The Badlands ecosystem supports an impressive variety of wildlife, including both native and reintroduced species. Large mammals such as bighorn sheep, American bison, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer roam the grasslands and canyons. The park is home to numerous prairie dog colonies, which support predators like swift foxes, coyotes, and endangered black-footed ferrets. The skies are patrolled by golden eagles, prairie falcons, and numerous songbird species, while rattlesnakes and other reptiles inhabit the rocky terrain.
Despite the harsh environment, the Badlands supports a diverse array of plant life adapted to its extreme conditions. Mixed-grass prairie dominates the landscape, featuring western wheatgrass, buffalo grass, and needle-and-thread grass. Wildflowers such as sego lilies, prairie sunflowers, and scarlet globemallow add bursts of color during spring and summer. Hardy shrubs like sage, juniper, and yucca thrive in the rocky terrain, while cottonwood trees cluster near rare water sources, creating vital shade and wildlife habitat.
The distinctive landscape of the Badlands was formed through millions of years of deposition and erosion. Ancient seas, rivers, and volcanic activity deposited layers of sediment, which were then carved by wind and water into the striking spires, buttes, and canyons visible today. The rock layers, composed of sandstone, mudstone, and ash, contain one of the world's richest fossil beds, preserving ancient mammals like three-toed horses, saber-toothed cats, and early rhinoceroses. The ongoing erosion continues to expose new fossils while sculpting the landscape at a rate of about one inch per year.
The Lakota people first named this region 'mako sica' or 'land bad,' a reference to its harsh terrain and extreme conditions. For thousands of years, Native American tribes, including the Lakota, Arikara, and Cheyenne, hunted and lived in these lands. European-American settlers began arriving in the mid-1800s, and the area gained national monument status in 1929 before being designated as Badlands National Park in 1978. The region also preserves one of the world's richest Oligocene epoch fossil beds, dating back 23-35 million years.
The park's most iconic features include the dramatic Badlands Wall, a 100-mile-long collection of eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires that rises abruptly from the surrounding prairie. The Fossil Exhibit Trail showcases the region's rich paleontological heritage, while the Door and Window trails offer accessible views of the otherworldly landscape. Cedar Pass Lodge provides historic accommodation, and the Sage Creek Wilderness Area offers opportunities for backcountry exploration. The park's location far from major light sources also makes it an exceptional destination for stargazing, with the Milky Way often visible on clear nights.
The Badlands experiences dramatic temperature swings and extreme weather conditions typical of a semi-arid climate. Summers are hot and dry with temperatures frequently exceeding 100°F (38°C), while winters bring bitter cold, with temperatures dropping below 0°F (-18°C). Spring and fall are mild but unpredictable, featuring sudden thunderstorms and occasional hail. The region receives approximately 16 inches of annual precipitation, primarily during late spring and early summer storms, which can create flash flood conditions in the park's numerous canyons and ravines.
USA
43.7500°, -102.5000°
November 10, 1978
982.4
Badlands National Park features dramatically eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires blended with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The park contains one of the world's richest fossil beds from the Oligocene epoch. Ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and saber-toothed cat once roamed here.