Nestled in South Dakota, Badlands National Park enchants with its rugged terrain and vibrant rock formations, offering breathtaking views and abundant wildlife encounters.
"A unique park in South Dakota known for its striking geological formations, rich fossil beds, and mixed-grass prairie." - Alison Fox Alison Fox Alison Fox is a Travel + Leisure contributor. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. When she’s not in New York City, she can be found at the beach or on the slope
"Badlands National Park has a section co-managed by Indigenous people, reflecting ongoing efforts in collaboration and co-management."
"Between the steep buttes, crystal-lined caves, granite spires, prairies, and ponderosa pine forests, speculating the most beautiful South Dakota place is hopeless. But the fossil-packed landscape of Badlands National Park must come close. Here, meadows meet whimsically eroded canyons and vibrant, layered hills. Drive Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) and the perimeter route around the South Unit. Bonus points if you time your visit to the south-facing Pinnacles Overlook for sunset." - Anne Olivia Bauso Anne Olivia Bauso Anne Olivia Bauso is a travel writer and hotel expert based in New York City. She has written hundreds of hotel reviews, from 5-star Ritz-Carlton properties to treehouse eco-resorts in the
"Characterized by sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'
"So far this year, more than a dozen national park units have opted to go cash-free, including Mount Rainier, Badlands, and Crater Lake. That’s on top of various other national park units, including certain monuments, historic sites, lakeshores, and recreation areas, which no longer accept cash."
