Visitor Guide Badlands National Park 2019 Summer Issue

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National Park Service Park Planner U.S. Department of Interior

The official newspaper of Badlands Visitor Guide Badlands National Park 2019 Summer Issue

Photo by Joe Salvni, park staff 2010 Welcome to Badlands National Park Things to See and Do On behalf of our National Park Service (NPS) staff, and our park partners the Oglala Plan Your Visit Sioux Tribe, Forever Resorts’ Cedar Pass Lodge, and the Badlands Natural History Association, welcome to Badlands National Park. Badlands is one of 418 areas in • Drive the Highway 240 Loop Road (60 minutes). your spectacular National Park System. • Take a side trip down Sage Creek Rim Road to Roberts Prairie Dog Town to see wildlife and experience spectacular views of the park (30 minutes). Located in the midst of the Northern Great Plains and named Mako Sica by the • Hike a trail (see page 6 for a map of the trails that include descriptions, Lakota people, Badlands National Park has 244,000 acres of spectacular distances, and amount of time to allow). landscapes, native mixed grass prairie, a large variety of native wildlife, important deposits of protected fossils, wonderful skyscapes, and compelling human history. • Attend the Night Sky Program, program listing on page 12 (60 minutes). This park is certainly a national treasure. NPS Photo • Attend a ranger program. See program listing on page 12 (20 - 60 minutes). • Stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to watch the award winning park video Native people have roamed and hunted these lands for the last ten thousand years or more. Today, many and tour the exhibits (30 - 60 minutes). Oglala Lakota people live near the park. The Oglala Sioux Tribal Government works closely with the NPS in cooperatively managing the expansive South Unit of the park. If you are at the White River Visitor Center in • Take in a sunrise or sunset. They can be viewed and/or photographed from the South Unit, in addition to experiencing the park, consider visiting other interesting and important any of the overlooks or campgrounds located in the park (20 - 30 minutes). places on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, such as Wounded Knee, the Oglala Lakota Historical Center near • Stop by the White River Visitor Center (hours of operation on page 2) Kyle, the Pine Ridge Chamber of Commerce near Kyle with its exhibits, and the Heritage Center at the Red (45 minutes - 1 hour). Cloud Indian School. An overlook along the highway at Red Shirt Table provides a stunning vista into the • Tour the South Unit of the park. Be sure to get permission from landowners heart of the Stronghold area of Badlands and west to the Black Hills. Inquire locally about road conditions, access, and services as you plan your visit to the South Unit and Pine Ridge Reservation. before crossing private land (45 minutes - all day).

Visit the nearby Minuteman Missile National Historic Site and the many other wonderful parks in the region. There are approximately twelve units of your national park system within a half day’s drive of Badlands. One could spend many days here and have a quintessential American experience.

I strongly encourage you to get out at the many overlooks, take a hike, participate in Ranger led programs, Follow us on: Index attend an evening program in the park amphitheater, participate in a night sky program, stay longer than Visitor Facilities & Local Services...... 2 you intended, and immerse yourself in this world class park. And then come back again and do all the things you didn’t get to this time! Thanks for being here, hope to see you out in the park. Accessibility...... 2 Rules, Regulations, & Safety ...... 3 Michael D. Pflaum Park Contact Information...... 3 Park Superintendent Horse Use...... 4 Traveling Distances...... 4 Paleontology & Geology...... 5 Hiking & Weather...... 6 Park Map...... 7 Remember These Numbers . . . Junior Rangers & Fees...... 8 Exploring the South Unit...... 8

Road Construction Information...... 8

0 7 45 100 Badlands Natural History Assoc...... 9

The number of dogs and Number of days your vehicle Maximum speed limit on Minimum distance in feet you Federal Park Neighbors...... 10 other pets allowed on the entrance pass permits you should keep from park wild- park roads. Lower speed Superintendent’s Corner...... 11 hiking trails and in the to explore the Badlands. limits are posted in heavy life. Any time an animal reacts Prairie Dog Safety...... 11 wilderness area. Look for Stay a little longer! traffic areas. to your presence, you are too Ranger Programs...... 12 more rules and regulations close. on page 3. Bison Safety...... 12 Quick Facts about Visitor Facilities Badlands National Park Ben Reifel Visitor Center Cedar Pass Campground Sage Creek Primitive Campground • Established as a National Monument in Located at park headquarters the Ben Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, Cedar Pass Campground has 96 sites. Summer 1939 Reifel Visitor Center has several Open year round, access to this campground camping fees are $22 plus tax, per night per may be limited in winter and during the spring interactive exhibits, a 97 seat air conditioned campsite for 2 people (no hook-ups) and $37 • Redesignated Badlands National Park rainy season due to road conditions. The Sage Creek theater that shows the park film, Land of plus tax for campsites with electrical hook-ups (2 in 1978 Rim Road is remote and unpaved. Recreational vehicles Stone and Light throughout the day, and people). Winter camping fees are $15 plus tax per larger than 18 feet in length are prohibited from the restroom facilities. Badlands Natural History night per campsite. Campsites and RV sites may be • Acreage: 244,000 Sage Creek Campground. The campground is currently Association sells postcards, books, posters, reserved in advance on line at: free and offers pit toilets and picnic tables. There is a www.CedarPassLodge.com (if reservation is more than • Wilderness: 64,250 acres and other educational materials. Open year fourteen day limit. There is no water available. 72 hours in advance) and has a fourteen day limit. round. Generators and open campfires are not Less than 72 hours is first come, first serve. Cold • Visitation: approximately one million Hours of Operation permitted. visitors each year from all over the running water, flush toilets, covered picnic tables,

