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We spent a great day in the Badlands on a long-weekend trip from Minneapolis! Here’s how to spend a memorable day in the Badlands – tips for those of you who are just driving through or ideas for spending a bit more time. Our first stop wasn’t even in the park, but rather in the adjacent Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, which is worth stopping into to learn about these important assets during the Cold War.
Minuteman Missile NHS
A few miles west of the park’s northeast entrance is the Delta-01 site, which requires reservations to tour. Since we weren’t sure of our arrival time, we didn’t make a reservation and unfortunately tours are only available when booked more than 24 hours in advance. The visitor center is worth the stop if you don’t plan ahead or can’t get tickets!
How to Spend 1 Day in the Badlands
Badlands National Park, like Theodore Roosevelt National Park, is one of many places in the western US that have “badlands.” You see this geology in Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, but the first indication of it heading west is in these two parks. For that, and the other historical significance, it is easy to see why this area is protected.
Driving the Badlands Loop Road
We entered at the northeast entrance and the first stop is the Big Badlands Overlook, which you need to see! It provides an iconic photo with just the landscape, but is also a nice spot to get the family all lined up for the Christmas card photo!
Short Hikes
Your next stop are the “Door,” “Window,” and “Notch” trails, all of which come off of a common parking area. The Door and Window trails are each short at 0.75 and 0.25 miles, respectively. They are also easy, very family-friendly, and lead to nice views over the Badlands. The Notch Trail is moderately strenuous, and at 1.5 miles in distance roundtrip is not long but has a log ladder that you have to climb that is not for those who have a fear of heights or small kids. We passed on it when the kids were little but now that they are getting older we would give it a shot!
After the Door and Window hikes we didn’t do much for hiking. Instead, we stopped in at the Visitor Center, completed the Junior Ranger booklet, and headed up the Badlands Loop Road where we stopped at the overlooks along the route. There are other hikes that range from 0.25 miles (Saddle Pass) to 10 miles (Castle Trail) but the number of overlooks gives a good overview of the Park.
Badlands Loop Road Overlooks
Many overlooks will look similar and while there are beautiful vistas along this route they aren’t as stunning as what you would find in Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and Glacier National Parks. So, as is typical, we chose what we wanted to stop at as each overlook is largely visible from the road.
Sage Creek Rim Road
What you will not want to miss, and sadly many people do, is the Sage Creek Rim Road. This unpaved stretch is where the Badlands came alive for us. Sure, you will see plenty of prairie dogs along the Badlands Loop Road and may get lucky and see some bison, deer, or bighorn sheep, the Sage Creek Rim Road was where the Bison were plentiful and close to the road.
We saw our first one (and he was huge) right as we crossed over the cattle guard on the road. You can go as far as you wish on the road but our goal was to see Bison so we made it a few miles out and turned around at the Roberts Prairie Dog Town.
This stretch of unpaved road was the best part of Badlands National Park and yet I’m surprised how often the people I talk to don’t head out on it! Don’t make that mistake — the Sage Creek Rim Road is the best part of the Park in our opinion!
Rapid City
We left the Badlands and made our way for Rapid City, where in addition to enjoying a meal we took a great walk through the downtown area to see the City of Presidents, where life-size bronze statues of all presidents up to Obama are represented. Next, we found our lodging, the Rocket Motel in Custer before spending the rest of our weekend exploring Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, and Jewel Cave National Monument. For those adventures we settled into the perfect VRBO rental home!
There you have it — our suggestions of how to spend 1 day in the Badlands!
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