layered rock formations
Tourism Sites
Badlands National Park
🧠 Fact: This otherworldly park features layered rock formations and rich fossil beds.
💡 Tip: Drive the 39-mile Badlands Loop Road for the park’s best scenic overlooks.
Info
Badlands National Park in southwestern South Dakota spans 244,000 acres of dramatic landscapes, featuring eroded buttes, spires, and expansive mixed-grass prairies. Renowned for its rich fossil beds, the park offers glimpses into ancient ecosystems with remains of three-toed horses and saber-toothed cats. Visitors can explore the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway, hike diverse trails, and observe wildlife such as bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs. The park also holds cultural significance for the Oglala Lakota people, with areas like the Stronghold Unit located within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Established as a national monument in 1939 and designated a national park in 1978, Badlands offers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical depth.
Badlands National Park
🧠 Fact: Dramatic landscapes of layered rock formations and rich fossil beds.
💡 Tip: Sunrise and sunset offer surreal lighting for photography.
info
Badlands National Park in South Dakota showcases dramatic landscapes of layered buttes, spires, and canyons formed by millions of years of erosion. Spanning 244,000 acres, the park is home to diverse wildlife, including bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and the endangered black-footed ferret. Visitors can explore scenic drives like the 39-mile Badlands Loop Road, hike trails such as the Notch and Castle Trails, and view ancient fossils along the Fossil Exhibit Trail. The Ben Reifel Visitor Center offers exhibits and ranger programs, providing insights into the park's rich geology and ecology.