world April 14 - May 25 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. coin operated showers, and trash containers are available during the summer. Covered picnic tables, Cedar Pass Lodge The only lodging and restaurant in Badlands National Key Resources: and trash containers are available during the winter. May 26 - September 28 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Park, Cedar Pass Lodge provides guests to the park a A dump station is available for a $1.00 fee per use. • Largest expanse of protected prairie distinctive collection of South Dakota and regionally Campground hosts are on duty during the summer to ecosystem in the National Park system September 29 - October 26 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. made gifts, Native American crafts, and jewelry, and assist with registration and provide information. Look offers newly built cabins for overnight for them in the afternoon and early evenings at the accommodations in this unique destination. • Considered one of the world’s richest October 27 - April 2020 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. mammal fossil beds campground entrance booth. Open campfires are Badlands National Park is in the Mountain not permitted. The cabins, built to Gold level LEEDs environmental Time Zone. standards, feature custom handmade furniture from • 50% of Badlands National Park is Group Camping: Four campsites are available in the sustainably harvested beetle kill pine from the Black co-managed with the Oglala Lakota Cedar Pass Campground for organized groups with a Hills. The furniture was hand crafted, including table- Nation, the eighth largest American White River Visitor Center designated leader. The nightly fee is $4.00 per person tops crafted from regionally reclaimed barn wood, Indian Reservation in the United States Located on the Pine Ridge with a minimum fee of $40.00. Advance reservations bringing to life the artisanship of the small family Reservation off Highway 27 and BIA can be made by contacting Sonya Michaels, Group owned business that made them. Each cabin is equipped with energy efficient A/C and heat, 2, this visitor center has exhibits, restrooms, Camping Reservations at: 480-627-5308 or • Badlands National Park and the Buffalo [email protected] refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, flatscreen TV, Gap National Grasslands are one of the and picnic tables. Contact information on demand hot water heater for shower, hair dryer most successful reintroduction sites Cedar Pass Lodge and bamboo fiber towels. Contact (605) 455-2878 for more 20681 Hwy 240 for the black-footed ferret, one of the Interior, SD 57750 For additional information go to: world’s rarest mammals. information. The White River Visitor Center (605) 433-5460; fax (605) 433-5560 www.CedarPassLodge.com is only open seasonally, for information Accessibility or write: Cedar Pass Lodge during the off season please call park Key Management Issues: • The Ben Reifel Visitor Center and White River 20681 Hwy 240 headquarters at 605-433-5361. Visitor Center are both accessible to wheelchair Interior, SD 57750 • Visitor and employee safety users. (605) 433-5460 or fax (605) 433-5560 • Reduction of exotic plant species Email: [email protected] • The Fossil Exhibit Trail, Window Trail, and • Protection of fossil resources Hours of Operation Door Trail are accessible to wheelchair users. Gift Shop Hours of Operation • Maintenance of park facilities May 26 through October 27 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. • The Cedar Pass Campground has two April 20 - April 30 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Preservation of over 50,000 artifacts accessible campsites. All campground restrooms May 1 - May 23 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. and specimens in museum collections are accessible. One group campsite is accessible. May 4 - September 1 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Picnic Areas • Reintroduction of native wildlife • The Cedar Pass Lodge dining room and gift September 2 - September 30 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. (pictured below) Picnic tables are located at shop meet accessibility standards. October 1 - October 27 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Bigfoot Pass and Conata Picnic Areas The dining room closes 30 minutes before the • Ask at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center about the gift shop. in addition to tables at the Ben Reifel Visitor listening devices that can be used to aid in Center and the White River Visitor Center. hearing the park film. Coffee Shop Hours of Operation Black-footed Bigfoot Pass and Conata Picnic Areas do Ferret • A complete listing of accessible facilities is May 22 - September 1 6 a.m. - 8 a.m. & not have water available. Remember that available at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center or 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. open campfires are not permitted. online at: http://www.nps.gov/badl/.

National Grasslands Local Services Visitor Center Photo by Randy Matchett, US Fish and Wildlife Service Gas Stations and Convenience Stores Swift Fox • Cactus Flat • Pine Ridge • Interior • Rapid City • Kadoka • Wanblee • Philip • Wall Restaurants DianeHargreaves.com • Kadoka • Rapid City Kyle • Philip • Wall Bighorn Pine Ridge Area • Pine Ridge Chamber Visitor Center Sheep Motels and Campgrounds • Cactus Flat • Pine Ridge • Interior • Rapid City • Kadoka • Wall • Philip Photo by Teresa Zimmerman For more information about these local communities, contact the Chambers of Bison Hospitals and Clinics Commerce or South Dakota Tourism. • Kadoka • Rapid City • Philip • Wall Kadoka Chamber 1-800-467-9217 [email protected] Philip Chamber (605) 859-2645 [email protected] Post Office Pine Ridge Chamber (605) 455-2685 [email protected] • Interior • Rapid City Rapid City Chamber 1-800-487-3223 http://www.rapidcitycvb.com • Kadoka • Wanblee Wall Chamber (605) 279-2665 http://www.wall-badlands.com • Philip • Wall South Dakota Tourism (605) 773-3301 http://TravelSD.com DianeHargreaves.com • Pine Ridge 2 Rules and Regulations

