Located about an hour east of Rapid City, Badlands NP protects almost 250,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles, along with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the US. W The park was established in 1939. The park was originally a reservation of the Oglala Sioux Indians. The US assure the Indians that the land would forever be Sioux property, although that promise was broken in 1889.
We approached the east entrance to the park by driving Route 44 from the city, and got great long views of the hills, and the resident herd of bison. We started our tour at the Ben Reifels Visitor Center, which contains a ranger station, a movie theater, a museum and a gift shop. The we drove along the Loop (SD 240) Road, which wanders along the base of the hills, the up and down through the outcroppings. The geology is quite fascinating, and the dozen or so overlooks and trailheads offer differing, unique views and a number of hiking trails. Unlike many parks, Badlands allows hiking anywhere within the park. We then drove a few miles beyond the paved area along Sage Creek Overlook road, which offers several overlooks with views of grasslands, bison and lots of prairie dogs.
The Carefree Photographer 