National park · South Dakota

Badlands National Park

A 244,000-acre maze of eroded pinnacles and grassland in South Dakota - sacred ground for the Oglala Lakota, the richest mammal fossil bed of the Oligocene era, and home to reintroduced bison and black-footed ferrets.

Entrance
$30 private vehicle
Hours
Open 24 hours daily Badlands National Park
Established
January 25, 1939
Region
Great Plains & Heartland
Badlands National Park
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (US National Park Service)
The Badlands National Park patch

The real park boundary. Scout checks whether your phone is inside this line.

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History

Badlands National Park is significant for its unique geological formations and as a site of cultural importance to the Oglala Sioux Indians. It also serves as a vital habitat for endangered species and has a rich fossil record that provides insight into prehistoric life.

Key events

  1. Authorized as Badlands National Monument on March 4, 1929, and redesignated as a national park on November 10, 1978.
  2. The Wounded Knee Massacre, a pivotal event in U.S. history, occurred near the park in December 1890.
  3. 1968Stronghold and Palmer Creek Units added, increasing Native American (Oglala Lakota) co-stewardship of the park.

Trails

  • Notch Trail 1.5 mi · Moderate
  • Door Trail 0.75 mi · Easy
  • Saddle Pass Trail 0.3 mi · Hard
  • Medicine Root Loop 4 mi · Moderate
  • Cliff Shelf Nature Trail 0.5 mi · Easy

Plan your visit

Hours · Badlands National Park

Open 24 hours, every day

The park is open to visitors all year with the exception of weather closures.

Entrance fees

  • Private Vehicle $30
  • Motorcycle $25
  • Per Person $15

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Spring. Mild weather, wildflowers, active wildlife, fewer crowds
  • Fall. Cooler temperatures, colorful scenery, best wildlife viewing
  • Summer. Ranger programs, all facilities open, but hot and crowded
  • Winter. Solitude, unique snow-covered badlands scenery

Wildlife

BisonBighorn sheepPronghornPrairie dogsCoyotesBurrowing owlsMule deerSwift foxes

Nearby patches

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