Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park in southwestern South Dakota protects sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires interspersed with mixed-grass prairie. The park was established as a national park in 1978 to conserve its geology, fossil beds and prairie ecosystem.

A paved scenic route, the Badlands Loop Road (SD-240), traverses the park and gives access to multiple overlooks, short hikes and pullouts across roughly 38 miles of roadway. The White River Visitor Center includes a fossil exhibit and is the starting point for several accessible trails; panoramic overlooks such as Big Badlands Overlook provide classic views of layered rock and eroded formations. Wildlife viewing for bison, bighorn sheep and prairie birds is also a common park activity.

The region was long used by Indigenous peoples, notably the Oglala Lakota, before Euro-American settlement and ranching. The area’s scientific significance for paleontology led to federal protection in the 20th century and its establishment as a national park in 1978.

The park sits in southwestern South Dakota near the small town of Wall, with the surrounding landscape dominated by mixed-grass prairie and badland erosion. Rapid City is the nearest major city to the west and serves as a common gateway for visitors.

• Fossil resources: The park contains extensive Oligocene fossil deposits of mammals dating to roughly 23-34 million years ago, and there are interpretive displays and occasional authorized paleontological projects.
• Best viewing times: Best light for photography and expansive views is generally in the early morning or late afternoon when the low sun emphasizes the park's colors and textures along the Badlands Loop Road.

What to See #

• Badlands Loop Road (SD-240): The Badlands Loop Road (South Dakota Highway 240), a scenic 38-mile loop that provides multiple overlooks and access points to the park's principal viewing areas and trailheads.
• White River Visitor Center and Fossil Exhibit Trail: White River Visitor Center and Fossil Exhibit Trail, which interpret the park's paleontology and natural history and serve as a starting point for nearby short hikes and overlooks.
• Scenic overlooks: Big Badlands Overlook and other roadside viewpoints that provide accessible panoramic views of eroded buttes, pinnacles and the surrounding mixed-grass prairie.