Badlands National Park
In 1922, when Badlands was first proposed as a National Park, the suggested name was Wonderland National Park!
*Visited September 2021
What should I bring? Water, water, water baby! Hydrating should always be your number one priority. A good pair of hiking boots, as always. My National Park Adventure Guide was also a great companion!
Are there restaurants or gas stations within the Park? Cedar Pass Lodge offers a cafeteria-like lunch stop that’s attached to their general / gift store. There’s plenty of options to choose from! This is the only place in Badlands where you can obtain food, so come packed & prepared if you don’t want to spend money. There are no gas stations within the bounds of the Park, however there is a gas station just outside of the northern entrance / exit.
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What are the spots I need to hit? Any spot you hit in the Badlands will be rewarding. But make sure you stop at Pinnacles Overlook for sunset. Driving the Badlands Loop Road is full of overlooks & stops. For an easy hike, try: Fossil Exhibit Trail, Door Trail, Window Trail, Notch Trail. Those last 3 are all next to each other so when you park you can hit all 3! A popular hike is Castle Trail, although it’s the longest. The Ben Reifel Visitor Center has a mini museum shedding light on the history of the Park.
Should I stay in the Park? Cedar Pass Lodge is the only place where there are cabins within the Park. They also offer campsites, which are also available throughout the Park as well. We stay in Frontier Cabins in the city of Wall which was just a couple miles outside of the Pinnacles entrance of Badlands. Since Cedar Pass Lodge is seasonal, it can fill up quick!
