All 244,000 acres of Badlands National Park feel like something from a sci-fi novel. The park’s isolated buttes, sprawling canyons and towering spires beckon visitors to wander through its otherworldly landscape.
Your Badlands visit is bound to keep you entertained with so much to discover — famous hikes and overlooks will take you to new heights, local wildlife will captivate you and the community’s small businesses will add a special touch to your experience. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Check Out the Big Badlands Overlook
Upon entering Badlands National Park from the east, the Big Badlands Overlook is the first major view, making it the first stop for many park visitors. It offers a captivating panorama of the park's iconic features. You'll never experience a sunrise or sunset like this, when the play of shadows and colorful skies amplifies the beauty of the Badlands’ distinctive formations.
Stop at the Pinnacles Overlook
The Pinnacles Overlook is the highest-elevation overlook (3,342 feet) accessible by the scenic byway, offering a panoramic view of the Badlands. This vantage point unveils the vastness of the landscape, with the Black Hills peeking over the horizon on clear days. Nature lovers can spot bison in the valley below or on the upper northwest prairie. The overlook also becomes a lambing hot spot for bighorn sheep from late April to early May, providing a chance to witness adorable lambs navigating the rocky slopes.
Drive the Badlands Loop Road
The Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway is perhaps the best way to experience Badlands National Park in under an hour. That is, if you drive the 39-mile loop without stopping — but almost nobody does that. Breathtaking rock formations and native grassland filled with numerous species of plants and animals virtually guarantee you’ll want to stop somewhere along the route to enjoy the view. There are 16 designated scenic overlooks. Each are convenient and safe spots to pull off on the roadside to take in the sights and snap outstanding photos.
Best Hikes in Badlands National Park
Some things go together — like hiking and Badlands National Park. Explore the unique terrain of the park by foot on one of these beautiful trails:
Notch Trail
This intermediate hike spans about 1.5 miles, leading you up, down and all around the Badlands’ rocky terrain. The trail is highlighted by a 50-foot ladder — a steep ascent that adds an extra thrill to your excursion.
Castle Trail
The Castle Trail is a flatter but lengthier trail that leads you through rippling grasslands and colossal buttes. The trail spans 10.3 miles as an out-and-back journey, but many hikers choose to enjoy shorter sections of the trail, as there are great views along the entire route. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot bighorn sheep, deer, prairie dogs or even buffalo along the way.
Fossil Exhibit Trail
This self-guided and fully accessible boardwalk offers a fascinating journey into the prehistoric past. Delight in tactile exhibits and lifelike replicas of extinct animals that once roamed the area, providing an entertaining and educational experience for all ages.
Door and Window Trails
Located 2 miles north of the visitor center, each trail is wheelchair-accessible and leads to gorgeous Badlands views. It won’t take long to see why the Door Trail (0.9 miles out and back) and the Window Trail (0.3 miles out and back) are two popular stops for many Badlands adventures.
Spend an Afternoon Spotting Bison and Other Wildlife
In a conservation effort during the 1960s, a pair of trucks transported 50 bison 223 miles from Theodore Roosevelt National Park to Badlands National Park to bolster the dwindling population. Today, the herd has grown to more than 1,000. Visitors most often spot bison off Sage Creek Rim Road and near the Pinnacles entrance station.
But they aren’t the only wild residents you’ll find in the park. Since their reintroduction in 1964, bighorn sheep have enjoyed the park’s rocky formations, like those at Pinnacles Overlook, Castle Trail and Big Badlands Overlook. You might also spy some deer and coyotes during your visit. And if cute is what you seek, don’t skip a stop at prairie-dog towns easily viewed at Burns Basin Overlook, Sage Creek Campground and Roberts Prairie Dog Town.
Exercise caution and keep a safe distance from all wildlife. Wild animals can be aggressive to humans if they get too close. Always practice safe and sustainable travel. For more on responsible travel (and a free sticker), check out the Forever 605 pledge.
Learn More and Become a Junior Ranger at the Visitor Center
Located near the Cedar Pass Campground and Cedar Pass Lodge, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center is the place to learn about the park’s history through displays, an indoor theater and a bookstore. It’s also where younger visitors can earn their Junior Ranger badge. All they have to do is fill out the fun-packed activity book to become official!
See How Clear a Night Sky Can Be
Badlands National Park is designated as an International Dark Sky Park, meaning it offers some of the darkest skies in the country. Imagine gazing up at a celestial canopy glittering with countless stars, planets and galaxies, a sight that fills you with wonder and reminds you of the vastness of the universe. Check out a ranger-led Night Sky Program on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day for a truly amazing experience.
Accessibility in the Park
Accessibility continues to be a priority in South Dakota. In Badlands National Park, amphitheater programs are wheelchair-accessible and involve accessible telescopes for sky viewings. Ramped entrances, accessible restrooms and reserved parking are available to wheelchair users at both the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and White River Visitor Center. The former includes a chance to hold fossils and rocks, and the park film is open-captioned with listening devices available.
There are two wheelchair-accessible campsites at Cedar Pass Campground. Most overlooks are accessible to wheelchair users. The Fossil Exhibit Trail, Window Trail and first sections of the Door and Cliff Shelf trails are accessible. The surrounding terrain at Conata Picnic Area has an accessible vault toilet, although surrounding terrain is rough, and the Bigfoot Pass Picnic Area also has an accessible vault toilet in addition to ramps and reserved parking. The Cedar Pass Lodge’s gift shop and dining room are fully accessible with ramps, wide doors and aisles, restrooms and reserved parking.
More Things to Do Near Badlands National Park
Looking for more? Make the most of your Badlands adventure by immersing yourself in rich Indigenous culture at a historic Lakota village, feeling the Cold War power of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site or marveling at the wonders of the Black Hills. Around the park, get up close with some furry friends at Roberts Prairie Dog Town or book a horseback excursion through Hurley Butte Horseback. Need to stock up or find a souvenir? Visit the Native West Trading Company or the iconic Wall Drug Store.
Explore more in the directory below.
Things to Do in Badlands National Park
