This summer found us driving west through South Dakota on I-90. It’s actually a drive we’ve made several times before, so we’re getting familiar with what’s available to explore, even if we haven’t yet  explored them all.

Six years ago we stopped at Minuteman Missile NHS after visiting Mt Rushmore so Sunshine could earn a Junior Ranger badge. But we hopped back on the highway and headed east instead of going south to explore Badlands NP. We passed it again two years ago, but didn’t have time to stop.

This summer we made the time to visit the park, even though we only had a few hours to do so. We loved the area! The wide open skies are so different from the rolling hills and trees that limit our horizons in Virginia. We definitely need to go back and spend more time exploring.

When we visited, it was the end of June after a wet spring, and the sweet clover was in bloom. The sweet clover may be be invasive, but it was so beautiful. The yellow blooms in the fields contrasted with the green grass and the earth tones of the rock formations.

Badlands NP has a $25 entrance fee (or use your annual pass- go here for more info on choosing an annual pass)

Like all of our national parks, there’s a variety of things to do and see when you visit. The following list isn’t comprehensive, but it will get you started if you’re not sure what to do when you arrive.

8 Things to do in Badlands National Park

1. Junior Ranger program

I think we love helping the kiddos fill out their Junior Ranger books more than they do. We learn so much more than we would if we just sauntered through the visitor center and drove through the park. The books aren’t difficult, but they usually require some hunting for some of the answers, which means we pay more attention when we’re reading the displays. Which is not a bad thing 😉

2. Look for bison

There’s a herd of bison that can be found wandering around the western end of the park, usually along the Sage Creek Rim road. We saw the bison pictured below as we drove through the park on Badlands Loop road, near where it turns north and becomes 240. Other wildlife you might see includes pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, black footed ferrets, and many others.

It shouldn’t need to be said, but use caution around wildlife, don’t approach them or try to get a selfie with them, and definitely don’t feed them.

3. Look for fossils

Who doesn’t like looking for fossils? Badlands is home to a large deposit of mammal fossils as well as marine fossils from an ancient sea. The Fossil Exhibit Trail features fossil replicas and exhibits of the animals that used to roam the area. If you should find a fossil, be sure to leave it where you find it: it’s illegal to remove fossils and other items from national parks.

4. Admire and explore the rock formations

Badlands NP has spectacular layered rock formations. The layers were formed over many years as sediment from a variety of sources was deposited. Rivers then started eroding those deposits, leaving behind the distinctive craggy layered rocks that we see today. They can be seen as you drive through the park and as you hike the trails in the park.

5. Explore the night sky

Badlands NP is not super close to any large cities, but there is one advantage to being in the middle of nowhere: Badlands NP is a great place for viewing the night skies. Wide open skies give a wide view of the night sky, unimpeded by nearby trees and mountains. And low light pollution allows the stars to shine brighter than in many other locations. Ranger-led viewing sessions with telescopes are offered every night between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

We’re still trying to attend a night sky program at one of the national parks out west. So far, though, our luck and timing haven’t been great. The skies were cloudy or there was a full moon when we were near the best spots for viewing the stars.

We almost managed it while we were in Cedar Breaks two years ago, but were too exhausted from a busy day of hiking and traveling to take advantage of the offered dark skies programs. We missed two other opportunities this summer at Craters of the Moon (we never made it to the park at all because I got sick) and Dinosaur National Monument (we were only there for an afternoon during a family reunion). Someday we will make it!

6. Take a hike

There are a variety of hiking trails and opportunities in the park. They range from backcountry backpacking to short, paved accessible trails. Regardless of the type of hike you embark on, be sure to follow Leave No Trace principles. It’s also a good idea to make sure you are properly prepared with plenty of water, sun protection, rain gear, and sturdy shoes.

7. Do some boondocking with a spectacular view

While not technically in the park, you can boondock just outside Badlands NP, north of the Pinnacles Entrance on 240. There you can park along the Wall and enjoy the expansive views. The dirt road can be slippery and muddy, so be careful if it’s rained recently. This site has reviews left by people who have stayed along the Wall- be sure to read the reviews, as they give great info on how to find the best spot to park.

We had planned on spending a night along the Wall, but we were running behind schedule because of a spectacular (and very intense and slightly scary) rain storm the night before. We visited the park before lunch, but we still had a number of hours of driving to do, so we weren’t able to stop and spend the night. This is definitely on our bucket list, though.

8. Explore the nearby sites

There are actually a number of interesting places near Badlands, so if you’re in the area and have the time, plan to explore at least some of them.

1. Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave NP, Custer State Park, and Black Hills National Forest are all about an hour and a half or so to the west, off I-90
2. If you head south at exit 131 on I-90, you’ll enter Badlands NP on the eastern side of the park. If you head north at the exit instead, you’ll find Minuteman Missile NHS Visitor Center
3. Historic Wall Drug is north of the park, in the town of Wall, at the junction of 240 and I-90
4. National Grasslands Visitor Center is also in the town of Wall 

What is your favorite part of Badlands National Park? Have you boondocked along the Wall?