Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [32]
Chapter 6 lists accommodations in Rapid City and the Mount Rushmore area.
Rates vary by season, with the highest rates in summer. Some properties close for several months in winter.
IN THE INTERIOR
Badlands Ranch and Resort
S. Dak. 44 (HCR 53, P.O. Box 3), Interior, SD 57750. ☎ 877/433-5599 or 605/433-5599.
Fax 605/433-5598. www.badlandsranchand resort.com. 7 cabins, 4 motel units, 35 RV hookups; large lodge space for up to 30. A/C TV. $76–$108 cabin, $52–$56 motel room, $16 RV hookup, $12 tenting, $15 tepee rental, $750 entire lodge. Winter rates negotiable. Lodge room rates include breakfast. AE, DISC, MC, V. From the park, head west on S. Dak. 44 approximately 6 miles toward Interior; when you pass the KOA Campground, look for the marked turnoff that leads to the resort.
This friendly, year-round resort, which opened in 1997, is located on 1,000 picturesque acres with views of the Badlands and plenty of wildlife to see. In addition to several accommodations options, there is also a campground (see "Camping," above). The resort offers a pool and a hot tub, plus nightly bonfires and cookouts with entertainment, two fishing lakes, and horseback trails (moonlight trail rides can be arranged). If you wish, the owners can help arrange guided tours of the area's attractions and the adjoining American Indian reservation. Cabins and motel units are comfortable and well maintained. Rooms in the lodge are plusher—we suggest the delightful top-floor honeymoon suite, which has a sunroom, a whirlpool, and great views of the Badlands.
Where to Dine
INSIDE THE PARK
Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant
Cedar Pass Lodge. ☎ 605/433-5460. Main courses $5–$9. AE, DISC, MC, V. Three meals daily; call for hours. May close mid-Sept to mid-May; check with lodge.
Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center in the park's North Unit, the lodge's restaurant (the only dining choice inside the park) has a full menu ranging from buffalo burgers to steaks and trout, as well as ice-cold soft drinks, beer, and wine.
NEAR THE PARK
Several eating places are in the communities surrounding Badlands National Park, including Interior and Wall (see the sidebar "The Famous Wall Drug Store," above). Establishments in Rapid City and the communities surrounding Mount Rushmore are listed in chapter 6.
Picnicking in the Park
Badlands National Park has two designated picnic areas, though you're likely to see people munching at nearly every overlook and trailhead in the park.
Conata Picnic Area is on Conata Road, just south of Dillon Pass and the Badlands Loop Road in the North Unit. It has tables, trash cans, and pit toilets. Camping and fires are not allowed, and there is no drinking water available.
Big Foot Picnic Area is near Big Foot Pass on the Badlands Loop Road in the North Unit, about 7 miles northwest of the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. It also has tables and pit toilets, but no drinking water. Camping and fires are not allowed.
Nearby Attractions
Beyond the boundaries of Badlands National Park are several other areas and sites that you may wish to visit, including Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse Memorial. All are discussed in chapter 6.
4
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
by Eric Peterson
VAST AND WILD, BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK IS A LAND OF EXTREMES,
diversity, and a few contradictions. Its rugged terrain harbors thousands of species of plants and animals, some seen almost nowhere else on earth. A visit to the park can be a hike into the