Park Planner National Park Service U.S. Department of Interior The official newspaper of Badlands Visitor Guide Badlands National Park 2007 Issue Welcome to Badlands Things to See and Do Welcome to Badlands National Park. You Plan Your Visit will see some of the most spectacular •Drive the Highway 240 Loop Road (60 minutes). breathtaking scenery in the region and •Take a side trip down Sage Creek Rim Road to Robert’s Prairie Dog Town to see our state. I also hope you are able to wildlife and experience spectacular views of the park (30 minutes). experience the quiet and serene •Visit the Big Pig Dig (30 minutes). surroundings while taking in one of our •Hike a Trail (see page 6 for a map of the trails that include descriptions, many hiking trails. Our sunrises are distances, and amount of time to allow). •Attend a Ranger Program (June - August) (20 - 60 minutes). magnificent and our sunsets are amazing; •Stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to watch the park video and tour the new therefore I hope you brought your exhibits (30 - 60 minutes). camera along. The recently remodeled •Take in a sunrise or sunset. They can be viewed from any of the overlooks or Ben Reifel Visitor Center is a must see with our award winning video and many new campgrounds located in the park (20 - 30 minutes). and exciting books in our bookstore run by Badlands Natural History Association. •Stop by the White River Visitor Center which is staffed by members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (45 minutes - 1 hour). When planning your trip to the South Unit of the park take the time and stop at •Tour the South Unit of the park. Be sure to get permission from landowners the White River Visitor Center. You will enjoy the Native American influence and before crossing private land. A list of contacts is available at the White River culture along with the vastness of the area in Badlands National Park. Visitor Center (45 minutes - all day). Index Paige Baker, PhD. Visitor Facilities & Local Services...........2 Superintendent Accessibility........................................2 Remember These Numbers . Rules & Regulations................................3 Park Contact Information.......................3 Park Paleontology...................................4 Park Geology..........................................5 Horse Use & Traveling Distances..........6 Park Map.................................................7 7 Hiking & Weather...................................8 6 45 100 Badlands Natural History Assoc...........9 Maximum length of the Number of days your Maximum speed limit on Minimum distance in yards leash (in feet) that must passenger vehicle park roads. Lower speed you should keep from park Junior Rangers & Fees............................10 be on your dog if it is in entrance pass permits limits are posted in heavy wildlife. Any time an animal Exploring the South Unit.......................10 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 Connie Wolf, Editor Visitor Facilities Ben Reifel Visitor Center Cedar Pass Campground Cedar Pass Lodge Located at park headquarters the Ben Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor The only lodging, gift store and restaurant 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 $10 per night provides visitors a distinctive collection of theater, a new park film, Land of Stone per campsite. The campground is oper- regional and handmade gifts, Native crafts Quick Facts about and Light, and improved classroom and ated on a first come, first served basis and and offers a memorable stay in this unique restroom facilities. Badlands Natural History has a fourteen day limit. Cold running water, destination. Badlands National Park Association sells postcards, books, posters, flush toilets, covered picnic tables, and trash Hours of Operation and other educational materials. Open year containers are available. The campground May 1 - May 31 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. •Established as a National Monument in round. does not have showers or electrical hookups. June 1 - September 5 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. 1939. A dump station is available with a $1.00 fee Hours of Operation September 6 - October 15 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. per use. Campground hosts are on duty dur- The dining room closes 30 minutes before the •Redesignated Badlands National Park in April 15 - June 2 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 1978. ing the summer to assist with registration and gift shop. June 3 - August 18 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. provide information. Look for them in the afternoon and early evenings at the camp- For additional information: •Acreage: 244,000 August 19 - October 13 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ground entrance booth. Open campfires are www.CedarPassLodge.com or write Cedar Pass •Wilderness: 64,144 acres not permitted. Lodge, P.O. Box 5, 20681 