Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Posted byChristi IfferganPosted inSouth DakotaTags:, , ,

I am doing some backtracking on my travels in South Dakota & am starting with the Badlands. The landscape is unlike any other park I have visited.

Badlands National Park is 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, & spires along with the largest mixed-grass prairie in the US. 

What’s in a name? The Lakota named the area “mako sica,” or “badlands,” because of how difficult the terrain is to traverse.

Badlands was established as a National Monument in 1939 and was later designated as a National Park in 1978. 

The south half of the park is located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and is co-managed with the Oglala Sioux Tribe. 

The geologic deposits here contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.

The Sage Creek portion of the wilderness area houses Roberts Prairie Dog Town.  It is one of the largest colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs. 

Just outside the park stands the biggest prairie dog in the world. It is 12 feet tall and weighs in at 6 tons. There are prairie dogs all around and are entertaining to watch. The gift shop sells peanuts to feed them, so they pop up out of the ground any time they hear a noise!

Published by Christi Iffergan

Hi! I am Christi, a full-time RV traveller since August 2021. I have always loved to travel, but COVID-19 put a stop to that. I was fast approaching 50, my condo was being placed up for sale and I was ready for a major change. Originally from a tiny town in rural Southwest Virginia, I am the mother to one son and a rescue Shih Tzu, Cappy. For the last 20 years, I worked in public library systems around the Charlotte & Myrtle Beach areas. I met some amazing people and made great friends along the way. Follow along on my adventures as I travel the US. I hope that our paths will cross one day!

10 thoughts on “Badlands National Park, South Dakota”

  1. Thank you for the wonderful pictures but even more for your very missed voice. We are so blessed that you are sharing your fantastic adventure with us. Love you lots.

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      1. We are doing well! Barbara’s condition remains stable and we are enjoying life one day at a time. We both work out with our personal trainer three days a week and Barbara plays Bridge two days a week. Of course, I can be found at the library picking up books a couple of times every week as well. Miss you more than you know!

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      2. I miss hearing all of your book reviews & recommendations! I’m glad that you are doing well. Keep up the good work & pass on any pointers. I bought a new ebike, so I plan on using it a lot.

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