Your Safety Rules of the Road

• Summer is hot and dry. Carry and drink one gallon of • The speed limit is 45 miles per hour, unless posted water per person per day. otherwise. • Thunderstorms can produce lightning, hail, high winds, • Seatbelts are required by federal law for all and tornadoes. During lightning storms, avoid lone passengers at all times. NPS Photo trees and high places. Return to your car, if possible. • When viewing wildlife drive cautiously and use pull outs Bicycling • Be careful on cliff edges and on badlands formations, to allow others to pass safely. especially when surfaces are wet. Bicyclist Warning: The Badlands Loop Road is • Keep vehicles on established roads. Do not park on narrow with many curves. Watch out for large RVs • Wear clothing and sunscreen to protect yourself from the grass. The underside of your vehicle can start a with extended mirrors. the sun. prairie fire. • Bicycles are prohibited on park trails. • Wear sturdy boots or shoes to protect your feet from • Pedestrians have the right of way. Vehicles must stop cactus spines. for pedestrians in crosswalks. It’s the law. • Bicyclists are permitted on all park paved and • Beware of rattlesnakes. They can be found throughout • Gravel roads may be closed due to heavy rain or snow. unpaved roads and must obey all traffic the park and are venomous. Rattlesnakes avoid the sun They can become slick and impassable. Check with a regulations. by coiling in cracks and crevices or staying in the thick ranger at the visitor center grasses. Wear closed toe leather shoes. Be careful • Always ride with the flow of the traffic. where you place your hands and feet. • Several steep passes make riding the Loop Road • Plan your trip carefully. Use the Badlands Visitor Guide challenging. to choose a trail within your abilities. Make informed decisions and check with a ranger at the visitor center. Backcountry Camping & Hiking • See and be seen. Wear bright colors and a Before you venture into the backcountry or wilderness, helmet. A map of suggested routes is available at • Be careful when exploring buttes. The rock surface is there are some things you should know: the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. very unstable. Falls are the most common cause of injury in the park. Most people find that it is easier to • Permits are not currently required for overnight stays • When bicycling near bison, move to the opposite climb up rather than down. in the Badlands backcountry. Before setting out on an side of the road and go slow. overnight trip contact a staff member at the • Cell phones will not work in most of the park. Your Ben Reifel Visitor Center or Pinnacles Entrance Station safety depends on your own good judgement, adequate for more information. Backcountry registers are located at Hunting preparation, and constant attention. the Medicine/Castle Trail Loop, Saddle Pass Trailhead, Conata Picnic Area, Sage Creek Basin Overlook, and the • Hunting is strictly prohibited in Badlands National • Winter weather can be very unpredictable. Sudden and Sage Creek Campground. Park. dramatic weather changes are common. Check at the • State laws pertaining to firearms are strictly visitor center for weather updates. • Twisted or fractured ankles are the most common serious injury sustained in Badlands National Park. Make enforced. • Protect yourself - dress in layers, watch for changing sure you are wearing sturdy boots with good ankle weather conditions, and let someone know about your support. The park is home to many burrowing animals. Pets Watch your footing. travel plans. • Pets are allowed only on paved or gravel roads • Campfires are not allowed under any circumstances. Use and in developed areas such as campgrounds. • Drones are not allowed to be flown in the park. a backpacking stove. • Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet at all times. • The use of skateboards, roller skates, roller blades, roller • Pets are not permitted on trails, in backcountry, or skis, coasting vehicles and similar devices is prohibited in Wilderness Areas. • Pets are not allowed on trails or in public Badlands National Park. buildings. • The location of your campsite must be at least 0.5 miles from a road or trail and must not be visible from a • Leaving an animal unattended and/or tied to a Protect Your Park roadway. fixed object is prohibited, as well as a danger to your pet. • Leave fossils, plants, flowers, rocks, and animals where • There is little to no water available in the backcountry. you find them. Collecting in the park is illegal and The small amounts of water found are not drinkable or • Pet etiquette dictates always cleaning up animal punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. Report waste and disposing of it in trash receptacles. filterable due to the high sediment content. Always carry all unusual sightings and finds to park staff at at least one gallon of water per person per day. the Ben Reifel or White River Visitor Centers. • Service animals are an exception to most pet restrictions and are allowed on trails and in public • All refuse must be carried out. Use the cat hole method buildings. Service animals must be kept • Preserve our heritage. Do not enter, alter, or deface to dispose of human waste. Dig a small hole 6 to 8 inches on a leash at all times and, due to potentially archeological sites. Do not collect artifacts. deep and a minimum of 200 feet from any water infectious wildlife diseases, are not allowed in source. Since animals will often dig up cat holes and areas with prairie dog colonies. • All vehicles and bicycles must travel on designated roads. scatter the toilet paper, it is preferred that you pack out all toilet paper. If you must bury toilet paper, • Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or • It is recommended that you stay on designated trails in emotional support do not qualify as service use a minimal amount and bury with at least 6 inches of high use areas such as Fossil Exhibit and Cliff animals under the ADA. soil. Strain food particles from wastewater, pack out food Shelf Nature Trails. scraps, and scatter remaining water more than 200 feet from any stream channel. Emergency? Call 911 • Watch for wildlife crossing the roads. Observe the To report a crime in Badlands NP call: 605-433-5361 ext. 847 posted speed limits • Check the weather forecast. Severe thunderstorms are To report a crime in any National Park call: 888-653-0009 common during the summer, so are days above 100ºF • Help the park maintain its high air quality rating; turn off Road Conditions? Call 511 (38ºC). September and early October are the best your engine when you are away from your vehicle. backpacking months. Contact Us Letting your vehicle idle is punishable by a fine. Mailing Address Park Website www.nps.gov/badl/ Camping and Campfires Badlands National Park • Campfires are not permitted due to the extreme danger 25216 Ben Reifel Road Park Headquarters of prairie wildfire. Interior, SD 57750 605-433-5361

Email Fax Number • Camp stoves or contained gas or charcoal grills can be [email protected] 605-433-5404 used in the campgrounds or picnic areas.

• Wood gathering is not permitted. Follow us on:

• There are electrical hook-ups available in the Cedar Pass To access Facebook: www.facebook.com/BadlandsNPS To access Twitter: @BadlandsNPS Photo: Dakota McCoy, park staff Campground. 3 Horse Use How Far To...? The Badlands Wilderness Area is located in the Sage Creek drainage and consists of 64,000 acres of eroded South Dakota National & State Parks spires and mixed grass prairie, offering prime horseback Towns & Cities riding terrain in the park. Although most riders confine themselves to the Wilderness Area, horseback riding is Buffalo Gap 102 miles Minuteman Missile NHS 8 miles allowed anywhere in the Custer 120 miles Bear Butte State Park 120 miles park except on marked Deadwood 122 miles Custer State Park 125 miles trails, roads, highways, Hermosa 122 miles Devils Tower NM 197 miles and developed areas. For Hot Springs 148 miles Grand Canyon NP 1,148 miles day ride access, vehicles Interior 2 miles Grand Teton NP 628 miles and horse trailers may be Jewel Cave NM 148 miles parked at overlooks and Kadoka 26 miles parking areas. Off road Philip 34 miles Mount Rushmore NM 99 miles driving is strictly prohibited. NPS photo Pine Ridge 83 miles Rocky Mountain NP 475 miles There are no designated riding trails in the park but Rapid City 88 miles Theodore Roosevelt NP 343 miles topographic maps are available for purchase at the Scenic 38 miles Wind Cave NP 132 miles bookstore, located in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Sioux Falls 280 miles Yellowstone NP 574 miles Spearfish 131 miles A portion of the Sage Creek Campground is designated Sturgis 110 miles Attractions for horse use. A watering hole known as CCC Spring Wall 30 miles is located about ½ mile southwest of the campground. Hitching posts are provided. Riders must provide weed Wounded Knee via Scenic 82 miles free hay or pellets for feed. Horses should not be Out of State Cities Wounded Knee via Kyle 67 miles allowed to run free or be picketed in the campground. Crazy Horse Monument 114 miles No fires are allowed, except in contained grills. The Denver, CO 490 miles Black Hills National Forest 75 miles campground stay is limited to 14 consecutive nights. Minneapolis, MN 552 miles Omaha, NE 458 miles No commercial horse rental or day rides are available in Badlands National Park. Local businesses offer day rides outside the park and outfitters may offer overnight Badlands Wildlife backcountry trips under a commercial use license. For more information, contact South Dakota Tourism or Please do not feed the wildlife. Human food makes animals dependent on local chambers listed on page 2 of this paper. people for food and can make them aggressive.

