Badlands National Park

Millions of years of wind, water and erosion have created the chiseled spires, deep canyons and jagged buttes of Badlands National Park. On-going rains, freezes and thaws have revealed millions of years of sediment that paint a colorful landscape on the prairies of southwestern South Dakota.

When the Lakota first encountered the striking, moon-like landscape, they aptly called the area “Mako Sica” or “bad land.” Early French trappers also described the area as “bad land” after difficult travels over the rugged terrain. Today, visitors to Badlands National Park can explore this natural wonder on foot, on horseback or by car as they travel the scenic loop or roam the many trails.

Badlands Wildlife

Covering 244,000 acres, Badlands National Park is one of the largest protected mixed-grass prairies in the United States. The park, located south of Interstate 90 between Exits 101 and 131, is home to many species of wildlife including bighorn sheep, bison, the swift fox and the endangered black-footed ferret. Antelope and deer are commonly seen roaming near roadways and picnic areas. More than 64,000 acres of the park are designated as wilderness.

Paleontology in the Park

Badlands National Park contains the world's richest deposits of fossils from the Oligocene epoch. Paleontologists have uncovered the remains of ancient three-toed horses, tiny deer-like creatures, turtles, a saber-toothed cat, dinosaur bones and other prehistoric animals.

“The Pig Dig”
Excavation continues today at the Pig Wallow Site near the Conata Picnic Area. Digging began in 1993 after two park visitors reported seeing a large backbone protruding from the ground. The site became known as “Pig Dig” because it was believed the exposed fossil was the remains of an ancient pig-like mammal called Archaeotherium. The fossil was later identified as the bones of a hornless rhinoceros called Subhyracodon, but the “Pig Dig” nickname stuck.

The National Park Service and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology have already removed more than 13,000 bones from the site for research purposes. Scientists believe that 33 million years ago this was a spring- fed watering hole.

Hiking and Camping

Those seeking extreme adventure can wander through the wilderness or backcountry of Badlands National Park. Camping in these areas is by permit only and not recommended for inexperienced campers. The jagged spires and buttes provide moderate to hard hikes along the miles of designated trails. Sturdy hiking shoes are strongly recommended to avoid injury.

The South Unit

Approximately half of Badlands National Park lie within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and contain several sites that are considered sacred to the Oglala Lakota. The National Park Service and the tribe work closely together to co-manage and protect this part of the park, commonly known as the South Unit. This land, south of Highway 44, is mostly undeveloped and has only minimal access by road.

During World War II, the South Unit area of Badlands National Park was used by the United States Military as a practice aerial bombing range. Despite cleanup efforts, the South Unit still contains some unexploded munitions. Visitors can also explore evidence of the Cold War at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site located nearby.