at work in the Fossil Preparation Lab in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Ask them questions to learn more about the ongoing science at Badlands National Park. Fossil preparation includes identifying species based on fossil characteristics, removing rock from fossils, and preparing and cataloging finished specimens for display. 7 GO ON A FAMILY-FRIENDLY ADVENTURE Pick up a copy of the GPS Adventure Activity Book at the visitor center. A GPS-enabled device will help you navigate to natural features, trails and wayside exhibits where you can learn more about the park. To learn more about Badlands National Park, visit nps.gov/badl.
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