TravelingMorgans.com last updated: 8/27/2010.

Traveling Morgans, Phyllis with Harpo, Larry with Roscoe

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Traveling Morgans => S. Dakota =>

This page last updated: 8/27/2010.

Introduction to Badlands National Park -- South Dakota

Badlands National Park is a short drive from The Black Hills.

When coming from the Black Hills, The Traveling Morgans recommend you approach from the south (SD Highway 44) so you can see "the wall" that gave Wall SD its name. A great area to visit, if you have a high clearance vehicle (Jeep type, 2WD is fine) and it has not been raining, is Sheep Mountain Table in the undeveloped South Unit of Badlands National Park. You will have outstanding views of the Badlands.

There are several theories on the origin of the Badlands. The two most common are easily eroded volcanic ash under layers of more durable rock; and sediments washed down from the Black Hills (from when they were as high as the current Rocky Mountains and the Badlands area was a shallow sea)with the same sediments are now being eroded again. The stark beauty is not debated. The Traveling Morgans have seen several "badlands" in our travels, but Badlands National Park sets the standard.

A good Badlands Map is provided by BlackHillsBadlands.Com.

Cedar Pass

The main visitor center, and the main way through the Badlands "wall" is at the east end of the park at Cedar Pass.

The picture at left is the pass as seen from the visitor center near the town of Interior. This pass is one of the few ways down from and through "the wall" of the badlands.

The picture at right is the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail.

Not far from the pass is the Door Nature Trail and Window Nature Trail. These short trails will make you think you are on another planet, and have been used for "other worldly sets" in Science Fiction Movies. We hope to have pictures in the future.

Badlands Storms

We have been fortunate many times to see storms approaching the Badlands.

The picture at left is from the Pinnacles Overlook, looking west toward the Black Hills.

Storms come will little advance notice in the Black Hills. A fine day can be a heavy storm within a few minutes.

In the Badlands, you can see storms over the Black Hills coming toward you hours before they arrive.

This particular time, we left the Badlands and drove through the storm on I-90, returning to the Black Hills. We stopped and took a quick picture at right. There was no pull off handy for us to get the full rainbow, but it was there in our mirrors.

Tables

Tables or Mesas are found in the Badlands. The top will usually contain grassy areas and loved by wildlife that can negotiate the steep sides.

The picture at left is a distant shot of Grassy Table.

The picture at right is a zoomed closeup.

Favorite Overlooks

Badlands National Parks has many overlooks. Two of our favorites are shown here.

The Ancient Hunters Overlook (left) has an inspiring view. You can feel the early hunters tracking large game like bison from the site and almost hear them planning their strategy for feeding their families

The Yellow Hills Overlook (right) is somewhat misnamed in our minds. We call it Gold Hills Overlook. No, there is no significant gold (the mineral) in the Badlands. Head for the Black Hills for gold country.

Wildlife

The abundant wildlife in Badlands National Park is best seen on the gravel roads such as Sage Creek Rim Road.

At left is a Prairie Dog town.

At right is a Bison grazing near the road.

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