Park Planner National Park Service U.S. Department of Interior The official newspaper of Badlands Visitor Guide Badlands National Park 2010 Issue Photo by Rick Braveheart, Badlands Artist in Residence, Fall 2009 Welcome to Badlands Things to See and Do Welcome to Badlands National Park! We are pleased to be able to help you enjoy what we believe to be one of the most spectacular, scenic, and interesting national parks in the country. Plan Your Visit • Drive the Highway 240 Loop Road (60 minutes). People have been awed and fascinated by Badlands for as far back as we • Take a side trip down Sage Creek Rim Road to Robert’s Prairie Dog Town to see know. Native American stories and legends show a recognition of wildlife and experience spectacular views of the park (30 minutes). badlands geology and landscape features, along with the unusual fossils found here. Early Europeans, homesteaders, ranchers, and the • Hike a trail (see page 8 for a map of the trails that include descriptions, state of South Dakota also recognize this remarkable place, which distances, and amount of time to allow). eventually resulted in the designation of Badlands National Monument NPS Photo • Attend the Night Sky Program (June - mid September) (60 minutes). in 1929. By 1939 Badlands National Monument was established, and in • Attend a ranger program, program listing on page 12 (June - mid September) 1978 Badlands National Monument was elevated to national park status. (20 - 60 minutes). As you plan and enjoy your visit here, consider spending some time in some of our less visited • Stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to watch the award winning park video areas. The Sage Creek Rim Road has spectacular views, and the best chance of seeing wildlife and tour the exhibits (30 - 60 minutes). including bison, deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, pronghorn, prairie dogs, ferrets, eagles, hawks, and • Take in a sunrise or sunset. They can be viewed from any of the overlooks or foxes. While your odds of seeing them all are slim, your odds of seeing at least three or more are campgrounds located in the park (20 - 30 minutes). good. • Stop by the White River Visitor Center (hours of operation on page 2) which is staffed by members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (45 minutes - 1 hour). The South Unit welcomes you during summer months at the White River Visitor Center. The visitor center is managed and staffed by tribal rangers, who are interested in sharing their culture along • Tour the South Unit of the park. Be sure to get permission from landowners with the spectacular scenery and natural resources found within the South Unit. before crossing private land. A list of contacts is available at the White River Visitor Center (45 minutes - all day). A hike on a trail, or participation in a ranger guided hike or talk will become part of your visit that • Visit the new tipi village located between the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and you will remember long afterwards. the Cedar Pass Lodge. Enjoy your park! Rangers and staff are all here to help you make Badlands a visit to remember. Index Visitor Facilities & Local Services...........2 Stephen G. Thede Deputy Superintendent Accessibility........................................2 Rules, Regulations, & Safety ..................3 Remember These Numbers . Park Contact Information.......................3 Park Paleontology...................................4 Park Geology..........................................5 Horse Use & Traveling Distances..........6 Park Map.................................................7 Hiking & Weather...................................8 6 7 45 100 Badlands Natural History Assoc...........9 Maximum length of the Number of days your Maximum speed limit on Minimum distance in yards Junior Rangers & Fees............................10 leash (in feet) that must passenger vehicle park roads. Lower speed you should keep from park Exploring the South Unit.......................10 be on your dog if it is in entrance pass permits limits are posted in heavy wildlife. Any time an animal the park. Look for more you to explore the traffic areas. reacts to your presence Minuteman Missile NHS.......................11 regulations on page 3. Badlands. Stay a little means you are too close. Ranger Programs..................................12 longer! Road Construction Information..........12 Quick Facts about Visitor Facilities Badlands National Park Ben Reifel Visitor Center Cedar Pass Campground Cedar Pass Lodge • Established as a National Monument in Located at park headquarters the Ben Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor The only lodging, gift store, and restaurant 1939 Reifel Visitor Center reopened in 2006 Center, Cedar Pass Campground has in Badlands National Park, Cedar Pass Lodge with new exhibits, a 97 seat, air conditioned 96 sites. Camping fees are $14 per provides visitors a distinctive collection of • Redesignated Badlands National Park theater, a new park film, Land of Stone night per campsite. The campground regional and handmade gifts, Native in 1978 is operated on a first come, first served and Light, and improved classroom and American crafts, and offers a memorable basis and has a fourteen day limit. Cold restroom facilities. Badlands Natural History