August 31-September 2, 2021

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

South Dakota

“Badlands National Park is in South Dakota. Its dramatic landscapes span layered rock formations, steep canyons and towering spires. Bison, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs inhabit its sprawling grasslands. The Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) winds past scenic lookouts. Several trails begin near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a boardwalk with displays on fossils uncovered in the park.” ― Google

When I was in about sixth grade my family took a vacation “out west” and one of our stops was Badlands National Park. I just remember seeing the rugged, layered rock formations. What I didn’t remember was the vastness of the dramatic landscape, the beauty of different areas of the park, nor seeing any wildlife.

Having just been at Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the North Dakota Badlands I was expecting to see similar terrain. And while similarities, the two parks are also very different. Both are beautiful in their own ways.

My first afternoon in the area I decided to drive what is called “The Badlands Loop.” It was a beautiful afternoon, and I found myself stopping at every designated overlook along with some other places where it was safe to pull off the road. I was infatuated with the colorful landscape, and then I started seeing wildlife. It started with some Pronghorn grazing in one of the prairie dog towns. Next I caught a glimpse of a bighorn sheep, so I pulled over to photograph it, and saw a ewe with a lamb not far from the road. When I got to the next overlook there were several bighorn sheep on the buttes. One of my goals for this park, seeing bighorn sheep, had been accomplished.

The Badlands Loop then took me out of the park and north about eight miles to Wall, South Dakota. Of course, I had to go see Wall Drug. I remember going to this tourist destination with my family, and my memory was that this was the epitome of a tourist trap. It hasn’t changed, but on the other hand, I’m glad I stopped to see it again. I ate dinner with a very nice couple from Delaware. Our paths crossed two or three times while exploring the park and happened to cross again while trying to find the restaurant. Following dinner I finished the loop and went to the RV to turn in for the night.

The next morning I woke to a cloudy sky with a forecast for rain. The goal for the day was to drive the Sage Creek Rim Road, a gravel/dirt road billed to be the place to see wildlife, especially bison, in the park. I started by going to a very popular stop on the east side of the park with several different trailheads. I spent a little time on the Window Trail. Next I walked the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail which had some really nice views, including spotting a young deer right next to the trail. In order to get to the Sage Creek Road I had to drive the Badlands Loop again. I stopped two or three times because the bighorn sheep were right next to the road. The Sage Creek Road turned out to be a bust as the only bison I saw were quite a ways off in the distance. I wasn’t too disappointed as I had seen plenty of bison at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

While all the landscape in the park was beautiful, I found the Yellow Mounds area particularly gorgeous. I finished the day by going back to where I started and spent some time on The Door Trail.