Hwy 240, Interior, SD October 14 - April 2008 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 57750; (605) 433-5460; fax (605) 433-5560 •Visitation: approximately one million Badlands National Park is in the Mountain GroUP CAMping Time Zone. Accessibility visitors each year from all over the Four campsites are available in the Cedar world. Pass Campground for organized groups with •The Ben Reifel Visitor Center and White River Visitor Center are White River Visitor Center a designated leader. The nightly fee is $2.50 Key Resources: Located on the Pine Ridge both accessible to wheelchair users. Exam- Reservation off Highway 27, this per person with a minimum fee of $25.00. ples of fossils and rocks provide a tactile ex- •Largest expanse of protected prairie perience for all who enjoy handling objects, visitor center is operated by the Oglala Advance reservations are required and can ecosystem in the National Park system and is appropriate for the visually impaired. Sioux Parks and Recreation Authority and be made by contacting (605) 433 – 5235 •Considered one of the world’s richest is staffed by Tribal members. In 2007, new or by writing Group Camping Reservations: •The Window Trail and the Door Trail are mammal fossil beds exhibits will be installed by the National Park Badlands National Park; 25216 Ben Reifel both accessible to wheelchair users. •50% of Badlands National Park is co- Road; P.O. Box 6; Interior, South Dakota Service. Contact (605) 455-2878 for more •The Cedar Pass Campground has two managed with the Oglala Lakota information. 57750 accessible campsites. All campground Nation, the second largest American restrooms are accessible. One group campsite is accessible. Indian Reservation in the United States Hours of Operation Sage Creek Primitive •Badlands National Park and the Buffalo •The Cedar Pass Lodge dining room and June 1 through September 15 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Campground gift shop, as well as some cabins, meet Gap National Grasslands are the most accessibility standards. successful reintroduction sites for the Open year round, access to this black-footed ferret, one of the world’s Picnic Areas •Several summer ranger programs, including campground may be limited in all talks and portions of the Geology Walk, rarest mammals. Picnic tables are located at winter and during the spring rainy season are accessible to wheelchair users. Others Bigfoot Pass and Conata Picnic Areas due to road conditions. The Sage Creek Rim include adaptations for visual or hearing in addition to tables at the White River Visi- impaired visitors. Key Management Issues: Road is remote and unpaved. It is not recom- •Visitor and employee safety tor Center. Bigfoot Pass and Conata Picnic mended for large recreational vehicles. The •Ask at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center about Areas do not have water available. Remem- •Reduction of exotic plant species campground is currently free and offers pit the listening devices that can be used to aid ber that open campfires are not permitted. in hearing the park film. •Protection of fossil resources toilets and picnic tables. There is a fourteen •Maintenance of park facilities day limit. There is no water available. Open •A complete listing of accessible facilities is campfires are not permitted. available at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center or •Preservation of over 50,000 artifacts and online at: http://www.nps.gov/badl/. specimens in museum collections •Reintroduction of native wildlife (pictured below) Black-footed Local Services Ferret Gas Stations and Convenience Stores •Cactus Flat •Rapid City •Interior •Scenic •Kadoka •Wanblee •Philip •Wall •Pine Ridge Swift Fox Restaurants •Cactus Flat •Rapid City •Kadoka •Scenic •Philip •Wall •Pine Ridge Bighorn Motels and Campgrounds •Cactus Flat •Pine Ridge Sheep •Interior •Rapid City •Kadoka •Wall •Philip For more information about these local communities, contact the Chambers of Hospitals and Clinics Commerce or South Dakota Tourism. •Kadoka •Rapid City •Philip •Wall Interior City Council (605) 433-5445 Bison Kadoka Chamber 1-800-467-9217 [email protected] Post Office Philip Chamber (605) 859-2645 [email protected] •Interior •Rapid City Pine Ridge Chamber (605) 455-2685 [email protected] •Kadoka •Scenic Rapid City Chamber 1-800-487-3223 http://www.rapidcitycvb.com •Philip •Wanblee Wall Chamber (605) 279-2665 http://www.wall-badlands.com- •Pine Ridge •Wall South Dakota Tourism (605) 773-3301 http://TravelSD.com 2 Rules and Regulations Rules of the Road Camping and Campfires •Campfires are not permitted due to the extreme •The speed limit is 45 miles per hour, unless posted danger of prairie wildfire. otherwise. •Camp stoves or contained charcoal grills can •Seatbelts are required for all passengers at all be used in the campgrounds or picnic areas. times. •Wood gathering is not permitted. •Drive cautiously and use pull outs to allow others to pass safely or to view wildlife.