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Cool Things to do in Badlands National Park

July 8, 2021

Badlands National Park in South Dakota is known for its curious and colorful rock formations. Named “Mako Sica” or “land bad” by the Lakota for its harsh conditions and lack of water, Badlands is one of six National Parks Service sites in South Dakota. It’s also home to one of the world’s richest fossil beds. 

In addition to viewing the absolutely stunning terrain, there are some incredibly cool things to do at Badlands. Hiking, fossil hunting (you can’t take them with you), photography, scenic driving, camping, and wildlife viewing are among the best things to do here. With very little light pollution nearby, it’s also a great place for stargazing.

What Should You Not Miss in Badlands National Park?

Definitely don’t miss a trip out the Badlands Wilderness Overlook along Sage Creek Rim Road. You’ll see views out on Sage Creek that are unlike any other in the park. It’s also the main place to spot bison, and there are hundreds of them. Do not approach bison! They are not docile creatures and will charge you. Stay inside your vehicle and observe or photograph them at a distance. 

It’s important to mention that Sage Creek Rim Road is a dirt road. Good news is, it’s relatively flat and nothing too crazy, so if you’re in a standard sedan you should be just fine. 

With that said, it is a bit bumpy and cell service is spotty or non-existent. Make sure you know how to change a tire or carry a can of Fix-a-Flat in your trunk. Fix-a-Flat is just one of those no-brainers to have and has saved my ass more than once. Yes, your spare can also go flat! It’s a thing. Check out what else we always carry with us at the bottom of this post and be prepared for things like snake bites.

Seriously, you do not want to be in Badlands National Park (or any other Western US territory for that matter) without a snake bit kit. A bite from a rattlesnake can kill you.

What is the Most Scenic Route Through Badlands?

Badlands Loop Road is the main scenic drive through Badlands National Park. You pretty much can’t miss it, and there are numerous overlooks with ample parking along the way.

If you love scenic drives, be sure to check out the South Unit of the Badlands, which you can view by driving three perimeter roads that horseshoe this more remote section of the park. If you have the time (an extra day or more), I also highly recommend adding on a side trip to the Black Hills and driving Needles Highway, which is a truly unforgettable route located approximately two hours to the west. It’s important to note that Needles Highway is closed during the winter months so be sure to check its status in advance.

Where to See Wildlife in Badlands National Park

The best place to view bison is by heading out on the unpaved Sage Creek Rim Road. Prairie Dogs can be seen throughout the park. Look for collections of dirt mounds and their cute little heads popping out. But there’s also an area called Roberts Prairie Dog Town out on Sage Creek Rim Road if you want a more sure place to see them. Bighorn Sheep can be found throughout the North section of the park, but they seem to really like the rocky outcroppings around Pinnacles Overlook.

Badlands National Park Best Views

There are no bad overlooks in Badlands National Park. They’re all exceptionally beautiful and worthy of a stop. Big Badlands and Pinnacles are two of the most popular overlooks, both of them offering jaw-dropping expansive views of different sides of this vast territory. My personal favorites were Panorama Point and Yellow Mounds. I found the color banding in the formations at Panorama Point to be particularly striking, and the color concentrations at Yellow Mounds are some of the most vibrant in the park.

Best Photo Spots Badlands National Park

Pinnacles Overlook faces south and overlooks Sage Creek Wilderness Area, which means great potential for sunset photography. I say potential because you might find yourself in the same situation I was in where it’s extremely overcast, hence none of that glorious even golden light I tend to revolve my photography around. Try not to let this be a bummer. You can still make amazing images in overcast light conditions, sometimes for the better. If you’re willing to get up early, try Panorama Point for sunrise where the light will cast a warm glow on the vibrant color bands facing east.

Camping in Badlands National Park

There are two designated campgrounds in Badlands National Park, Cedar Pass Campground (seen below) and Sage Creek Campground (above). Cedar Pass is developed and offers online reservations in advance. Sage Creek has no running water and is first-come first-served. If you’re unable to score a spot at either, there’s a third camping area located on US Forest Service lands just north of the Pinnacles Entrance of the park (seen below)/ While there are no services at this site, it’s easy to find. Simply look for the two cell towers and other campers, then pull in and find your spot. It’s also free!

Hiking Trails in Badlands

Another cool and unique thing about Badlands National Park is that you can hike off-trail. But if you’re more interested in staying on a designated path, there are several great trails to choose from.

Door Trail — 0.75 miles round trip on a boardwalk

Window Trail — 0.25 miles round trip, leading to a natural window with canyon views

Notch Trail — 1.5 miles round trip with a climb up a log ladder to view White River Valley

Castle Trail — 10 miles round trip, traveling from door trail to fossil exhibit trail

Cliff Shelf  — 0.5 miles round trip on a loop trail and boardwalk

Saddle Pass — 0.25 miles round trip up a steep incline to view White River Valley

Fossil Exhibit Trail — 0.25 miles round trip on a boardwalk featuring fossil exhibits

Medicine Root Loop — 4 miles round trip along a grass prairie with views of formations

Is Badlands National Park Worth Visiting?

What I love about Badlands National Park, apart from the unusual geology and potential for amazing landscape photography, is just how close it is to a whole host of other cool sights. 

From Badlands, you’re really just a few hours away from the Black Hills of South Dakota. There are some seriously unique hidden gems in the Black Hills, along with several iconic American landmarks such as the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore. The best part is that all of these destinations are relatively close to one another, allowing you to see quite a bit in one day.

Combining Badlands with the Black Hills is a really cool and affordable road trip option where you can get in some great hikes, see waterfalls, and explore fun attractions like the historic city of Deadwood.

Things to do in the Black Hills

Hike Safe ❤️

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Image Credits:

Badlands National Park images by Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Roberts Prairie Dog Town - Natalia Kuzmina - stock.adobe.com; Nomad Goods product images courtesy of Nomad Goods; for Pin image credits, click on the individual pin