badlands wall

I have seen photos, but actually seeing it is different. We came into the Badlands from Wall, SD. The entry post was closed so we paid our $$ on the way out. The first stop was the most beautiful for us. We saw big horn sheep and prairie dogs galore!It would be a beautiful place to hike and see at sunrise or sunset. Nice detour off of the Interstate for anyone to see how landscape can change within a few miles. Imagining how life was for settlers, wondering what in the world is this place. It has it's own beauty and I am glad that we went off the Interstate to view it.

This is the most beautiful scenery I have ever scene. The drive through is so relaxing. I can just imagine all the cowboys riding through there so many years ago. It is desert at its finest. If you are ever planning a trip to South Dakota be sure to visit the Badlands. It is well worth it.

The scenery in this place was just something unbelievable. It was so beautiful and so ascetic at the same time. We stayed there for two days and saw the sunset twice. It was just amazing. I completely fell in love with this place, it was the most beautiful view I have ever seen.

This is a must see. Beautiful and almost scary. Imagine crossing the badlands on horse back. This is desert to the max. You will be in awe at the natural beauty of rocks and cliffs and hills and mountains.

If you are close, you should definitely visit. The scenery is like nothing else in the Midwest.Be sure to stop at the visitors center and learn more about the history of the badlands.

Driving across the prairie and imaging the buffalo in Dancing with Wolves, you suddenly come upon The Badlands. The spring up from the ground from no where. The Native Amerivan Indians considered them holy ground and with good reason, they are spectacular. (Try the Indian Fry bread...yummy!). Their beauty can be deceiving however, they are very steep mountains and crevasses with no rails or real trails. That why they made me weak in the knees....I was afraid my kids and/or myself would fall off, so I would just caution you to be careful. It is well worth the stop and the risk. They are beautiful.

Read something recently where people said the Badlands were awful to visit because of the lack of accommodations. I stayed in the little town of Wall and it was a short drive to the park, this is perfect because building in the park would ruin it!!!! This area is perfect just as is, it's worth the drive and is so beautiful. Check it out at sunset and sunrise, the colors change so much. Over developing parks can be the downfall nature.

Some of the most interesting and beautiful scenery. I felt like I was on an alien planet. Would recommend to anyone.

This is one of the mosyt beautiful place we have ever seen.Just go and see by yourself !It is very hot during the Summer but it is worth being hot to see the Badlands

When you enter the Badlands National Park in South Dakota, you will feel as though you stepped onto the moon, Pluto, or some distant planet. Or maybe you will feel like you are in a Cowboy Western movie. Whenever I heard the word "Badlands" I though it was just about Cowboys and Indians. Nope! The name Badlands describes how it feels to be there in the National Park. The terrain in the Badlands National Park is so bad (interesting, awesome, different) from the surrounding landscape or any other rock formations in the United States that I have ever seen. It draws your attention immediately, and is a great photo opportunity. . The rock formations are jagged, and then very smooth, colorful, and interesting to look at. Even more interesting if you dare to hike in the park, because there are Rattlesnakes. We chickened out of the hike, but found the park to be beautiful and interesting nonetheless. You will see wildlife and wildflowers, but it is the landscape that draws you in. We enjoyed the prairie dogs so much! They hang together and chat with each other like people in a small village. It was a hoot listening to them and watching them pop in and out of their burrows! The trip is definitely different from the norm. This park is not real big, but you will still want to set aside a full day for the experience.

Park Rangers tell us the badlands are a constantly changing landscape due to the action of erosion on the soft rocks. It is also home to a wide variety of animal species. Our extended family group (kids, young adult & senior) drove throught the park in the early spring en route to Colorado and found it captivating. The rock formations are fantastic, and the colors of the rocks are subtle and mezmorising. The kids were on the lookout for animals and were not disappointed. The first sighting was an eagle soaring majestically overhead. Around a bend they sighted scores of antelope. Farther along the road, we came upon an elk herd, and later the kids spotted a field covered with prairie dogs. They didn't show up in our pictures, but there must have been a thousand or more. Near the outskirts of the park, we were all delighted to see a large herd of bison. If you've ever driven through a major National Park hoping for a wildlife sighting and having to settle for a view of a single crow, you will realize how phenomial this is. More time spent here would yield even greater rewards. This would be an awesome place to camp and soak up the various moods of the rockscapes. Fossils proliferate among these rocks, making this a great venue for rock hounds. Don't expect the grandeur of the Grand Canyon or the spectacles of Rocky Mountain "fourteeners," just take time to appreciate the subtley of the landscape and the life it supports.

Visiting the Badlands in a land of praries is amazing. We went in June and found the "character" and "views" of the hundred mile plus wall intriguing. It is a huge natural barrier.. We saw animals such as mountain goats and prarie dogs. We marveled at sunset and sunrise. And listening to a massive thunderstorm roar through the area when we were staying in the park showed the sheer force of nature.Its a fascinating place to visit in South Dakota.

Be prepare to be shock when arriving at the visitor center, you will be transport in an unknow world, you will feel disturb, like landind on an unknow planet. We stay there for 2 day's the camping is real great to feel that strange feeling of and unknow world. A place were you will ear the Wind talking the secret of that mistery land.Less crowded than other nat's park it's one of the best place to be in touch with wild nature.

The Badlands is a great place to visit. Is like to be in another world, the color of the land and the formations of the rocks are amazing. You can see snakes and orher animals around. I had a great time with my family and friends around the area.

From the east, access the Badlands National Park off of I-90 taking exit 113 (Cactus Flat) which is considered the Northeast entrance. Pay the park entrance fee and ask for the park map and information brochure. You can also opt to purchase the annual park pass ($75 for individual) which is more economical if you are visiting several national parks during the year. The Badlands Loop Road and Scenic Byway, also known as SR 240, is the popular scenic roadway of the park and the most traveled. There are several trails (Door, Window, Notch and Cliff Shelf Nature) and an overlook before approaching the Visitor Center. The overlook trail was slippery due to the misting weather. The overlook was definitely worth the stop. You can expect spectacular vistas along the 39 mile Badlands Loop Road. There are 14 scenic overlooks in the park and several trails ranging from short (Windows trail, 150 yard) to difficult (The Notch Trail).