Badlands National Park BLACK HILLS & BADLANDS REGION Photo Credit Jason Byars BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK 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 BADLANDS REGION beckon travelers to explore Badlands National Park. 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. 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. 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. 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 life-size models. Shop the Badlands Natural History Association Store for souvenirs to commemorate your visit. 66 // #DiscoverBlackHills
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2021 South Dakota Vacation Guide: Page 66
