Winter in Badlands National Park often creates snow covered wonderlands throughout the park.
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.
Notch Trail and all areas within 150’ of both sides of the trail. During the closure period, Park staff will be mitigating safety hazards associated with loose rocks on and around the base of the ladder.
The National Park Service (“NPS”) anticipates releasing a prospectus for a concession business opportunity to provide lodging, retail, food and beverage and camping services within Badlands National Park (“Park”) in mid November 2024. The prospectus will describe the business opportunity and the terms and conditions of Concession Contract No. CC-BADL001-25.
A new National Park Service report shows that 1,046,400 visitors to Badlands National Park in 2023 spent $134,579,000 in communities near the park. That spending supported 1,916 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $193,285,000.
Badlands National Park has partnered with the NASA South Dakota Space Grant Consortium to co-sponsor the 2024 Badlands Astronomy Festival, July 5th-7th. The festival brings together space science professionals, amateur astronomers, educators, and visitors for a three-day celebration.
Badlands National Park Superintendent Eric Veach announced today that the Sage Creek Campground will be closed to all visitor use from 8:00 AM until 7:00 PM on Tuesday June 25 2024 due to the need to treat prairie dog mounds for fleas in order to manage the spread of plague.