Badlands
Park №04Great PlainsEst. 1978

Badlands

South Dakota·242,756 acres·Late spring & early fall

Striped buttes and grasslands roam with bison and bighorn sheep.

Best season
Late spring & early fall
Trip length
1–2 days
Acres
242,756
Region
Great Plains
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Highlights

  • Badlands Loop
    31-mile scenic byway past striped buttes and bison meadows.
  • Notch Trail
    Log-ladder climb to a notch with a stunning prairie overlook.
  • Yellow Mounds
    Bright yellow-and-pink fossil soils between Conata and Cedar Pass.

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  • ✓ Official NPS park map
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  • ✓ Day-by-day itinerary
  • ✓ Wildlife & fun facts
  • ✓ Insider tips, side trips & fees
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