Badlands National Park

Situated in southwestern South Dakota, the Badlands National Park protects 98 hectares of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires, as well as the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. This dramatic landscape stretches over layered rock formations and steep canyons while bison, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs inhabit its sprawling grasslands. The Badlands wilderness also serves as the site of reintroduction of the black-footed ferret – the most endangered land mammal in North America. Main attractions include the Loop Road, the main road through the park where animals and landscapes can be admired; the Badlands Wall, a ridge of incredible rock formations; and Notch trail, a scenic hiking trail that takes about an hour to complete.