Ever wonder why The Badlands National Park is called “The Badlands?” Once you’ve seen The Badlands in South Dakota, you’ll understand. The Park is comprised of peaks and valleys, gullies, buttes, spires, pinnacles and wide open prairies. Erosion has created a layered hillscape of purple and yellow (shale), tan and gray (sandstone), red and orange (iron oxides) and white (volcanic ash).
But back to why this beautiful National Park is called The Badlands. Early travelers, including the Lakota (Sioux) and French trappers, called the region “bad lands” for its formidable rugged terrain with peaks and valleys that made it difficult to cross. Not only did the landscape present a challenge, but the weather and dry climate as well. The Badlands is a land of extremes. Dry. Scorching hot in summer and windy, freezing cold in winters.
As you travel through The Badlands, other than tourists, live creatures you may see include bison, mule deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, ferrets and eagles.
You can drive much of the park, but stopping for a hike affords spectacular sprawling vistas into The Badlands you wouldn’t otherwise see. Be sure to bring water, dress in layers and wear proper shoes. After all, this is: The Badlands.
Recent Comments