Park Details
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Trails Illustrated Map2- Badlands Nat'l Park
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Park Details
Location Information
Location:
Interior, South Dakota
Address:
Badlands National Park
P. O. Box 6
Interior, South Dakota 57750
Telephone:
(605) 433-5361
Directions:
From Interstate 90, take exit 131 (Cactus Flat) or exit 110
(Wall). Follow signs to Badlands National Park.
Transportation:
To Park: there is no public transportation to or in the park.
Bus connections can be made in Wall, South Dakota (seven miles
from exit 110, from I-90). The nearest airport is Rapid City,
South Dakota, 80 miles west of the park.
Operating Hours/Seasons
The park is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Entrance fees are collected April through November.
Reservations/Permits/Fees
Ten dollars per vehicle for seven days. Five dollars per bicycle or motorcycle-plus five dollars per passenger. Inquire for commercial vehicle rates.
Reservations are required for group campsites and school group visits. Commercial filming permits are required.
Climate, Recommended Clothing
Hot, dry summers with occasional violent thunderstorms. Winters are typically very cold with 12 to 24 inches of snowfall. Extremely high winds are common year-round, so hats and sunglasses are needed.
Facilities and Opportunities
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Ben Reifel Visitor Center, located at Cedar Pass, has
exhibits, sales area, film and park headquarters. White River
Visitor Center, located in the Stronghold District, is open June
through August.
Trails, Roads:
The 30 mile Loop Drive is accessed from Interstate 90, and it
is a two lane, paved surface. The 30 mile Sage Creek Road is
gravel. Five trails, varying from one-fourth mile to eight miles
in length, explore park features.
Programs/Activities:
Offered from mid-June through Labor Day. Include walks,
talks and slide programs. Check park newspaper for schedule.
Lodging and camping facilities:
Cedar Pass Lodge-open mid-April through mid-October. Cedar
Pass Campground - $10.00 per night - 14 night limit.
Food/supplies:
Cedar Pass Lodge has a restaurant open mid-April through mid-
October. Supplies available on limited basis in Interior (three
miles from park).
Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and
Opportunities:
Badlands Natural History Association has educational
material. There are also two licensed horse packers. Contact
the park for details.
Accessibility:
Fossil Exhibit Trail is one-fourth mile and wheelchair
accessible. An open-captioned version of Buried Fossils, Living
Prairie is available. Accessibility guide to park free upon
request.
Special Needs:
Access to Stronghold Unit is limited due to private road
access and road conditions.
Recommended Activities/Park Use
Explore Cliff Shelf Nature Trail (.5 mile) or Fossil Exhibit Trail (.25). Take ten mile round trip drive to Roberts Prairie Dog Town (from Loop Road). The road is not paved.
Visitation
Basic Visit Recommendations :
A typical visit lasts three-to-five hours, and it includes
the park movie and two walks.
Visitor Impacts:
Check at visitor center for road conditions and weather
forecast. No open campfires are allowed due to vast prairie
resources.
Special Events Programs
Check at the visitor center between June 15 and August 25 for full ranger program schedule. Reduced schedule offered August 26 through Labor Day.
Adjacent Visitor Attractions
Wall Drug Store, Black Hills National Forest, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Additional Information
Volunteer Opportunities - Contact the park volunteer coordinator for information on volunteering and internships. Call (605) 433-5240.
Artist in Residence Program - Write the A.I.R. coordinator between November and April to apply for artist-in-residence positions. Call (605) 433-5240.
Curricula-based program - In-park activities can be scheduled for students 1 through 12, from October 1 through May 15. Contact education specialist at (605) 433-5242.
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