Porcupine • Only certified weed free hay or processed horse feed Coyote Bighorn Sheep products may be brought into the park. • Horses and pack animals are not allowed to run loose, be loose herded, or trailed. • The tying of horses and pack animals to any living or dead feature that may damage the feature, vegetation, or soil is prohibited. • Picketed horses and pack animals shall not be kept within 100 feet of trails, campsites, or water sources. NPS Photo • Picket pins should be packed in. Picket pin sites must Bobcat be moved frequently to prevent overgrazing or other NPS Photo damage to vegetation. The pins must be pulled out of Photo by Mike Schroeder the ground prior to leaving camp. • Horse and pack animal manure must be completely Blacktailed Prairie Dog removed from the campground and must be well Prairie Rattlesnake (venomous) scattered in any other grazing areas in the park. • If a horse or pack animal is lost or dies within park boundaries, the loss must be reported as soon as possible to park staff. NPS Photo • Dogs and other pets are not allowed in the Badlands American Bison Wilderness Area. Photo by Mike Schroeder Swift Fox

DianeHargreaves.com

Black-footed ferret

NPS Photo Black-billed Magpie

DianeHargreaves.com Want to share a great wildlife sighting? Tweet it using the hashtag #BadlandsWildlife Photo by Randy Matchett, US FWS NPS Photo NPS Photo 4 Badlands Geology The lighter colored Sharps Formation was primarily deposited from 28 to 30 million years ago by wind and water Deep canyons, towering spires, and flat-topped tables can all be found among Badlands buttes. Yet, despite their complex as the climate continued to dry and cool. Volcanic eruptions to appearance, they are largely a result of two basic geologic the west continued to supply ash during this time. Today, the processes: deposition and erosion. Brule and Sharps form the more rugged peaks and canyons of the Badlands. The serrated Badlands terrain did not begin eroding until about As the Oligocene Epoch continued, a thick layer of volcanic 500,000 years ago when water began to cut down through the ash was deposited, forming the bottom layer of the Sharps rock layers, carving fantastic shapes into what had been a flat Formation. This Rockyford Ash serves as a boundary between floodplain. The ancient fossil soils, buried for millions of years, were exposed once again. Many of the layers are gently warped and the Brule and Sharps. faulted due to mountain building activities that formed the Black Hills, 70 miles to the west. During the Oligocene Epoch, between 30 to 34 million years ago, the tannish brown Brule Formation was deposited. As Erosion is ongoing. Every time it rains, more sediment is washed the climate began to dry and cool after the Eocene the forests from the buttes. One day, a peak may tower above the land; the gave way to open savannah. New mammals such as oreodonts next, a storm may weaken it just enough for it to crash to the (sheep-like, herd mammals) began to dominate. Bands of ground. While the Badlands are permanent in human terms, they sandstone interspersed among the layers were deposited in are short lived on a geologic time scale. Erosion rates suggests that they will erode away completely in another 500,000 years, giving channels and mark the course of ancient rivers that flowed them a life of one million years. Compare that to the age of the from the Black Hills. Red layers found within the Brule earth, which is approximately 4.6 billion years. Even the Rocky Formation are fossil soils called paleosols. Mountains, considered young, started to rise only 70 million years ago. On average, Badlands buttes erode one-third inch each year. The greyish Chadron Formation was deposited between 34 However, change can occur much slower or faster depending on to 37 million years ago as a river flood plain that replaced the things such as slope, aspect, parent material, and rainfall. sea. Each time the rivers flooded, they deposited a new layer As the Badlands buttes erode, some of the sediment is washed onto on the plain. Alligator fossils indicate that a lush, subtropical the prairie below, building its level while the rest is carried by small forest covered the land. However, mammal fossils dominate. streams to the White, Bad, and Cheyenne Rivers. These tributaries The Chadron is known for large, rhinoceros-like mammals flow into the Missouri River, which drains into the Mississippi River. called titanotheres. This formation can be recognized because Eventually, some Badlands sediments will travel as far as the Gulf of it erodes into low, minimally vegetated, grey mounds. Mexico.

The Loop Road hugs the Badlands wall, a long, narrow spine of The sea drained away with the uplift of the Black Hills and formations that stretch 60 miles from Kadoka west towards the Rocky Mountains, exposing the black ocean mud to the air. town of Scenic. Wind, rain, and freeze/thaw action have gradually Upper layers were weathered into a yellow soil, called Yellow worn away the badlands sediments, leaving the Badlands Wall Mounds. The mounds are an example of a fossil soil, or behind. As erosion has continued, the wall has retreated from the three major drainages. The town of Wall, South Dakota takes its paleosol. name from this feature that dominates the horizon. The oldest formation exposed in Badlands is the Pierre Shale. These black layers were deposited between 69 and 75 million A quick look at the buttes will show that the Badlands were years ago during the Cretaceous Period when a shallow, inland deposited in layers. These layers formed soft, sedimentary rocks, sea stretched across what is now the Great Plains. Sediment composed of minute grains of sand, silt, and clay that have been filtered through the seawater, forming a black mud on the cemented into solid form. Geologists study sedimentary rocks sea floor that has since hardened into shale. Fossil clams, to determine what type of environment caused the material to accumulate. Layers similar in character are grouped into units called ammonites, and sea reptiles confirm the sea environment. formations, with the oldest layers at the bottom.

