Badlands National Park

Introduction

Badlands National Park is a national park in southwestern South Dakota. This park is marked by rugged terrain and formations that resemble a science fiction landscape of another world. These rock formations take on the shapes of domes, twisted canyons and slanted walls, often striped in different colors. The formations contrast sharply with the rolling hills and prairies in which they stand.

In addition to the rock formations, the park contains the largest, protected mixed grass prairie in the United States. The most endangered land mammal in North America, the black footed ferret, was re-introduced to the 64,000-acres Badlands Wilderness Area. The park also contains the world's richest fossil beds from the Oligocene epoch, dating back around 20-35 million years.

Geography

The Badlands Wilderness protects 25,958 ha of the park as a designated wilderness area and is the site of the reintroduction of the black-footed ferret, the most endangered land mammal in North America.

The Stronghold Unit is co-managed with the Oglala Lakota tribe and includes sites of 1890s Ghost Dances, a former United States Air Force bomb and gunnery range, and Red Shirt Table, the park's highest point at 1,020 metres. Authorized as Badlands National Monument on March 4, 1929, it was not established until January 25, 1939. It was redesignated a national park on November 10, 1978. Under the Mission 66 plan, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center was constructed for the monument in 1957-58. The park also administers the nearby Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.

Sights and Activities

Flora and Fauna

While the badlands terrain may appear to be barren, there is a great variety of wildlife and plant life here. The minimal annual precipitation feeds the grasses and wildflowers of the badlands. The brilliant colors of the blooms add to the palette of grays, browns, reds, ochres and greens of the land. The wildlife includes nearly two hundred species of birds, (mule and white tail) deer, prairie dogs, pronghorn, big horn sheep, and bison. Other mammals in the park include bats, rabbits, and coyotes. The park has reintroduced the black footed ferret, the most endangered land mammal in North America, to the Sage Creek Wilderness area. Reptiles and amphibians include frogs, toads, and snakes.

Opening Hours

Badlands National Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Ben Reifel Visitor Center is open every day from around 8:00am until late afternoon, early evening depending on the season.
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Cost

An entry pass good for one year is available for $30. Otherwise, people who drive a non-commercial vehicle can buy a 7-day pass for $15. Hikers, cyclists and motorcyclists can get a 7-day pass for $10.

Getting There and Around

By Car

The park is about 80 kilometres southeast of Rapid City on South Dakota State Route 44.

Interstate 90 exits 131 (Interior) and 110 (Wall) provide access to the park via State Route 240.

The Badlands Loop Road is the main road and the only paved road in the park. The speed limit is 45 miles per hour unless otherwise posted. Seat belts are required at all times. Do not pull off the road onto the grass but do pull off to allow traffic to pass; however, only pull off where there is sufficient space for your vehicle. Pedestrians have right of way.

By Bus

Greyhound serves Rapid City.

Eat

• Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant - Open daily from mid April to mid October - Summer Season Hours: 7:00am-8:30pm; Fall Season Hours: 8:00am- 4:30pm. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy a view from your table of the badlands.

Sleep

• Cedar Pass Lodge, ☎ +1 605 433-5460. Mid-April through mid-October. The only overnight lodging within Badlands NP. Reservations can be made in advance and are recommended. New cabins replaced all old cabins in 2013. The 26 cabin units are Eco friendly and are equipped with custom, regionally made pine furniture, Energy Star refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, on demand hot water, flat screen TV, ceiling fan, and AC/heat.

There are two campgrounds within the Badlands National Park: Cedar Pass and Sage Creek.

External Links

• Official Website