I decided on a day trip to Badlands. I was here about 7 years ago on the “Flat Ted” tour when driving to the Twins game and remember it well. The formations are very nice and you can take a walk out into the badlands with some trails but for the most part this is a loop trail for you and your car. There is a campground here in the park and I am sure that it is nice but with the temperature at 97 degrees today and not a tree for shade I have decided to continue going towards Yellowstone. Devils Tower maybe my destination of choice next before Yellowstone. The Badlands has two park entrances Pinnacles and Northeast, I chose Northeast to enter. There are also two visitor centers but one is only open seasonal and that is the White River Visitor Center. One of the things I found amazing about this park is that on one side of the road you have these amazing badlands and on the other side of the road is prairie. To think that in 100 million years or so that prairie will be the new badlands is cool. The road is also getting maintenance done on it and at a point in the drive it becomes one lane. There are flag people and a truck to follow when it is your turn to go. The badlands is always changing either by wind, rain or humans. The wind and rain I get but why do humans find a need to go off trail or make their own trails when doing this compromises the land they just walked on destroying it for the rest of us?
Big Badlands Overlook – first stop when you enter the park if you choose the overlooks. There is a bit of a trail that is a boardwalk that will take you out to a viewing point within the badlands. It is worth a stop to see into the badlands, I even saw 4 deer in the area below the viewing area. This trail can be done by anyone and it is less than 0.10 of a mile.
Door Trail – the start of this trail is an overlook with Castle Trail. Door trail is on the left if facing the badlands, and it starts with a boardwalk. You can stay on the boardwalk and come to a lookout or if you are so inclined you can walk down a few steps and then head out on the trail. The trail has numbered stakes and they stop at 12 or 13 and then a big sign saying “Trail has ended” so I would recommend stopping at the sign. The stopping point is a point in the badlands that allows a 360 degree view of the badlands. The trail is packed dirt and is fine on a 97 degree day but if it was raining or had rained I would not go on the trail as it would be mud. The trail is out and back and I would say that is not more than 0.5 miles in each direction.
Fossil Exhibit Trail – The trail is a boardwalk trail and it less than 0.25 miles round trip. The trail takes you though all of the various years of the building of the park with stops along the way to describe what you are seeing.
White River Valley Overlook – the overlook is nice and you can walk a few yards into the badlands and get a better view of the area.
Conata Basin Overlook – overlook that shows you a deep look into the badlands and also provides you with many colors of the badlands. The walk is a boardwalk.
Yellow Mounds Overlook – no trail and you get up close with the yellow mounds of badlands. It sure was windy here.
Hunters Overlook – the overlook allows you to see the grasslands and the badlands. It also talks about the various forms of weapons used in the past in the area.
Pinnacles Overlook – this has a wooden walkway and stairs down to the overlook. There is a bunch of steps but they can be done by almost anyone who is ambulatory. In the distance you can see Mount Rushmore, and Rapid City, so you have a great view.