saber-tooth cat that lived in the Badlands over 30 million years Exhibits at the Pig Dig Paleontology ago. A CT scan revealed the lethal damage caused by several Badlands National Park staff and partners developed wayside bites to the back of the skull, likely caused by another saber- exhibits describing the history and scientific significance of the What is a fossil? tooth cat. The CT data were also used to create exact replicas Pig Dig Quarry. The exhibits are on site near the Conata Picnic A fossil is a preserved sign of ancient life. Paleontologists of the skull. study animal tracks and plants preserved over time, as well Area and feature a mural which depicts the area 33 million years ago. The exhibits were completed at the end of 2012. as bones that have been converted into fossils through Annual surveys completed at the site have generated several The Pig Dig is included in a series of scientific publications and a natural chemical processes. new fossil discoveries including: fossil horses, turtles, lizards, new book on the White River Badlands. plant remains, snails and a broad array of small mammals. Other signs such as feces and pollen have also been Related studies have also determined that the site is from Be sure to check out our award-winning paleontological fossilized and are studied to help get a broader picture of the middle Scenic Member of the Brule Formation and was exhibits at the Fossil Exhibit Trail. life in prehistoric North America. The area in and around deposited by a stream system about 32 million years ago. The Badlands National Park has had a long association with Paleontology Lab is located in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and Protecting Fossil Resources research on fossil vertebrates. Scientists have been using this is open to the public during the summer season. You can help protect paleontological resources here and area as an outdoor laboratory for over 150 years. anywhere you travel by following these tips: Saber-tooth Cat Discovery at Badlands •No fossil collecting is allowed at Badlands National park National Park without a signed permit from the park superintendent. During the summer of 2010, while participating in a junior •Leave fossils where you find them. It’s tempting to pick them ranger program, a seven year old girl named Kylie Ferguson up and take them with you, but don’t. Removing them noticed something very unusual eroding out of the side of a from their context destroys much of the information critical to badlands butte. She thought it might scientists. Context refers to where they are found geologically be a fossil. Kylie did the right thing and in what position the fossils are found. and reported her discovery to a park •Be an informed visitor. Be familiar with current issues in ranger. The final outcome was a NPS Photo paleontology. Once you watch for fossils in the news, you’ll beautifully preserved saber-tooth cat To learn more find them discussed almost daily. skull. Paleontologists have identified Use your smart phone to watch a 44 sec video about visiting •If you find a fossil, do not disturb it. Note the location by the skull as belonging to the genus the Fossil Prep Lab. No phone? No access? Check it out later at filling out a Visitor Site Report and give it to a ranger. One of Hoplophoneus, a mountain lion-sized http://www.nps.gov/av/mwr/avElement/badl-Welcome-to-Paleo- the paleontology staff will investigate your find. Some of our Kylie Ferguson NPS Photo Sites.mp4 most significant fossil discoveries are made by visitors. 5 Hiking in the Park

Door Trail Cliff Shelf .75 miles/1.2 km (round trip) .5 miles/.8 km (round trip) 30 minutes 1/2 hour Easy. An accessible ¼ mile boardwalk leads through a break in the Badlands Wall Moderate. This loop trail follows boardwalks and climbs stairs through a juniper known as “the Door” and to a view of the Badlands. From there, the maintained forest perched along the Badlands Wall. A small pond occasionally exists in the trail ends. Travel beyond this point is at your own risk. Watch for drop offs. area and draws wildlife, such as deer or bighorn sheep. Climbs approximately 200 feet in elevation. Please stay on the trail. Window Trail .25 miles/.40 km (round trip) Saddle Pass 20 minutes .25 miles/.40 km (round trip) Easy. This short trail leads to a natural window in the Badlands Wall with a view of 1/2 - 1 hour an intricately eroded canyon. Please stay on the trail. Strenuous. This short trail climbs up the Badlands Wall to a view over the White River Valley. The trail ends where it connects with the Castle and Medicine Root Notch Trail Loop Trails. 1.5 miles/2.4 km (round trip) 1 1/2 - 2 hours Medicine Root Loop Moderate to strenuous. After meandering through a canyon, this trail climbs a log 4 miles/6.4 km (round trip) ladder and follows a ledge to “the Notch” for a dramatic view of the White River 2 hours Valley. Trail begins at the south end of the Door and Window parking area. Watch Moderate. This generally rolling spur trail connects with the Castle Trail near the for drop offs. Not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights. Treacherous Old Northeast Road and at the intersection of the Castle and Saddle Pass Trails. during or after heavy rains. Trail users are provided the opportunity to explore the mixed grass prairie while enjoying views of the Badlands in the distance. Watch for cactus. Castle Trail 10 miles/16 km (round trip) Fossil Exhibit Trail 5 hours .25 miles/.40 km (round trip) Moderate. The longest trail in the park begins at the Door and Window parking 20 minutes area and travels five miles one way to the Fossil Exhibit Trail. Relatively level, the Easy. Fully accessible trail features fossil replicas and exhibits of now extinct path passes along some Badlands formations. creatures that once roamed the area. Badlands Weather Month January February March April May June July August September October November December

Average High 34ºF 40ºF 48ºF 62ºF 72ºF 83ºF 92ºF 91ºF 81ºF 68ºF 50ºF 39ºF Temperatures

Average Low 11ºF 16ºF 24ºF 36ºF 46ºF 56ºF 62ºF 61ºF 51ºF 39ºF 26ºF 17ºF Temperatures

Average Precipitation 0.29 0.48 0.90 1.83 2.75 3.12 1.94 1.45 1.23 0.90 0.41 0.30 (inches) Weather warnings and forecasts for Badlands National Park and vicinity can be heard on NOAA Weather Radio 162.450 MHZ. Forecasts can also be obtained by calling 605-341-7531.

