South Dakota Badlands
Hats off to Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park in South Dakota is known for its dramatic, eroded rock formations — jagged spires and buttes carved out of ancient sediment over millions of years. The park is home to bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs, and sits within the ancestral homelands of the Oglala Lakota people. Hiking among the formations puts you right in the middle of some of the most otherworldly scenery in the country.
One of our favorite things we did was stay overnight just outside the park at the Badlands/White River KOA, where we booked a camping cabin. Badlands is an International Dark Sky Park with almost no light pollution, and rangers host a nightly Night Sky Viewing program at the Cedar Pass Amphitheater during the summer, right after the evening ranger talk. It’s one of the best stargazing spots in the country, and a great reason to stay the night instead of just passing through.
