On our trip to the Dakotas, we visited many gems of the states, and Badlands National Park was one of them! This national park showed us the best of what the Dakotas’ badlands have to offer and is a great place to learn about various kinds of rocks!
Interesting enough? Who doesn’t want to learn about rocks, right?
Well, if you plan to visit Badlands National Park, which I highly recommend, this guide will help you explore all the best spots in the North Unit. The park is divided into two units: the North Unit and the Stronghold Unit (also called the South Unit). Palmer Creek is a small area within the Stronghold District, not a separate unit. The North Unit is the most popular and easiest-to-access area.
Why You Should Visit Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is home to one of the most unique, otherworldly landscapes. Located in South Dakota, an underrated destination full of jagged buttes, spires, pinnacles, and colorful canyons rising dramatically from the prairie.
What makes this place so unique is the suddenness of barren lands right after miles of flat prairie. The striking, colorful mounds are a result of constant erosion, creating a dramatic contrast with its surroundings.
The Badlands also hold one of the largest concentrations of fossils in the entire world, estimated at 23 to 35 million years old, including ancient horses, rhinos, oreodonts, tigers, and other fascinating creatures that once roamed here. Plus, the park is a haven for wildlife of all shapes and sizes.
How to Reach Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is under an hour’s drive from Rapid City and a 4-hour drive from Sioux Falls, which is the largest city in South Dakota. You can rent a car and drive up to the park, since the park is majorly built around its scenic loop drive.
The Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) takes 1–2 hours to drive and includes a dozen beautiful overlooks where you can spot wildlife and stunning formations.
When Is the Ideal Time to Visit?
We visited the park in May, which isn’t the busiest time, so we had almost all the spots for ourselves. Unlike many famous national parks, the Badlands feel intimate and peaceful. Summer is the busiest season, when most trails and overlooks get crowded. Spring and fall offer cooler weather and fewer crowds, so there’s no stress about finding a parking spot for your favorite trail.
Ideal time to visit: Mid-May to mid-June, when grasslands are lush, wildflowers are blooming, and baby animals are beginning to roam.
Things to Do in Badlands National Park
We only had a day to explore, so we picked the most popular part of the park, the North Unit. If you have two or more days, I recommend exploring the other unit as well—the Stronghold Unit (South Unit), which is culturally significant.
In this section, I’ll share all the spots you can visit in the North Unit and popular hikes that are easy and give you a beautiful view of the Badlands.
North Unit
There are two entry points on I-90. I recommend entering via the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway entrance near the visitor center and driving all the way to the Sage Creek Basin Overlook. This way, you’ll be able to cover most of the scenic overlooks on the way. We followed the same route and were able to see everything at a relaxed pace.
Ben Reifel Visitor Center
Your first stop as you enter the scenic drive is the visitor center, which is also the main information hub on the east side of the park. You can check out the fossil preparation lab and see paleontologists at work. Moreover, the trailheads for Saddle Pass Trail and Cliff Shelf Trail begin from the visitor center.
Key Overlooks
- Big Badlands Overlook – First major view when entering from the east
- Pinnacles Overlook – Highest elevation overlook (3,342 ft), panoramic views, lambing spot for bighorn sheep (late April–early May)
- Yellow Mounds Overlook – Colorful geology, painted gullies
- Bigfoot Pass Overlook – Great spot for lunch, picnic tables available
- Burns Basin Overlook – Prairie dog towns visible
- Hay Butte Overlook – Sage Creek Rim Road, potential bison sightings
- Homestead Overlook – Colorful ridges and prairie views
- Conata Basin Overlook – Best sunset spot, black-footed ferret habitat
Popular Hikes
- Door Trail – Easy 0.25-mile boardwalk into the formations
- Window Trail – Short 0.25-mile trail with a “window” view of the Badlands
- Notch Trail – 3–4 miles, more challenging with a ladder climb, stunning views, great for sunset
- Cliff Shelf Nature Trail – Easy 0.5-mile family-friendly trail near visitor center
- Saddle Pass Trail – Beautiful alternative near visitor center
Stronghold Unit (South Unit)
The Stronghold Unit, also known as the South Unit, is one of the most remote parts of the park and is part of the Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Some areas are sacred, with limited infrastructure and interpretation. If you visit this side of the park, be respectful and stay in designated tourist areas.
Key attractions:
- White River Visitor Center (Seasonal) – Great place to learn about the Lakota experience directly from tribal members. This is seasonal operation, so check the website before planning a visit.
- Sheep Mountain Table – An off-the-beaten-path overlook of the Badlands. To reach here, you’ll have to drive through a rugged gravel road to the top. Therefore, go here only if you’re driving a high-clearance vehicle. Alternatively, you can hike to the top; the view is beautiful (as per hikers) and you can see the nearby Buffalo Gap National Grasslands.
- Red Shirt Table Overlook – Another scenic drive with spectacular views from the western side of the park. You can combine this on the way to Custer State Park.
Palmer Creek Area (Within South Unit)
Palmer Creek is a tiny, remote area of the Stronghold District that’s popular among backcountry hikers. You can access it via the White River Visitor Center, but the road conditions aren’t great.
If you plan to hike into the wilderness, I recommend bringing all your water, food, and navigation supplies because you won’t find anything out there. The terrain is challenging, so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re an experienced backcountry hiker.
Overall thoughts
Overall, I think the Dakotas are underrated and under-appreciated, and that includes the Badlands. I’m surprised this park doesn’t show up on more people’s national park lists unless they’re on a mission to visit them all. If you’re reading this article, I highly recommend giving this park, and the Dakotas as a whole, a chance to show you their true beauty. I’ve also written a separate blog post about my 3-day road trip in the Dakotas, so do give that a read too.
