Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park
Welcome to Badlands National Park, where the ancient Spirits of the land can still be heard. Since time immemorial, the area that now encompasses Badlands National Park was home to the indigenous residents, the great Sioux Nation. The park contains the world's richest Oligocene epoch fossil beds, dating 37-28 million years old. The evolutionary stories of mammals such as the horse and rhinoceros arise from the 244,000 acres of magnificent buttes, pinnacles, and spires. One of the largest, protected mixed-grass prairies in the U.S., the park is home to bison, bighorn sheep, endangered black-footed ferrets, and swift foxes.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: Dr. Paige BakerPhone Number: 605-433-5361
Entrance Fees: Vehicle Pass (valid for 7 days): $10; Individual Pass (valid for 7 days): $7; Motorcycle Pass (valid for 7 days): $10; Badlands National Park Annual Pass (valid for one year after date of purchase): $30
Sights: Badlands Loop Road; Sage Creek Basin; Roberts Prairie Dog Town
Endangered Species: Black-footed Ferret
Important Dates
Established as Park: November 10, 1978By The Numbers
Acres: 242,756.00Highest Point: Red Shirt Table (3345 feet)
Annual Visitation: 840,118 (2006)
Location
Latitude / Longitude :43.710880 / -102.477030 (map it)
State: SD
Nearby Big City: Interior, SD
Gateway Communities: Interior, SD; Kadoka, SD; Wall, SD; Scenic, SD; Quinn, SD
Nearby Airports: Rapid City, SC (RAP)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : No
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
Park Photos
Colored Hills
Jonathan Larsen
Landscape Sunset
Jonathan Larsen
Rock Erosion
Christina Tisi-Kramer
View More Badlands Photos
In Detail
Black Footed Ferret The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is considered to be the most endangered land mammal in North America. Thought to be extinct in the 1970s, a small colony of this small member of the weasel ... read more.
Did You Know : The Sioux The Sioux called this harsh terrain mako sica, literally "land bad." French-Canadian trappers, the first white men to see the area, labeled it les mauvaises terres à traverser, or "bad land to tra ... read more.
Frank Wright "Let sculptors come to the Badlands. Let painters come. But first of all the true architect should come. He who could interpret this vast gift of nature in terms of human habi- tation so that America ... read more.
In A Nutshell The stunning panorama of Badlands National Park rests just an hour east of Rapid City on I-90 (exits 110 or 131). This 244,000-acre landscape is both barren and beautiful. Wind and rain erosion have ... read more.
Oh, Ranger! Growing up I spent a considerable amount of time outdoors and it was this experience that gave me a strong appreciation of the natural world. My father and uncle were national park rangers and I had ... read more.
Park Regulations & Safety Permits Badlands National Park's rugged beauty and spectacular scenery lead many to consider its use as a backdrop for filming, organized activities, or wedding ceremonies. A special park use is a s ... read more.
Planning Your Visit PLAN YOUR VISIT The park's main visitor center, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, is open daily all year, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. During the summer months, ranger-led program ... read more.
Recent News
- Badlands National Park Teems with Nice Surprises October 14, 2008, 4:57 pm
- Badlands National Park Teems with Nice Surprises September 22, 2008, 12:11 pm
- More than Rushmore: Take a South Dakota trip August 7, 2008, 11:47 am
- Oglala Sioux could regain Badlands national parkland June 10, 2008, 6:33 pm
- Why national parks, coal-fired power plants may be neighbors April 23, 2008, 2:23 pm
Badlands In Depth
News from the Parks
Frommer's Top 5 Parks for Cozy Camping
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
Park to Reopen Today after Crews Repair Road, Channel Kautz Creek
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
Jenna Otter Returns to Scene of Grizzly Bear Attack
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
Expected Rule Change Would Benefit Bicycling in National Parks
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
Things Slow At Hawaii's National Parks
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.
