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This page last updated: Sun Sep 13, 2015
 

South Dakota Navigation
South Dakota Home Page
 --South Dakota Recommended
 Badlands National Park Main
  --Badlands Sheep Moutain Table
 Black Hills
  --Black Hills Overview
 
  Crazy Horse Memorial
 
  Custer State Park Intro
  ----Custer State Park Mt. Coolidge
  ----Custer State Park Needles 
  ----Custer State Park Sylvan Lake
  ----Custer State Park Wildlife
 
 Iron Mountain Road
 Mammoth Dig
 Mount Rushmore
 Wind Cave National Park

 Missouri River Crossing
 Mitchell SD
 Walll SD

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.

A good Badlands Map is provided by BlackHillsBadlands.Com.

Cedar Pass
Cedar Pass

Cedar 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.

Not far from the pass is the Door Nature Trail and Window Nature Trail. See below.

Cliff Shelf

Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, part way up Cedar Pass.

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Door Trail and Window Trail
Door Nature Trail.

Not far from Cedar Pass is the Door Nature Trail.

Window Nature Trail.

This short trail will make you think you are on another planet, and the area has been used for "other worldly sets" in Science Fiction Movies.

Door Nature Trail.

Window Nature Trail

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Badlands Storms

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

Badlands Storm over the Pinnacles

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.

Rainbow

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.

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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.

Grassy Table Distant

A distant shot of Grassy Table.

Grassy Table Close

A zoomed closeup of Grassy Table.

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Favorite Overlooks

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

Ancient Hunters Overlook

The Ancient Hunters Overlook 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.

Conata Basin Overlook

Conata Basin Overlook includes an overall view of the Yellow Mounds.

White River Valley Overlook

White River Valley Overlook.

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Yellow Mounds (or Gold Hills)

The Yellow Mounds Overlook 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.

Gold Hills

Gold Hills (officially Yellow Mounds), the most colorful section of Badlands National Park.

RV going through the Gold Hills

RV going through Gold Hills.

Gold Hills

When you see this section, you just have to admire the beauty.

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Gravel Roads

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

Old NE Road

Old NE Road.

Big Butte Overlook

Big Butte Overlook on Sage Creek Rim Road.

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Wildlife

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

Badlands Prairie Dog Town

A Prairie Dog town.

Badlands Bison

Bison grazing near the road.

Ewes

Ewes grazing near the main road.

Ewe Closeup

Ewe closeup near the main road.

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 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.

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