6 Park Map

To Hermosa and Hot Springs To Buffalo Gap

To Rapid City

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7 Entrance Fees Become a Junior Ranger! Vehicle 7 Days $25.00 characteristics of prairie plants and animals, Private Non-Commercial then hunt around the prairie for tracks and Motorcycle 7 Days $15.00 signs. Private Non-Commercial • See Badlands fossils and discover what paleontologists do. Per Person 7 Days $12.00 Bicycle, hiking, etc... Complete a Junior Ranger Booklet (year Badlands Annual Pass 1 Year $50.00 Unlimited entry to Badlands NP round). You can pick up your free Junior Ranger Booklet at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Return the booklet to a ranger when Interagency Annual Pass 1 Year $80.00 Valid for unlimited entry to designated federal fee areas you have completed the activities and you will be awarded your badge. You can also complete the booklet as you travel through Interagency Senior Pass Lifetime $80.00 NPS Photo 62 & Over US Citizen the park. Mail it back to us for review and we Valid for entrance to designated federal fee areas & half price on camping Are you ready to climb out of that car and will return it with your Junior Ranger badge have some fun with a ranger? Children enclosed. Interagency Annual Senior Pass 1 Year $20.00 62 & Over US Citizen ages 2 and older can become a Badlands Valid for entrance to designated federal fee areas & half price on camping National Park Junior Ranger! Junior Rangers Parents! Junior Ranger Programs are fun are kids like you - national park explorers, fun for the whole family. Please attend the Interagency Access Pass Lifetime FREE seekers, and concerned citizens. There are 11:00 a.m. Junior Ranger Program with your Permanently Disabled US Citizen Valid for entrance to designated federal fee areas & half price on camping two ways to become a Junior Ranger and children. Your family can collect Junior earn your official Badlands badge. Ranger badges at over 300 national parks. Interagency Military Pass 1 Year FREE Active U.S. Military Valid for unlimited entry to designated federal fee areas Join us for the 11:00 a.m. Junior Ranger Look for online adventures at: Program (June - August). Meet at the Ben www.nps.gov/webrangers. Every Kid in a Park Pass 1 Year FREE 4th Grade Pass (School year) Reifel Visitor Center for 30 minutes of laughs Valid for unlimited entry to designated federal fee areas and learning. The program is different every day, but here are a few things you might do: Commercial Tours Sedan Van Mini-Bus Motorcoach Based On Seating Capacity (1-6) (7-15) (16-25) (26 & up) $25 * $50 $60 $150 • Go on a nature hike. * plus $12 per person • Play guessing games to learn ** Please be prepared to show a valid ID with your pass upon entrance to designated federal fee areas. Badlands Junior Ranger Pledge Visitors: Be Alert for Construction During the summer of 2019, there will be work As a Junior Ranger, I promise to help zones throughout the park for road construction take care of National Parks and all the Your Entrance Fees At Work and improvement, fencing projects, boardwalk plants and animals that live there. I and building repairs. Expect delays as you will learn more about special places • Park-wide trail improvements travel through the park. Badlands National Park is a designated like the Badlands and help teach Federal Recreation Fee Area. Fees collected • Replace and update wayside exhibits at Badlands directly benefit this park and • Continued support of the Bighorn As we go to press, the schedule for these and others about nature. other units of the National Park Service. Fees Sheep program other activities has not been set. Please check at paid at Badlands are unique in that under • Continued support of the Fossil the entrance stations or the Ben Reifel special agreement fees are split with the Preparation Lab Visitor Center and White River Visitor Center for Oglala Sioux Tribe. • Replace and upgrade vault toilets information on closures or delays. Use caution • Print park newspaper around heavy equipment. Please observe all Some of the projects that have been funded road warnings. Do not enter areas posted as by fees at Badlands include: “closed.” Our goal is a safe visit for all! Exploring the South Unit One of the few designated roads is the Sheep The South Unit is a landscape of great historical that continues to litter the areas used for Mountain Table Road, 4 miles south of the and spiritual significance to the Oglala Sioux. In bombing practice, a multi-agency task force town of Scenic on Pennington County Road 1942, the War Department took 341,725 acres is working toward clearing the South Unit of 589. The stunning views from windswept from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to these devices. Please contact a ranger if you Sheep Mountain Table are accessible under dry establish a bombing range for training during find unexploded ordnance. Cellular phones can conditions, but the road is impassable when World War II. In 1976, the Tribe granted an detonate these devices. wet or snow covered (high clearance vehicles easement to manage some of the old bombing recommended). Please use caution along the range lands as part of Badlands National The South Unit remains largely undeveloped unstable cliff edges of the table. Sheep Monument. This doubled the size of the Mon- and lacks access points, such as roads and Mountain Table is designated a day use area. ument and led Congress to redesignate the trails. The South Unit is a protected natural Overnight camping is not allowed. NPS Photo area as Badlands National Park in 1978. The area and is not managed as a four-wheel-drive new Badlands National Park was subdivided recreation area. Travelers must remain on into two units: the North Unit, consisting of existing primitive road tracks. Do not travel park land north of Highway 44, and the South away from these tracks. We encourage anyone Unit, park land south of Highway 44. interested in backcountry hiking or camping in the South Unit to notify the ranger The South Unit contains many sites sacred to at the White River Visitor Center to ensure the Oglala Lakota and other American Indian your safety and that you are not trespassing cultures. Please show respect by not touching on private lands. Explorers must often cross or removing objects tied to trees and shrubs. private land to access the public land. Always All artifacts must be left in place. Remember to obtain permission from landowners for vehicu- practice Leave No Trace priniples at all times in lar or foot access before setting out for Cuny the Stronghold District. Table, Stronghold Table, and Palmer Creek. Be prepared with alternative destinations if land The White River Visitor Center was opened owners do not grant permission to cross their in 1978 and has remained open during the property. Hikers in the South Unit must be summer months to provide orientation to the experienced map readers. Plan on a minimum South Unit and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. of two days to hike in and out of the remote Palmer Creek area. Due to the quantity of unexploded ordnance View from Sheep Mountain Table NPS Photo 8 Shop Badlands Natural History Association

Geology of Badlands Badlands Suite Wildflowers, Grasses, Pine Ridge Reservation: The Badlands: A to Z National Park Flip Chart $9.95 ** & Other Plants of the Yesterday and Today $18.95** $9.95 ** DVD includes: Northern Plains and Black $3.00 ** Author: Katie Johnston Land of Stone and Light Hills Author: Gregory Gagnon The Geology of Badlands From Field to Lab $11.95 ** Explore the many aspects of Badlands National Park flip chart is Multiple Perspectives Author: Theodore Van This is one of the only National Park and the surrounding area somewhat of a layman’s guide Bruggen contemporary booklets in this fun adventure from A to Z. Learn to what you are seeing when This DVD takes you on a on the Pine Ridge Indian facts and follow Digger the Prairie Dog you come into the park. Layer by journey into the White River Color photographs and Reservation in South Dakota. as he travels through the park (hidden layer. Fossil by fossil. A perfect Badlands of South Dakota. In descriptions of over 300 plants Goes together great with the on each page for you to find). field guide, gift, or school group three different presentations, found in Badlands National Park Badlands Road Guide. side-kick. become acquainted with the and the surrounding areas. people of this place.

Badlands National Park Ben Reifel Road Guide Booklet Transitional Sioux Leader $3.00 ** 4.99** Author: Badlands Natural Check out the Badlands Author: John S Painter History Association Natural History Association Ben Reifel earned national recognition as one of the most noteworthy Get your personal guide website: www.badlandsnha.org. Native Americans in the history of through the Badlands. South Dakota. The visitor center Geology, history, frequently email: [email protected] in the Cedar Pass area of Badlands asked questions, and more! A National Park is named after him. MUST grab while visiting the “Like” us on Facebook. This booklet will fill you in on Ben’s time Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Follow us on Twitter @ BadlandsNHA as a federal administrator, an advocate of ethnic integration, his time in **All prices are subject to change. Congress, and much more. Your contributions support projects and programs such as these:

NPS Photo NPS Photo NPS Photo NPS Photo NPS Photo Badlands Heritage Celebration Badlands Bison Round-Up CT scan of fossil found in the park. Night Sky Program Junior Ranger Program

