4 BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway Between the towns of Wall and Cactus Flat, this 39-mile loop of South Dakota Highway 240 features an array of ragged ridgelines, sawtooth spires and native grasslands. Pull over at any (or all!) of the 17 designated overlooks for incredible views. Take in sweeping vistas of otherworldly landscapes and stunning panoramas of vividly colored buttes, pinnacles, spires and canyons at Badlands National Park. The 244,000-acre park — once known as Mako Sica (a Lakota phrase meaning “land bad”) — features eroded land formations that reveal multicolored layers of various rock types: shale (purple & yellow), sand and gravel (tan & gray), iron oxides (red & orange) and volcanic ash (white). While you’re here, drive the Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway and keep your eyes open for an array of wildlife, including eagles, coyotes, pronghorn and bison. Since being given more room to roam, the resident bison herd numbers around 1,300. Spot individual bison and small groups along the park’s Sage Creek Rim Road. >> EAT & DRINK After a day of hiking and sightseeing in the great outdoors, scoot into a booth at Cedar Pass Restaurant in the park to savor Indian tacos — fluffy fry bread loaded with beans, buffalo meat and cheese — while taking in views of the Badlands. Or head over to Wall, where the Red Rock BBQ Grill & Steakhouse is known for its steak, burgers and salad bar. Finish your adventures by sipping locally made spirits at Badlands Distillery in Kadoka. Nearby Towns: Interior (2 miles); Wall (7.5 miles); Kadoka (23 miles) Insider’s Tip: Daybreak and dusk are best for observing the signature color striations of this lunar-like landscape. For stargazers, the remoteness of this region is heaven. Inquire into Night Sky Viewing programs led by Badlands National Park rangers spring through fall. 8 // #HiFromSD
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2024 South Dakota Vacation Guide: Page 8
