Badlands National Park was first designated a National Monument in 1939, and then received the full national park designation in 1978.

Badlands National Park offers one of the more interesting park experiences due to the mixture of the badland geology and the last, largest mixed grass prarie in the U.S. This combination creates one of the more particular atmospheres in the park system. You can walk several feet in what looks like standard midwest topography, and then suddenly encounter dramatic cliffs, spires and even a few cactuses. Badlands National Park is a good place to spend a few days camping with the family.

Park facts:

Total acreage: 244,000
Official wilderness: 64, 250 acres
Square miles: 379
Highest point: 3,247 feet
Largest expanse of protected prarie in NPS
One of the world's richest fossil areas

Contacts:

Badlands National Park
25216 Ben Reifel Road
PO Box 6
Interior, SD 57750

Park Headquarters
605-433-5361

badl_information@nps.gov