Difference between revisions of "Badlands National Park"

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(Lots of hikes)
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{|border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="20"
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|width="50%" valign="top" style="font-size: larger"|"I had never seen anything which impressed so strongly on my mind a feeling of desolation.... The wind was high and bleak; the barren, arid country seemed as if it had been swept by fires, and in every direction the same dull ash colored hue derived from the formation met the eye.... We left the place with pleasure."
<div style="text-align: right">—[[wikipedia:John C. Frémont|John C. Frémont]], diary, 1842</div>
|valign="top" style="font-size: larger"|"They call the Mako Sica 'Badlands,' ... but they should call them Mako Washte, 'Good Lands.' .... We Indians know that the Mako Sica teems with life. On the grassy tableland, antelope and mule deer graze... and the air is filled with the cries of hawks and eagles."
<div style="text-align: right">—[[wikipedia:Archie Fire Lame Deer|Archie Fire Lame Deer]], Lakota, 1992</div>
|}
https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm


Lots of paleontology and fossils. [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/fossil-exhibit-trail Fossil Exhibit Trail] short drive west of visitor center.
Lots of paleontology and fossils. [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/fossil-exhibit-trail Fossil Exhibit Trail] short drive west of visitor center. Ranger talks at 10:30am and 1:30pm.


Sage Creek Wilderness Area in the north part of the park is a great place to see wildlife. Roberts Prairie Dog Town.
Sage Creek Wilderness Area in the north part of the park is a great place to see wildlife. Roberts Prairie Dog Town.
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[https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/trip-ideas/scenic-drives/badlands-loop-state-scenic-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.
[https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/trip-ideas/scenic-drives/badlands-loop-state-scenic-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.
Visited:
* Pinnacles Overlook
* Yellow Mounds Overlook
* Conata Basin Overlook
* Burns Basin Overlook
* Panorama Point Overlook (sunset)
* White River Valley Overlook
* Prairie Wind Overlook
* Sage Creek Basin Overlook


For sunrise:
For sunrise:


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


For sunset:
For sunset:


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


= Hiking =
= Hiking =


* [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/door-trail Door Trail] and [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/window-trail Window Trail]
* [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/cliff-shelf Cliff Shelf Nature Trail] near Cedar Pass (visited)
* [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/cliff-shelf Cliff Shelf Nature Trail] near Cedar Pass
* [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/door-trail Door Trail] and [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/window-trail Window Trail] (visited)
* [http://www.grindtv.com/travel/coolest-trail-badlands-national-park/ Notch trail]. See also [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/notch-trail this].
* 10-mile round trip Castle Trail (longest in park — visited)
* 10-mile round trip Castle Trail (longest in park)
* [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/saddle-pass Saddle Pass Trail]. Nice to hike around sunset
* [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/saddle-pass Saddle Pass Trail]. Nice to hike around sunset
* Medicine Loop is at the intersection of Castle and Saddle Pass
* Medicine Loop is at the intersection of Castle and Saddle Pass
* [http://www.grindtv.com/travel/coolest-trail-badlands-national-park/ Notch trail]. See also [http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/notch-trail this].
Backcountry:
Backcountry:


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* [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stefanie-payne/doorway-to-forever-badlan_b_14714038.html "Doorway to Forever"]
* [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stefanie-payne/doorway-to-forever-badlan_b_14714038.html "Doorway to Forever"]
* [http://www.interstellarorchard.com/2017/06/02/tips-for-visiting-badlands-national-park/ Tips for visiting Badlands National Park]
* [http://www.interstellarorchard.com/2017/06/02/tips-for-visiting-badlands-national-park/ Tips for visiting Badlands National Park]
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/14/travel/badlands-faded-hope-for-indian-tribal-park.html "In the Badlands, Where Hope for the Nation’s First Tribal Park Has Faded."] ''New York Times''. December 14, 2016.
* [http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/bison-getting-more-space-in-badlands/article_3544cede-ab6a-5194-9a20-f174cad4dcc8.html "Bison getting more space in Badlands."] ''Rapid City Journal''. December 13, 2016.
* [http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/bison-getting-more-space-in-badlands/article_3544cede-ab6a-5194-9a20-f174cad4dcc8.html "Bison getting more space in Badlands."] ''Rapid City Journal''. December 13, 2016.

Latest revision as of 03:22, 14 September 2021

"I had never seen anything which impressed so strongly on my mind a feeling of desolation.... The wind was high and bleak; the barren, arid country seemed as if it had been swept by fires, and in every direction the same dull ash colored hue derived from the formation met the eye.... We left the place with pleasure."
John C. Frémont, diary, 1842
"They call the Mako Sica 'Badlands,' ... but they should call them Mako Washte, 'Good Lands.' .... We Indians know that the Mako Sica teems with life. On the grassy tableland, antelope and mule deer graze... and the air is filled with the cries of hawks and eagles."
Archie Fire Lame Deer, Lakota, 1992

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

Lots of paleontology and fossils. Fossil Exhibit Trail short drive west of visitor center. Ranger talks at 10:30am and 1:30pm.

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.

Visited:

  • Pinnacles Overlook
  • Yellow Mounds Overlook
  • Conata Basin Overlook
  • Burns Basin Overlook
  • Panorama Point Overlook (sunset)
  • White River Valley Overlook
  • Prairie Wind Overlook
  • Sage Creek Basin Overlook

For sunrise:

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

For sunset:

  • Pinnacles Overlook on west side of park
  • Near Bigfoot Pass Overlook

Hiking

Backcountry:

Photography

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