NPS Photo Be A Part of Something GOOD in the Badlands! Approximately one million people visit Badlands National Park every year. Your support Yes!!! I want to be a part of helps Badlands Natural History Association inspire people to take action and protect 1 million visitors something GOOD in the Badlands National Park. + Beautiful landscape Badlands! Badlands Natural History Association (BNHA), was established in 1959 to help WHY WE NEED YOU! $25 $50 $100 $150 $500 Badlands National Park in furthering its scientific, educational, and interpretive activities. Proceeds from your purchases in the bookstore (in Ben Reifel Visitor Center) and online (www.badlandsnha.org), as well as your memberships, go directly back to Badlands Yearly membership dona- National Park to support park activities. tion includes: Name BNHA is the official non-profit in Badlands National Park. To become a member of • 15% off all BNHA purchases in Address BNHA, please complete the membership form and return by mail. store and online Your membership dues are used directly to enhance the experience of visitors to the • discounts in participating area. An investment for the future, your contribution is a perpetuation of the National cooperating associations across the US E-mail Park idea. It is gratefully received, immediately acknowledged, and always appreciated. • special association mailings and announcements Phone • Badlands Natural History Mail to: BNHA, PO Box 47 This land is your land! Association tote bag Interior, SD 57750 NPS Photo 9 Park Neighbors in the Black Hills & Badlands Area

National Grasslands Visitor Center Mount Rushmore National Memorial Minuteman Missile National Historic Site U.S. Forest Service

NPS photo

NPS Photo NPS Photo NPS Photo Visit your National Grasslands Visitor Center! This is Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas During the Cold War, a vast arsenal of nuclear missiles the only visitor center for the nation’s 20 National Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham were placed in the Great Plains. Hidden in plain sight, for Grasslands. Stop by to experience a 25-minute Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black thirty years 1,000 missiles were kept on constant alert; film, Junior Ranger program, gift shop, and special Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, hundreds remain today. The Minuteman Missile remains ranger-led events and activities. Explore the f growth, development and preservation of this an iconic weapon in the American nuclear arsenal. It holds antastic outdoor Living Landscape areas. country. From the history of the first inhabitants to the power to destroy civilization, but is meant as a nuclear the diversity of America today, Mount Rushmore deterrent to maintain peace and prevent war. Located off Interstate 90, Exit 110 in Wall, SD. brings visitors face to face with the rich heritage To find out more about hours of operation, we all share. The visitor center is located at exit 131 on Interstate 90. location, activities, and services provided at the Tours by reservation only. Call the site at 605-433-5552 or National Grasslands Visitor Center call 605-279- Located south of I-90 on US Hwy 16 and SD Hwy stop by the visitor center. www.nps.gov/mimi 2125 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nebraska/ 244. For more information call 605-574-2523 or visit specialplaces. www.nps.gov/moru

Jewel Cave National Memorial Devils Tower National Park Wind Cave National Park

Photo: Derek Bristol, August 2011 Photo: Ildar Sagdejev, July 2008 NPS Photo

Immerse yourself within the third longest cave in The Tower is an astounding geologic feature that Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie the world. With over 195 miles of mapped and protrudes out of the prairie surrounding the Black grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America’s oldest surveyed passages, this underground wilderness Hills. It is considered sacred by Northern Plains national parks. Below the remnant island of intact prairie sits appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed Indians and indigenous people. Hundreds of Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex caves in through fragile formations and glimpses of brilliant parallel cracks make it one of the finest crack the world. Named for barometric winds at its entrance, this color. Its maze of passages lure explorers, and its climbing areas in North America. Devils Tower maze of passages is home to boxwork, a unique formation scientific wealth remains a mystery. entices us to learn more, explore more and define rarely found elsewhere. our place in the natural and cultural world. Located 13 miles west of Custer, South The Visitor Center is located 11 miles north of Hot Springs Dakota and 24 miles east of Newcastle, Wyoming The most common route to the Tower is from off U.S. Hwy 385, about 1/2 mile west from the highway. on U.S. Highway 16. The Monument is about 54 Interstate 90, taking US Hwy 14 from Moorcroft, Do not use your GPS to find the visitor center -- you will get miles from Rapid City, South Dakota via U.S. WY (exit 153 if approaching from the west) or US lost. For more information call 605-745-4600 or visit Hwy 16 / 385. For more information call 605-673- Hwy 14 from Sundance, WY (exit 185 if www.nps.gov/wica 8300 or visit www.nps/gov/jeca approaching from the east). For more information call (307) 467-5283 x635 or visit www.nps.gov/ deto

10 National Park Service Superintendent’s Corner U.S. Department of the Interior National Historic Site For one hundred years, our National Park Service (NPS) has been in existence Visitor Experiences: Visitors toSouth our national Dakota parks have opportunities for a wide to “…conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild variety of educational and recreational experiences, depending on a park’s purpose life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and and resources. Learning is possible through visitor centers, exhibits, guided by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future Ranger programs, and more. Recreational opportunities may include hiking, generations”. The National Park Service cares for many of the nation’s greatest camping, canoeing, sightseeing, viewing wildlife, and photography. At Badlands natural, historic, and cultural treasures and stories. Badlands National Park is one National Park, visitors can find great places to hike, attend a Ranger program, and of these extraordinary places, and those of us who work here are privileged and experience the star filled night sky. proud to do so. Research and Science: As a nation, we have decided that our parks are places Our National Parks provide many values, including: preservation of natural and where clean air, clean water, native wildlife, native vegetation, and natural cultural resources; preservation of important stories; opportunities for park processes are paramount. Because they are generally well preserved and visitors to learn, experience, and recreate; laboratories for research and science; protected, our parks make excellent places for authorized scientists to study our and regional and national economics. natural world and our culture and history for the benefit of all. Research in our parks is authorized by permit only and is carefully monitored to ensure that no Preservation of Resources: Our National Park system contains many of the unacceptable impact occurs. greatest resources of the United States, whether they are natural resources including landscapes, wildlife and vegetation or cultural resources including Economics: The primary purpose for which parks are established is for historic buildings, battlefields, monuments, and memorials. As a people, we preservation. However, when we take great care of these places, when they have decided to preserve and protect these places for all to enjoy. Our parks are safe and well maintained as can be, when the resources and stories are are treasures worthy of the highest order of preservation for the good of all. compelling, people come. And when people come, they need services which Badlands is clearly a national treasure with the spectacular landscapes and results in economic benefit within the regions surrounding the parks. Nationally, sweeping vistas, native wildlife, the largest extent of mixed grass prairie in the economic impact of parks was approximately $18.2 billion in communities the national park system, the significant fossil deposits, and the clean air with within 60 miles of parks in 2017. At Badlands National Park, approximately $66 wonderful skyscapes. million in annual economic benefit results in our region from visitation to the park.

