BLACK HILLS & BADLANDS REGION Moonscapes at Badlands National Park THERE’S TONS OF GOOD IN BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK Enter the otherworldly landscape where sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blend together with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in the U.S. Deepen your appreciation of the very essence of nature by taking a drive through Badlands National Park. It is desolation at its purest, where you can look for miles and see no sign of civilization. Disconcerting, maybe, but the meadowlark piping in the cool morning air and the darting pronghorns seem company enough. There are no obstructions to mar the horizon and the land unfolds until it meets the sky. The more than 160 square miles of indescribable beauty, known as the Badlands, has been designated as part of our national park system since 1939. and take pictures of the nighttime sky, an endless sea of stars. The annual Badlands Astronomy Festival celebrates the beauty of a dark night sky and the wonder of space exploration, Aug. 14 to 16, 2020. ATTRACTIONS The Badlands are ideally viewed early or late in the day when deep shadows define their forms. A fresh rain reveals amazing colors. At first, neither eye nor mind can comprehend the landscape. To get a birds-eye view of the park, and unparalleled photos, book an exhilarating aerial tour with Badlands Helicopters. Experience a combination of art and history that tells the story of Lakota culture at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village, coming in 2020. To take photos in pioneer clothing and see a real sod house for a homesteader experience, stop by at the Prairie Homestead, a historic site at Exit 131 off of I-90. BISON After the historic release of bison to the expanded northern unit of the park in 2019, the herd of 1,200 can be easily spotted in the 22,000 acre area. Don’t miss a chance to stop and see these two-ton beasts roaming this unit for the first time since 1877. PHOTOGRAPHY As you make your way through the park, keep your camera handy for wildlife sightings that may include bison, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs. Take advantage of zero light pollution in the Park 48 // #DiscoverBlackHills
South Dakota Vacation Guide South Dakota Vacation Guide South Dakota Vacation Guide 2020: Page 48
