Badlands Like a Local

Start at the Northeast Entrance by Wall Wall Drug – Yep, it’s kitschy, but it’s a rite of passage. Get a donut and some 5-cent coffee. Enter the park via SD-240 Badlands Loop Road – hands down the best scenic drive. Big Badlands Overlook – Stop here first for that jaw-dropping welcome view. Afternoon Hike: Notch Trail - A favorite trail of locals. A short but adventurous hike with a log ladder and a killer view at the end. Go early or late in the day for shade. Sunset at Pinnacles Overlook: Locals know this is the spot for dramatic golden hour photos and a good chance of spotting bighorn sheep.

Sunrise: Panorama Point or Conata Basin Overlook- Fewer people, stunning light, and a great way to beat the heat. Morning: Fossil Exhibit Trail & Saddle Pass - Short boardwalk trail with real fossils. Then hit Saddle Pass if they want a steep climb with a big payoff. Drive the Sage Creek Rim Road- This gravel road is less traveled. Tons of wildlife: prairie dogs, bison, mule deer. If you're lucky, a golden eagle. Picnic Tip: Pack a cooler and eat at Roberts Prairie Dog Town—they’ll have lunch entertainment from the chirping residents.

Option 1: Horseback Riding with a View - Hurley Butte Horseback, just outside Interior, offers guided rides through prairie and buttes. Unforgettable. Option 2: Paleontology Adventure - Sign up for a Fossil Prep Lab tour at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center—sometimes you can see paleontologists in action. Option 3: Buffalo Gap Grasslands Stargazing -This is an International Dark Sky Park. Bring blankets and stay out late. Locals love Conata Picnic Area for stargazing.

Morning: Mount Rushmore National Memorial Visit early to avoid crowds and enjoy dramatic morning light on the monument. Be sure to walk the Presidential Trail for closer views and unique angles. Afternoon: Custer State Park – Wildlife Loop Road - Home to bison, burros, elk, and pronghorn—drive slowly, camera ready! Optional add-on: Jeep Safari Tour through the backroads of the park. Evening: Sylvan Lake or Mount Rushmore Evening Lighting Ceremony - Sylvan Lake is perfect for an early evening stroll or paddle. Or return to Mount Rushmore for the lighting ceremony at dusk—moving and patriotic.

Morning: Iron Mountain Road & Needles Highway - Two of the most scenic drives in the region, featuring narrow tunnels, pigtail bridges, and jaw-dropping rock formations. Be sure to stop at Needles Eye Tunnel and Cathedral Spires Overlook. Afternoon: Wind Cave or Jewel Cave National Monument - Choose one of these unique cave systems for a ranger-led underground tour. 1. Wind Cave: Known for its rare boxwork formations. 2. Jewel Cave: One of the longest caves in the world, filled with sparkling calcite crystals. Evening: Keystone or Hill City - Charming western towns perfect for dinner and a relaxing final night. Try Prairie Berry Winery or Alpine Inn are local favorites.