Badlands National Park

The Badlands National Park in South Dakota is definitely worth a visit. While they have ample camping and hiking opportunities, even a drive through the park, with stops at the overlooks, is worth the effort. At times, the landscape looked almost alien when we visited back in August a few years ago. As you can see from the video, it was very dry when we drove through.

I’d wager that the best time to visit is in the spring or early summer when the contrast between the greens, reds, and grays is most visible. We didn’t see much green, but the views were still spectacular. From the pictures, it’s difficult to appreciate just how far you can see. The jagged, layered, rocky peaks stretch out for miles and miles.

While it was relatively cool and cloudy the day we visited, temperatures in the Badlands can range from -40 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to 110+ degrees Fahrenheit in the heat of the summer, so plan accordingly. We didn’t see a lot of wildlife, but we caught a glimpse of some bighorn sheep traversing across a ravine. I hope to visit again sometime soon. I hope you enjoy the video.