Badlands National Park

https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm

Lots of paleontology and fossils. Fossil Exhibit Trail short drive west of visitor center.

Sage Creek Wilderness Area in the north part of the park is a great place to see wildlife. Roberts Prairie Dog Town.

Night sky observing Fridays through Monday during the summer at the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater.

GPS Adventure Book

Loop Byway

Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway is a 39-mile loop. Takes about one hour without stopping. There are 16 scenic overlooks and eight trails.

For sunrise:

• Big Badlands Overlook near northeast entrance and Ben Reifel Visitor Center
• Door and Window trailhead on east side of park
• Norbeck Pass area
• Panorama Point

For sunset:

• Pinnacles Overlook on west side of park
• Conata Basin Overlook
• Near Bigfoot Pass Picnic Area

Hiking

• Door Trail and Window Trail
• Cliff Shelf Nature Trail near Cedar Pass
• Notch trail. See also this.
• 10-mile round trip Castle Trail (longest in park)
• Saddle Pass Trail. Nice to hike around sunset
• Medicine Loop is at the intersection of Castle and Saddle Pass

Backcountry:

• Hiking from Sage Creek Campground

Photography

• National Park Service photography bulletin
• Guide to photographing Badlands National Park
• Badlands National Park — A Quick Guide
• Black Hills and Badlands photography tips

Lodging

• Cedar Pass Lodge. Can also eat at the restaurant. Try the Sioux Indian Tacos: fluffy fry bread with buffalo meat and wojapi, a Native American berry sauce.

See Also

• wikipedia:Badlands National Park
• wikivoyage:Badlands National Park
• "Doorway to Forever"
• Tips for visiting Badlands National Park
• "Bison getting more space in Badlands." Rapid City Journal. December 13, 2016.