Hiking Badlands National Park and Visiting Wall Drug South Dakota

When you think of South Dakota, there may not be many notable landmarks or cities that come to mind. Sure the state is home to Mount Rushmore, but is there any other reason to make the trip? There actually is! To see Badlands National Park, an area of land with visually compelling rock formations that you have to see to believe. This wilderness stretch was aptly named "mako sica" or "land bad" by the native Lakota people due to its extreme temperatures, rough terrain, and lack of water and resources. The boundaries of the National Park encompass the largest mixed-grass prairie in the country and the strange, eroded-looking rock fins and buttes give the area a resemblance of a hellish landscape. So when my dad asked, "Are the lands in fact bad?" (Dad joke alert), yeah they kinda are! And you need to hike them!

What makes hiking Badlands National Park so unique and special that you would take a random trip to South Dakota to see them? Of the many National Parks I've now explored in the U.S., this is the only one where "open hiking" is allowed. That means you are not regulated to specific hiking paths for fear of destroying land restoration or hurting wildlife. You are free to explore wherever you want (obviously at your own risk and WATCH OUT FOR RATTLESNAKES). Want to climb a rock fin? Go for it. See a canyon you want to jump into and follow? All yours! The absolute freedom allowed in Badlands lets you enjoy the Park in a whole new way that's personal to you.

Make Sure You Stop at Wall Drug on the Way

Before we start talking about Badlands, let's discuss the GIFT TO THE WORLD that is Wall Drug. This shopping and tourist mecca in the middle of the small town of Wall, SD (population 876), is one of the most infamous roadside attractions in the States. Suppose you've driven at all through Wyoming or South Dakota. In that case, you know Wall Drug because of their distinct marketing strategy: a complete bombardment of billboards mostly concentrated on the surrounding 600-mile stretch of I-90. However, we even saw one near Cheyenne, Wyoming, a whole 5-hour drive from the actual Wall Drug location. I was prepared to be annoyed by this advertising on steroids, but as a designer, I could appreciate that every one of the 60 plus billboards I saw was completely different. Plus, they were each designed with fun lettering and sometimes comical illustrations. If you're a U.S. native, I'd equate them to the design of Trader Joe's signs and advertising, so they definitely have a more light-hearted style to them. However, I will admit that seeing three Wall Drug billboards 50 ft from each other along the road was a TAD BIT overkill. I learned from the Wall drug signs that they have free water, gemstone mining, and "western original oil paintings." They sell 5-cent coffee (though I've heard it's not a wise choice), homemade pies, cowboy boots, and every type of touristy mug you can imagine. They also have a giant dinosaur? (It's just a statue...and apparently, it's iconic) Make sure you "bring your camera" because "all roads lead to Wall Drug."

When you arrive at Wall Drug, you realize that all that advertising is working. With a whole block of restaurants, western stores, and gift shops interconnected indoors via hallways lined with deer heads, memorabilia, and random baubles, this place sees over 2 million guests per year. And trust me, there are SO MANY different types of souvenirs, you WILL be tempted to buy something. I was with a group of three guys who didn't purchase a single souvenir during our month-long trip, and they each left with a cheesy item from Wall Drug. 

Say Hi to the Prairie Dogs as You Enter Badlands National Park

Now that you've learned about the greatness of Wall Drug, let's get back to Badlands National Park. Due to the grassland wilderness the Park protects, you'll likely find many unique animals, the most prominent being prairie dogs. Prairie dogs are super popular in this area of the country and we saw them in hordes or "towns" as their groupings are called, as far as Wyoming at Devils Tower National Monument. Prairie dogs are so prevalent in Badlands that you'll even see a giant prairie dog statue devoted to them if you drive into the eastern entrance. You're also likely to see bison grazing in the open land as you enter by car.

