Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [31]
Spring and fall may be the best times to experience the Badlands backcountry. Days are often pleasant, and nights are cool. In summer, temperatures often exceed 100°F (38°C) and pose health hazards. Avoid heat sickness by drinking plenty of water and staying out of the midday sun. Only the hardiest hikers attempt winter backpacking trips. Severe winter temperatures coupled with strong winds and sudden blizzards make backcountry survival difficult for the unprepared. Winter hikers should speak with a ranger at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center before setting out.
Other Sports & Activities
Aerial Tours. If you want to see the Badlands from above, you have two options: helicopter and hot-air balloon. Badger Helicopters (☎ 605/433-5322) takes off near the park's east entrance (take I-90, Exit 131) between mid-May and mid-September. Call for current rates.
If you're looking for a hot-air-balloon adventure, contact Black Hills Balloons, P.O. Box 210, Custer, SD 57730 (☎ 800/ 568-5320 or 605/673-2520; www.black hillsballoons.com), which offers flights over the Badlands and Black Hills year-round.
Biking. Off-road biking is not allowed in the park, but the Loop Road is accessible to bikes. There are bike racks at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The 22-mile route from Pinnacles Overlook to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center is mostly downhill (though there are several steep passes to climb). Many bikers ride along Sage Creek Rim Road, past the prairie dog town, to spectacular views of the Badlands wilderness. During summer, though, car traffic is heavy and the temperatures hot. There are no bike rentals available in the park.
Horseback Riding. Several companies offer guided trail rides through the backcountry of the Badlands (and the Black Hills). They include family-run Dakota Badland Outfitters, P.O. Box 85, Custer, SD 57730 (☎ 605/673-5363 winter; 605/673-2999 or 605/574-2525, ext. 812 summer; www.ridesouthdakota.com). Call for rates, activities, and reservations.
Camping
A chart summarizing facilities at campgrounds in the Badlands and Black Hills area is in chapter 6.
INSIDE THE PARK
Camping is available inside Badlands National Park at the Cedar Pass Campground and the Sage Creek Primitive Campground, on a first-come, first-served basis. These campgrounds are suitable for both tents and RVs, and both offer scenic views but little shade. Campfires are not permitted. Cedar Pass Campground, with 96 sites, is just off the Loop Road and has an amphitheater and the Night Sky Interpretive Area. Sage Creek Primitive Campground is at the end of Sage Creek Rim Road, a gravel road that begins at the point where the park's Loop Road turns toward the Pinnacles Entrance. Impassable roads may limit access in winter. Up to 15 camping "units" can be accommodated.
Backcountry camping is also permitted (see "Exploring the Backcountry," above).
NEAR THE PARK
Badlands Ranch and Resort is much more than a campground. Here, in addition to the amenities noted in the campground chart in chapter 6, you'll find a barbecue area with gas grills, pool, whirlpool, playground, good fishing, rock hunting, and trail rides. For details, see "Where to Stay," below.
Where to Stay
INSIDE THE PARK
Cedar Pass Lodge Cabins
Badlands National Park, P.O. Box 5, Interior, SD 57750. ☎ 605/433-5460. Fax 605/433-5560. 22 cabins. A/C TEL. $55–$65 double. AE, DISC, MC, V. May close mid-Sept to mid-May; check with lodge.
The Cedar Pass Lodge, adjacent to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, offers somewhat rustic but comfortable cabins in a great location. This is the spot to be to see the Badlands at dawn and dusk—an incredible experience.
NEAR THE PARK
The closest lodging outside the park is in the tiny community of Interior. Wall, north of the park, and Rapid City, 55 miles west