It took a few years since our arrival in the USA before we had the courage to explore the Dakotas. The Great Plains are supposed to be, well, plain. We started off with a drive through Minnesota, into North Dakota. While very flat, it had its beauty, as we had never seen such emptiness. With the Netherlands as our home country as a reference, we are used to flat, but not empty. Via Theodore Roosevelt National Park, we looped back into South Dakota. What a beautiful state this is. Through the Black Hills to Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, and finally the Badlands.
The Badlands are something else, a beauty made for photography and hiking. Let me share our top 5 stops in and around the Badlands National Park
The Geological Past of Badlands National Park
The Badlands of South Dakota have been a canvas for nature's artistry for millions of years. The intricate layers of sedimentary rock tell a story of ancient oceans, lush forests, and prehistoric creatures. As time passed, erosion sculpted the land into the dramatic badlands we see today, a testament to the ceaseless forces of wind and water.
The majority of the Badlands is made of sandstone, sand that used to be the bottom of an ocean. On our hike we touched, what seemed to be solid, rock. With a bit of force, the rock crumbled into sand. The sandstone can vary in color, ranging from pale yellow to deep red and even purple.
1. Wall Drug Store: a Famous Roadside Attraction
Before we entered the Badlands National Park, we made a stop at the Great Plains' famous roadside attraction: the Wall Drug Store. It is impossible to miss it, they advertise on billboards along the I-90 for miles and miles, luring travelers off the highway with promises of 5-cent coffee and free ice water.
Stepping inside, we discovered a sprawling complex of shops, restaurants, and attractions. A world of curiosities, from whimsical photo spots and John Deere toys to cowboy boots and souvenirs galore. Of course, we had to grab a cup of their coffee (mwah). Make sure to stop here. It is great for families with attractions such as a life-sized animatronic T. rex dinosaur, a Western art gallery, and a beautifully landscaped garden with sculptures.
2. Roberts Prairie Dog Town: A Hidden Gem
Leaving Wall, I opted to take the first turn right on the 240 to the National Park. A 25-minute loop on a dirt road brings you to Roberts Prairie Dog Town. This hidden gem offers a chance to observe the funny lively Prairie Dogs in their natural habitat.
Prairie dogs are small, burrowing rodents that are known for their distinctive barking calls and social behavior. They live in underground burrows in colonies called "towns." The animals pop in and out of their burrows and are a bustling community, not afraid of humans!
3. Driving Through the Badlands National Park
Our third stop is not really a stop, but an unforgettable drive. After entering the National Park, the landscape unfolded before our eyes like an otherworldly dreamscape.
The jagged peaks and towering spires, carved by the relentless forces of nature, stretch out in all directions. The vibrant layers of sedimentary rock, painted with hues of red, orange, and gray, create a stunning tapestry that changes with the shifting light of the day.
4. Hiking in Badlands National Park
There are over 16 trails in the park, ranging from short stops below a mile, and longer day or even multi-day trails that are over 21 miles. With limited time on a larger roadtrip, we had to explore the park in one day, and oped for two shorter stops:
The Window Trail:
The Window trail is more of a short stroll that ends with a beautiful viewpoint: the Window. This narrow gap in the rock formations, framing the dramatic badlands is a natural window and a perfect photo opportunity.
The Medicine Root Trail:
The Medicine Trail is a little longer. A 4-mile moderate loop trail in the southeastern part of the park, that took us 1.15 hours to complete. We liked this scenic trail that winds through the park's grassy prairies, with a chance to encounter rattlesnakes and bighorn sheep.
5. Prairie Homestead: Pioneering History
After the hikes, we left the Badlands National Park behind us. Just before we turned onto the I-90 again, I saw the Prairie Homestead Historic Site. We made a stop, and I recommend you do the same!
Located just outside the park boundaries, this living history museum brought us back in time to the days of early homesteaders who settled in the region. It is a preserved and restored homestead dating back to the late 19th century. Early settlers used the Homestead Act of 1862 to get a piece of land that they could own if they completed 5 years of farming work there. Most of them never made the 5 years. This untamed land is harsh, with brutal winters, relentless winds blowing, and a lack of almost any resources. What a lonely and tough life these pioneers must have lived. Imagine how resilient some of them were to make it through the 5 years.
Tips and links for your roadtrip:
We visited the Badlands in August, and that is a perfect time. While the park is open 24/7 and all year, the best time to visit is between April and October.
Entree to the park will cost you between $15 and $30 depending on your type of vehicle. Of course you can access it with the $80 annual National Park Pass.
Always do a check on the National Park website, as extreme heat and storms happen regularly in this unpredictable weather area.
And the obvious tips: bring your hiking shoes and a good camera. This landscape will make you get out your camera all the time.
Some useful links:
Visit the Badlands National Park website
Check out the best trails if you love hiking
Get a taste of what you will see at the Wall Drug Store
Read more about Roberts Prairie Dog Town
Visit the website of the Prairie Homestead Historic Site
