National Parks · South Dakota
Badlands National Park
National Park Service source material · single source. Source dates and reuse information are available beside each field.
Check the official park website for current access, conditions and visitor information.
Introduction
Background: 1
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits 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.
Geography
Designation: 3
National Park
State or territory: 4
South Dakota
Park Map - Badlands National Park: 5
Map scope: Badlands National Park
Map of Badlands National Park in South Dakota. The park is highlighted in green with surrounding terrain shown in light yellow, tan, pearl white, or pale peach. Red lines represent roads and yellow dots represent towns and cities.
Nature
Ecology: 6
Located in southwestern South Dakota, Badlands National Park consists of 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires surrounded by a mixed-grass prairie ecosystem . The mixed grass prairie is a transitional zone between the tall-grass prairie to the east and the short-grass prairie to the west. The buttes and spires of the park were formed through the geologic processes of deposition and erosion. The rocks of Badlands National Park were deposited as early as 75 million years ago and began eroding just 500,000 years ago. As erosion continues today, fossils buried in the rock slowly reveal themselves and park paleontologists study them to learn about ancient life in the area . Amid the prairies and buttes, numerous animals call the park home. There are many forms of wildlife in the Badlands, ranging from bison to butterflies and everything in betweeen. Read more about nature in Badlands National Park by using the portal below.
Badlands National Park is known for its geology and paleontology. Find out more about these topics here!
The Badlands host an expanse mixed-grass prairie with plenty to explore. Learn about this amazing environment here!
Wildlife: 7
All over the place! For a detailed list of locations and recommendations to spot specific wildlife, please refer to our page about Spotting Wildlife in the Badlands .
Badlands National Park is home to many resilient creatures, including some of the most endangered species in North America. To survive the bitter winters and searing summers of the Great Plains, you need a good plan -- and the wildlife of the park have arrived at many ingenious solutions to the problems of exposure, heat, cold, and drought. Check out the articles below to learn the amazing stories of such iconic animals as the American Bison, Black-footed Ferret, and Pronghorn!
The story of the Bison is central to the cultural and scientific heritage of people and their environment in North America.
Black-footed Ferrets are one of the endangered species that Badlands National Park works to monitor and protect.
Bighorn sheep have fascinating daily activities, an incredible natural history, and a special home at Badlands National Park.
Prairie dogs are a keystone species in prairie ecosystems -- learn about the other plants and animals they support here.
Birds of prey like Golden Eagles, Northern Harriers, Short-Eared Owls, and more call the Badlands home.
206 bird species have been identified in Badlands National Park. Learn about the birds of the Badlands and get a species list here.
Birds: 8
Badlands National Park lies at an avian crossroads, where watchful visitors may observe both eastern and western birds. The park’s variable habitats support an abundance of birdlife: 206 species have been documented in Badlands with 67 species known to nest here.
Prairie Ecology: 9
Why do some parts of the prairie stand above the rest? Read this article to learn more about what sod tables are and how they got there.
Campgrounds
Cedar Pass Campground: 10
Cold running water, flush toilets, and covered picnic tables are available. A limited section of the campground is open during the winter months. Four campsites are available in the Cedar Pass Campground for organized groups with a designated leader.
Sage Creek Campground: 11
Bison often wander through this primitive campground, located on the west side of the park's North Unit. Access is located off of the Sage Creek Rim Road, an unpaved road that may temporarily close after winter storms and spring rains. The road provides limited turnarounds for large recreational vehicles. Camping is free of charge. Pit toilets and covered picnic tables are available, but no water is available on-site. A portion of the Sage Creek Campground is designated for horse use.
Visitor information
Visitation
Sources & field notes
Source records (15)
Select a numbered reference to open a source card. Retrieval dates describe this edition’s source capture, rather than an independent verification or the date of the underlying information.
Background · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Badlands National Park · NPS Photo / Mackenzie Reed. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Catalog image date
- 10/03/2017
- Source scope
- Badlands National Park
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Public domain:Full Granting Rights
- Rights
- Public domain:Full Granting Rights
Designation · National Park System directory. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Factual reference data; source attribution retained.
State or territory · National Park System directory. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Factual reference data; source attribution retained.
Park Map - Badlands National Park · National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Source scope
- Badlands National Park
- Download
- Official map PDF ↗
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Public domain; NPS map
- Rights
- Public domain; NPS map
Ecology · Nature & Science — National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- July 31, 2020
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS webpage text; U.S. government work generally public domain. Third-party material may have separate rights.
Wildlife · Wildlife — National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- September 1, 2020
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS webpage text; U.S. government work generally public domain. Third-party material may have separate rights.
Birds · Birds — National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- February 6, 2025
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS webpage text; U.S. government work generally public domain. Third-party material may have separate rights.
Prairie Ecology · Prairie Ecology — National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- July 20, 2020
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS webpage text; U.S. government work generally public domain. Third-party material may have separate rights.
Cedar Pass Campground · National Park Service park structured data. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored U.S. government work is generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Sage Creek Campground · National Park Service park structured data. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored U.S. government work is generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Physical Address · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Mailing Address · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Telephone · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Recreation visits · National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics. Open source ↗
- Information date
- 2025
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Methodology
- NPS reporting unit; annual total is the sum of 12 monthly recreation visit estimates.
- Reporting unit
- Badlands NP
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Factual reference data; source attribution retained.