stay in this unique destination. • Acreage: 244,000 running water, flush toilets, covered picnic Association sells postcards, books, posters, tables, and trash containers are available. Gift Shop Hours of Operation and other educational materials. Open year • Wilderness: 64,144 acres The campground does not have showers. A April 17 - May 21 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. round. dump station is available with a $1.00 fee • Visitation: approximately one million Hours of Operation per use. Campground hosts are on duty May 22 - August 31 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. visitors each year from all over the during the summer to assist with September 1 - October 9 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. world April 18 - May 29 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. registration and provide information. The dining room closes 30 minutes before the Look for them in the afternoon and early Key Resources: May 30 - September 11 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. evenings at the campground entrance gift shop. • Largest expanse of protected prairie September 12 - October 30 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. booth. Open campfires are not permitted. For additional information: ecosystem in the National Park system Group Camping www.CedarPassLodge.com or write Cedar Pass October 31 - April 2011 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Four campsites are available in the Cedar Lodge, 20681 Hwy 240, Interior, SD 57750; (605) • Considered one of the world’s richest Badlands National Park is in the Mountain Pass Campground for organized groups with 433-5460; fax (605) 433-5560 mammal fossil beds Time Zone. a designated leader. The nightly fee is $3.00 per person with a minimum fee of $30.00. • 50% of Badlands National Park is White River Visitor Center Advance reservations can be made by Accessibility co-managed with the Oglala Lakota Located on the Pine Ridge contacting Group Camping Reservations at: • The Ben Reifel Visitor Center and White Nation, the second largest American Reservation off Highway 27, this www.CedarPassLodge.com River Visitor Center are both accessible to Indian Reservation in the United States visitor center is operated by the Oglala or write to: wheelchair users. Examples of fossils and Cedar Pass Lodge rocks provide a tactile experience for all Sioux Parks and Recreation Authority and who enjoy handling objects, and is • Badlands National Park and the Buffalo 20681 Hwy 240 is staffed by Tribal members. In 2007, new Interior, SD 57750 appropriate for the visually impaired. Gap National Grasslands are the most exhibits were installed by the National Park successful reintroduction sites for the (605) 433-5460; fax (605) 433-5560 • The Window Trail and the Door Trail are Service. Contact (605) 455-2878 for more both accessible to wheelchair users. black-footed ferret, one of the world’s information. rarest mammals. • The Cedar Pass Campground has two accessible campsites. All campground Hours of Operation Sage Creek Primitive restrooms are accessible. One group Key Management Issues: campsite is accessible. Early June through Early September 10 am - 4 pm • Visitor and employee safety Campground • The Cedar Pass Lodge dining room and • Reduction of exotic plant species Open year round, access to this gift shop meet accessibility standards. • Protection of fossil resources Picnic Areas campground may be limited in • Maintenance of park facilities • Several summer ranger programs, Picnic tables are located at winter and during the spring rainy season including all talks and portions of the • Preservation of over 50,000 artifacts Bigfoot Pass and Conata Picnic Areas due to road conditions. The Sage Creek Geology Walk, are accessible to and specimens in museum collections in addition to tables at the White River Rim Road is remote and unpaved. It is not wheelchair users. Others include Visitor Center. Bigfoot Pass and Conata adaptations for visual or hearing • Reintroduction of native wildlife recommended for large recreational vehicles. impaired visitors. (pictured below) Picnic Areas do not have water available. The campground is currently free and offers Remember that open campfires are not pit toilets and picnic tables. There is a • Ask at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center about permitted. fourteen day limit. There is no water the listening devices that can be used to aid in hearing the park film. available. Open campfires are not Black-footed permitted. • A complete listing of accessible facilities is Ferret available at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center or online at: http://www.nps.gov/badl/. Local Services Photo by Randy Matchett, US Fish and Wildlife Service Gas Stations and Convenience Stores Swift Fox • Cactus Flat • Rapid City • Interior • Scenic • Kadoka • Wanblee • Philip • Wall • Pine Ridge Restaurants Kyle DianeHargreaves.com • Cactus Flat • Rapid City Pine Ridge Area Bighorn • Kadoka • Scenic Chamber Visitor Center Sheep • Philip • Wall • Pine Ridge Motels and Campgrounds • Cactus Flat • Pine Ridge • Interior • Rapid City • Kadoka • Wall Photo by Teresa Zimmerman • Philip For more information about these local communities, contact the Chambers of Bison Commerce or South Dakota Tourism.