Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is a wild landscape of colorful rock spires, deep canyons, and striped hills that look like something from another planet. The layers of pink, orange, and tan rock were shaped by millions of years of wind and water.
It is loved because the pointy rock formations glow with amazing colors at sunrise and sunset. It is also one of the best places in the world to find fossils of ancient animals.
Ancient Fossils
Long ago this area was home to strange creatures, and their bones turned into fossils buried in the rock. Scientists have found ancient rhinos, three-toed horses, and saber-toothed cats here.
Prairie Animals
The grassy plains are home to bison, bighorn sheep, and cute prairie dogs that pop out of their burrows. You might even spot a fast pronghorn running across the land.
Big Weather
The Badlands can be very hot in summer and cold and snowy in winter, with sudden storms rolling across the open sky. The best times to visit are spring and fall when the weather is milder.