Badlands

August 10th I started for Mount Rushmore, but did not make it.  About an hour and a half into my trip I noticed a sign that said South Carolina, when I asked the woman how far away I was from the Nebraska state line she said about 85 miles.  Somehow I missed the sign.  This would not have been a problem, but when I first entered Nebraska the sign was in the middle of the intersection right at the on ramp, so I could not take my picture there.  I had to backtrack to Nebraska 74 miles to get my picture.  Since I was behind already I decided to stop and see Badlands National Park.  And I'm happy I did, but it is amazing!

S to the Dakota

I stopped at the Petrified Forest Museum first, which has phosphorescent rocks, petrified wood, and fossils.

Petrified Forest Museum

 At the entrance to Badlands there is a huge Prairie dog statue. You can also feed the prairie dogs. 

Massive prairie dog

There are three parts of the park; North Unit, Stronghold Unit, and Palmer Creek Unit.  

North Unit

North Unit is 64,000-acre Badlands Wilderness.  This is the route I took and it's the easiest to explore.  This unit has  the Badlands Loop Road with scenic overlooks, trailheads, lodge, and the visitor center.  Stronghold and Palmer Creek Unit  are located within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and you have to make special arraignments to see this part.

Badlands

You can drive the loop, stop at overlooks, read signs explaining the landscape.  You can also walk a self-guided trail, go backpacking cross country, and attend a summer evening amphitheater program.  I walked over some of the rocks, but didn't do any of the hikes (duh).

You can maybe see bison, pronghorns, coyotes, or bighorn sheep.  I didn't see any wildlife probably because it was a thousand degrees outside.

I highly recommend Badlands even if it's just to drive around, it really is beautiful and amazing.