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Badlands National Park |
Description:
Located in southwestern South Dakota, Badlands National Park consists of acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest, protected mixed grass prairie in the United States. The Badlands Wilderness Area
covers 64,000 acres and is the site of the reintroduction of the black-footed ferret, the most endangered land mammal in North America. The Stronghold Unit is co-managed with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and includes sites of 1890s Ghost Dances.
Established as Badlands National Monument in 1939, the area was redesignated "National
Park" in 1978. Over 11,000 years of human history pale to the ages old paleontological
resources. Badlands National Park contains the world's richest Oligocene epoch
fossil beds, dating 23 to 35 million years old. The evolution of mammal species
such as the horse, sheep, rhinoceros and pig can be studied in the Badlands formations.
Designations:
National Monument (January 25, 1939)
National Park (November10, 1978)
Accessibility:
Fossil Exhibit Trail and Door Trail are one-fourth mile in length and wheelchair accessible. An open-captioned version of the park video "Buried Fossils, Living Prairie" is available. Accessibility guide to park free upon request.
Getting Around:
A typical visit lasts three to five hours and includes the park movie, stops at four overlooks, and two walks. The 30-mile Loop Drive is accessed from Interstate 90 and is a two-lane, paved surface. The 30-mile Sage Creek Rim Road is gravel and impassable after heavy rains or snows. Five trails, varying from one-fourth mile to eight miles in length, explore park features. The remainder of the park is open to exploration using a topographic map and a compass.
Activites:
Auto_Touring | Biking | Camping | Educational Programs | Hiking | Horseback Riding | Wilderness Area | Wildlife Viewing | Backpacking | Bird Watching | Nature Walks | Stargazing | Cross Country Skiing | And more.
Facilities:
Visitor_Centers | Restaurant or Snack Bar | Lodging | Picnic Areas | Comfort Stations | Museum Exhibits | Cabin Rentals | Tours & Guided Activities | And more.
Nature: Fossils | Wildflowers | And more.
Directions to Badlands National Park
Plane:
Rapid City and Sioux Falls have airports
Car:
I-90 to Hwy 240 "Badlands Loop Road" or Hwy 44 from Rapid City.
Public Transportation
No public transportation is available to the park.
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Contact Information for Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park
P.O. Box 6
Interior, SD
57750
Phone: (605) 433-5361
Fax: (605) 433-5404
Located in Interior, SD
For more information on Badlands National Park
Information on this page provided by the NPS.
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South Dakota Road Maps (SD Maps)
South Dakota Photos