Traveling across America’s great landscapes, I’ve come to believe that they all share a common feature, which distinguishes them from the mundane. That feature is contrast, and I’m more and more convinced it’s essential for achieving natural beauty. I had been entertaining this thought for a while, but it wasn’t until I saw South Dakota’s Badlands that I was fully convinced. Badlands National Park is a land permeated with contrast, and it’s certainly beautiful.
Covering 244,000 acres in western South Dakota, roughly 60 miles east of the Black Hills, Badlands National Park is home to some amazing scenery. Rugged badlands, mixed grass prairie, and painted hills, all featuring a kaleidoscope of colors. Everywhere you look, there’s a different combination of elements, all blending together to create a beautiful landscape. As you explore the park, you quickly realize that no two sections are the same. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you can turn a corner, and discover a new world just as unexpected as the last.
One of the most striking features of Badlands National Park, is the suddenness of which it emerges from the surrounding prairie. Standing on the precipice of a cliff, you can see miles of rugged badlands, turn the other direction, and it’s an endless sea of prairie extending to the horizon. Unlike North Dakota’s badlands, in South Dakota they appear to be carved out of the Earth, a deep chasm amongst an otherwise flat landscape.
In addition to its extensive natural beauty, Badlands National Park is exceptionally easy to visit. The most popular activity is driving the Badlands Loop Road, which takes you past all of the most spectacular landscapes. There are plenty of turnouts and you don’t really need to do any advance research. Just hop in the car and start exploring, it’s really that easy. Of course there are plenty of hiking opportunities as well, but again you don’t really need to plan ahead.
https://www.nps.gov/badl/planyourvisit/things2do.htm
Overall, Badlands National Park is home to some truly unique landscapes, and is well worth a visit. For those of you who made it this far, and haven’t previously read my praise for the neighboring Black Hills, I encourage you to check out the link below. In my opinion, the Black Hills should be at the center of any trip to South Dakota, but Badlands National Park is only an hour away, and is well worth the detour.
So glad it’s not been turned into a golf course. 🤪 So many new places to add to my bucket list. ✅
The colors look like some kid was just grabbing crayons out of the box. God’s creativity is in full display. That must have been quite a drive.
The colors are pretty amazing. Between the Badlands and Black Hills, South Dakota has been my favorite state so far. Almost every stranger that finds out I’m doing all 50 states asks what my favorite state has been, and answering South Dakota elicits some pretty funny follow up questions.
Interesting. My mother was born in Aberdeen SD, but the only time I’ve been there was a quick trip to Rapid City for a conference in February when it was freezing cold. I’ll have to hit it in the summer time.