Badlands National Park is about 50 miles east of Rapid City off I-90 in south-central South Dakota. This 244,000-acre park protects large tracts of prairie and stark rock formations. There are chiseled spires, ridges, and deep canyons. The land has been ravaged over the years by wind and rain and these ridges, spires, and knobs are reminders of the powerful forces of nature.

The Badlands are the result of a natural history that began around the time the dinosaurs vanished, about 65 million years ago. The Pierre Sea, which divided the continent, drained away and made North America whole again. From 37 million to 23 million years ago, the climate became cool and dry. Flooding over the years left layers of volcanic ash and mud. Between floods, plant-eating mammals lived off the vegetation. The meat-eating mammals left behind the bones of their prey, which became fossils and sediment. These fossils are the best and most complete record of the Oligocene Epoch, the Golden Age of Mammals, that took place after the dinosaurs. About half a million years ago, erosion sliced through the prairie and the layers of mudstone, creating a landscape that is both chaotic and spectacular. The French fur traders referred to the land as les mauvaises terres \340 traverser, or “bad lands to travel across.” The Lakota Indians named it “mako sica,” or “land bad.” The word “badlands” became the generic geologic name for all barren, eroded landscapes in South Dakota, Montana, Mongolia, on the Moon, and on Mars. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the Badlands a national monument “to preserve the scenery, to protect the fossils and wildlife and to conserve the mixed-grass prairie.” In 1978, Congress elevated the area to national park status.

There are many activities in the park, no matter what time of year. The Ben Riefel Visitor Center at Cedar Pass is 5 miles inside the park, off Hwy 240, and offers a video of attractions, history, camping, and other information. The White River Visitor Center is 55 miles southwest of Route 27 in the park’s southern section. These centers are helpful because most roadways in the park are unpaved and are accessible only by 4WD vehicles or on foot or horseback. The Sage Creek Wilderness Area was set aside in 1976 by Congress for no further development. It is open for hiking, backpacking, and other activities. The buffalo created the only trails here. There is a campground just south of the Ben Riefel Visitor Center. For back-country camping, visitors must contact a ranger for detailed instructions.

The most popular activity in the park is hiking. Visitors can pick up trail guides from a visitor center. Hiking is permitted throughout the park but climbing on the formations is not encouraged. Visitors should always plan their route with a park ranger and take a compass, a map, and plenty of water. It is advisable to wear long pants and boots to avoid the poison ivy and bites from the venomous prairie rattlesnake.

The Door Trail winds through rocks and crevices and provides great views of the landscapes. The Window Trail is short but offers a spectacular view. The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail is through the woods and is unpaved. The Notch Trail is for the more experienced hiker—it involves climbs around narrow ledges and some risky footing up a 45-degree embankment. At the end is an unbelievable view of the Cliff Shelf and White River Valley. The Saddle Pass Trail is also suited to the experienced hiker. It climbs very steeply to the top of the Badlands Wall, then connects with the Castle and Medicine Root Trails. To view wildlife, visitors can try the Sage Creek Rim Road to see herds of buffalo and antelope. Hikers should always check with a ranger for details before beginning.

The Badlands are one of the last of the world’s great grasslands.

These grasslands are home to thousands of species of plants and wildlife. Year-round they are brimming with life—altogether there are 50 different grasses and about 200 different wildflowers.

Despite the drastic temperatures, from summer to winter, many animals live in the Badlands. Prairie dogs, badgers, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, antelope, Rocky Mountain bighorns, mule deer, cottontail- and jackrabbits, prairie rattlers, bull snakes, cliff swallows, and golden eagles are just a few. It is also home to 500 head of buffalo.

For a stunning drive, visitors can take Route 240/ Loop Road to see the national park. It is a winding road through the colored bluffs and provides views of the many different Badlands terrain.

Other attractions are helicopter tours and the Badlands Petrified Gardens, located at exit 152 off I-90. Here are the largest petrified trees and logs ever found in the Badlands. There is a museum, which holds prehistoric fossils and an exhibit of minerals, agates, and crystals. There are also about a dozen horseback-riding trail outfits, and guest ranches offer 1-hour, 2-hour, and 2-day rides.

Located just south of the Ben Riefel Visitor Center is an inn and a lodge, which rents cabins, and lodging is also found in nearby towns, such as Wall. There are two campsites situated inside the park. Badlands National Park has a modest entrance fee. Buses leave daily from Rapid City.