The Stories: Every place and its people have stories to tell. Many of the As you visit Badlands and other great parks this year, take a moment to reflect on nationally significant stories are told in our national park system, in places what the American people have accomplished in establishing and maintaining our where events actually occurred. This includes both happy and triumphant national park system. Our parks have many important values. Enjoy your parks and stories, as well as sad and tragic stories that can be difficult to hear. For many let’s work together to ensure their preservation for another century and more. people, learning about those stories in the places where the history occurred is a very powerful experience. Consider the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a solider on his last day of life at a Civil War battlefield or walking a much By Mike Pflaum, Park Superintendent older path of an Ancestral Puebloan of a thousand years ago. The stories at Badlands include the life of native people, early explorers traversing the area, homesteaders, and ranchers. Facinating and Multi-Faceted

The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), a member of the Sciuridae being tried by scattering peanut flavored pellets throughout the prairie dog or squirrel family, is an important species to the native mixed-grass prairie towns. Prairie dog colonies currently cover approximately 2,799 acres within the ecosystem that can be found at Badlands National Park. Once ranging from boundaries of Badlands National Park. Canada to Mexico, prairie dogs now occupy only about 2% of their original range and are considered a South Dakota state “species of management It is exciting to watch these social animals but do so safely. Avoid contact and concern”. Prairie dogs increase habitat diversity. Several federal studies indicate keep any pets in your vehicle when visiting the prairie dog colonies. We need your that more than 160 species of plants and animals can be found associated with help in keeping the prairie dog colonies healthy! prairie dog colonies. These social animals contribute to the health of the prairie ecosystem by: • Serving as prey for black-footed ferrets, swift fox, badgers, coyotes, bobcats, and many species of resident and migratory hawks and eagles.

• Creating habitat for black-footed ferrets, burrowing owls, tiger salamanders, mice, voles, and insects. Burrowing also helps aerate the soil which helps to recycle nutrients.

• Foraging on grass and keeping the vegetation short provides better protection from predators. The constant clipping of grass also creates nutrient-rich forage for bison, who are attracted to prairie dog colonies for dirt wallows.

In 2008, sylvatic plague appeared in and around the park and began decimating the prairie dog colonies. This disease, which is not native to North America, is transmitted primarily through the bites of fleas that have fed on infected rodents. Because of the prairie dogs’ importance to the endangered black- footed ferrets, park staff have actively been managing both species to prevent the plague from wiping out prairie dog colonies in the park. Several colonies have been dusted with an insecticide to kill the fleas. An oral vaccine is also NPS Photo

11 Summer Ranger Programs

These programs run from Sunday, May 26 through Monday, September 2, 2019 = accessible Badlands National Park is in the Mountain Time Zone. Programs are presented at several locations throughout the park. These locations are identified in the park newspaper and park brochure. You can also find them by watching for white signs announcing programs along the Loop Road.

Geology Walk 8:30 a.m. Daily Explore the geologic story of the White River Badlands on this 45 minute walk. Meet at the Door Trailhead located at the far north end of the Door/Window parking area 2 miles south of the Northeast Entrance Station on the Badlands Loop Road. Wear a hat and closed-toe shoes. Terrain is varied.

Paleontology Lab 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Daily June 4, 2019 through September 20, 2019 Come see a piece of history uncovered as the paleontogy staff prepare fossils found in Badlands National Park. The lab is located in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.

Fossil Talk 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Daily Explore what fossils can tell us about the story of ancient life in the Badlands and why they should be protected at this 15 - 20 minute talk. Meet at the Fossil Exhibit Trail, 5 miles northwest of the park headquarters/visitor center on the Badlands Loop Road.

Junior Ranger Program 11:00 a.m. Daily through August 17, 2019 Calling all visitors between 7 and 12 years of age! Meet at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center for a 30 minute adventure into an aspect of the Badlands. Wear closed-toe shoes and a hat. It may be a walk, a game, or another activity. Attendees will be awarded a Junior Ranger badge or patch. Parents are also welcome!

Fun in the Sun Fri. - Mon. 3:00 p.m. Participate in solar activities and view the sun through a solar telescope. Meet in front of the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Wear sunscreen and a hat.

Evening Program Daily May, June, & July 9:00 p.m., August & September 8:30 p.m. Join a park ranger for a 45 minute presentation at the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater. Check at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center Information Desk for the nightly program topic. Program will start when the sky is dark!

Night Sky Viewing Daily May, June, & July 9:45 p.m., August & September 9:15 p.m. View the spectacular night sky through large telescopes or bring your own binoculars. The ranger will help you to locate and identify constellations, stars, and planets.

Stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and ask about updated program listings, IMPORTANT - Fall Ranger Programs, special programs, and events. These will also be posted In case of inclement weather, please check at on the bulletin boards throughout the park and on social media. the Ben Reifel Visitor Center for updated program information.

Bison

Bison are the largest land mammal in North America. • When bicycling near bison, move to the opposite As a native species they play a unique role in the health side of the road and go slowly. and diversity of the ecosystem. WARNING • DO NOT HONK your horn at the bison. Be patient • Males weigh up to 2,000 pounds and are up to 6 1/2 and stay in your vehicle. YOU CAN BE INJURED BY BISON feet tall at the shoulder. • Bison are not normally aggressive. They become • Females weigh up to 1,200 pounds and are up to aggressive when they feel threatened, especially 5 1/2 feet tall at the shoulder. during rutting (mating) season, or when a calf is in danger. • Bison are extrememly agile. They can jump up to 6 feet high and reach speeds of 35 mph. • Rutting season is generally the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August. • Bison can be seen rolling in the dirt, this is called wallowing. This behavior creates a scent for • Bison do not like fast-moving things, such as people mating, regulates body temperature, and protects running or bicycles. against insects. Bison can weigh 2000 pounds and sprint 30 miles per hour; • Bison do not like dogs. Keep your dogs in your three times faster than you can run! • Bison hair is denser than cattle hair, allowing them vehicle, because they are not allowed in the to withstand extreme temperatures. Bison don’t feel wilderness areas of the park. These animals may appear tame but are wild, unpredictable, and dangerous. a chill until temperatures drop below -20° F. A bison will do several things to indicate it may charge: Bison Safety DO NOT APPROACH BISON • Give bison plenty of space. Stay at least 100 feet • Stop and look at you or turn to face you away. • Swing its head back and forth You should maintain a minimum distance of at least • Paw the ground or hook the ground with its 100 yards from park wildlife. Any time an animal • Be aware of your surroundings and how close you horns reacts to your presence, you are too close. are to the bison, do not startle a bison. • Make short bluff charges or snort loudly • Move straight for you • If you become too close to a bison, DO NOT RUN, • Raise their tail if they become agitated back away slowly.