Keep Your Eye Out for Fossils

One of the most unique aspects of Badlands is its large concentration of fossils. Dinosaurs roamed throughout the vicinity millions of years ago and there are still plenty of fossils, both big and small, that can be unearthed from history. The 0.4-mile Fossil Exhibit Trail takes you through a self-guided look at the many fossils found in the Park and the specific animals that have called this land home. However, if you look down anytime during your visit, you may find a fossil of your own! We heard a story about a teenage girl that thought she discovered a fossil right outside the visitor center. She reported it to park officials and after more excavating and research, they uncovered a sabertooth cat skull. Pretty crazy! As a reward, they mailed her a 3D replica of the skull she found as a keepsake. So moral of the story: watch for fossils at every turn and report them to the Park Service if you find any!

Hike and Climb the Epic Notch Trail Badlands

If you're only going to tackle one trail in Badlands between fossil hunts, you should make it the Notch Trail. This 1.3-mile out and back route is considered moderately strenuous because of the wooden ladder towards the beginning of the trek. Much like the ladder trail we've hiked multiple times in Turkey Run State Park in Indiana, this ladder leads you up to the higher ledge of the cliff so you can continue down the trail. If you look at photos on social media, some angles make these steps look scarily steep. But going up, it's not as bad as it seems. Coming down is a bit more daunting if you have a specific fear of heights. Just make sure you descend slowly and focus on planting your feet sturdily on each rung. 

Once you conquer the ladder and continue on the Notch Trail, you pass a sheer drop that's marked by signs for safety so there aren’t any slips or falls. After that, you have free rein to explore the rest of the trail! You'll find smaller paths that wind between the walls that may dead end, but are great photo ops as you're surrounded by towering rock. We climbed up and slid down all around, eventually making it to the overlook at the end before you are forced to turn around and make your way back. This vista of the horizon only adds to this trail's fun with views of the far end of the Park's boundaries.

Continue to the Window Trail and Expansive Door Trail Badlands

Since they share the same parking lot as the Notch Trail, there's no reason for you to pass up the other two paths nearby. The Window Trail is the most leisurely boardwalk trek that's only a couple of hundred feet long, leading to a Badlands' overlook. If the boardwalk is too mild for you, you also can easily see the same view by scrambling and hiking up the formations nearby. You may also see some fun wildlife. We found a toad friend enjoying one of the few puddles in the desert landscape.

The Door Trail is a trek you cannot miss. This hike starts on another accessible boardwalk but leads to a fully open space where you can wander across endless Badlands. This is where the open hiking of the Park really comes into play. You'll find people exploring as far as you can see, following their own paths across the rugged ground. Set some time for this area as the hiking possibilities are endless.

Drive to the Panorama Point Overlook

There are so many marvelous overlooks that display different parts of the Badlands landscape after you're done hiking across it. Panorama Point Overlook is a great stop allowing you to look down towards the White River Valley. Here you’ll see the orange and brown striping in the rock caused by millions of years of deposition and erosion.

Explore the Yellow Mounds Overlook

The Yellow Mounds Overlook offers views far different than what you've seen in the Park so far. After being surrounded by rocks in various shades of grays and off-whites, the bright pop of color of the Yellow Mounds is a refreshing change and not something you usually see in nature. The mounds feature a stunning ombre effect ranging from bright red to orange to yellow. The yellow portion makes up the oldest layers of rock you can find in the National Park, caused by an inland sea that evaporated millions of years ago.

Make Sure You Stop at Pinnacles Overlook

The views at Pinnacles Overlook extend across the expansive Sage Creek Wilderness Area. Looking down, you may spot bison or bighorn sheep exploring the grass. This is one of the most elaborate viewpoints and should be a stop before you exit the Park.

After you experience the magnificent Wall Drug, make sure you also swing by Badlands National Park with enough time to hike and wander freely throughout. The Notch Trail is a stop you should make to test your fear of heights and see fantastic views. Yellow Mounds Overlook is another destination for the most gorgeous, colorful rock formations. Plus, all the prairie dogs (and hopefully bison) you can snap photos of. South Dakota may not be high on your travel bucket list, but you need to check out Badlands National Park!