Early Morning


Jeremy and I wake up at 6:30am, quickly get dressed, pack our things, and load up the car. We drive into Badlands National Park. We stop at the entrance booth, but there is no ranger to give us a map, or to review our Park Pass, so we drive in on our own. We enter from the North end and turn right, eager to see the sun rise. We stop at the first overlook and I take a few photographs.

Scenic sunset view of rugged badlands formations with colorful sky and desert vegetation.
Golden desert plant catching sunset light against backdrop of eroded badland hills.

Second Outlook


We get back into the car and go to the second outlook. On the way over, a pronghorn is seen grazing in the grasslands off to the side. We stop so I can get a photograph.


We watch the sunrise from the second overlook, and I see a lone bison far off in the distance enjoying the break of day. We then drive to Prairie Dog Town, but none of the prairie dogs are out and about. Maybe they aren't morning creatures.

Dramatic golden light illuminates layered rock formations in Badlands National Park.
Black and white landscape of eroded rock formations in the Badlands under dramatic cloudy sky.
Lone antelope grazes in golden prairie grass field during vibrant sunset.

There and Back Again


We never ate breakfast, so we go back into the town of Wall, have breakfast, get coffee, and return to the park.


This time when we approach the entrance, there is a Park Ranger at the gate. We show off our America the Beautiful Pass, and get a park map. There are prairie dogs basking in the morning sun near the gate, stretching in the morning light, so we did get to see prairie dogs after all.


We had turned right after the gate earlier this morning, so now we turn left and follow the road through the park. Badlands National Park is beautiful. There are canyons diving deep into the ground among rigid rocks. There are dome-like formations that look like someone took a watercolor brush to them and painted them with yellows and reds. The White River cuts through the landscape between all of the colorful walls of rock. It's truly breathtaking.

Colorful striped rock formations in Badlands National Park under bright blue sky.
Deep canyon with colorful mineral layers and steep cliffs under bright blue sky.
Multicolored badlands formations create dramatic landscape under vivid blue sky.
Scenic road leading through golden grasslands towards rugged mountain formations in Badlands National Park.
Winding canyon with layered rock formations and sparse vegetation in the Badlands landscape.
Hiker standing on dramatic overlook of eroded buttes and peaks in Badlands National Park.

Big Horned Sheep


There are a bunch of cars stopped in a look out area and on the side of the road, so we figure this must be a good spot and we park. As I get out of the car, I notice that there's a small group of big horned sheep at the end of the parking lot. We watch with trepidation as an elderly couple walks close to the big horned sheep, much too close. A young couple with their two young kids stand in the parking lot and admire the big horned sheep from afar. I can only think that if the elderly couple gets attacked by the big horned sheep, that there's not help for miles and miles. Thankfully the couple snaps a photo on their phone, turns around, and walks back to the lot. The sheep must be feeling relaxed, which is good for the couple.


Jeremy and I cross the road and he stands in front of me as I rest my telephoto on his shoulder and snap photos of the big horned sheep. After a few captures, I take a few just using my hands and practicing steady breathing.

Bighorn sheep grazing in golden prairie grass with distant mountains in the background.
Bighorn sheep with curved horns resting in tall golden grass during autumn.
Bighorn ram lying in golden prairie grass during sunrise in Badlands National Park.
Herd of bighorn sheep grazing together in golden prairie grass against distant horizon.

Leaving the Park


We find a start to a short trail, and decide to follow it. There are a lot of signs of different types of fossils that are in Badlands National Park, but I guess we suck as archeologists because I don't see any along the trail. What we do find, however, is a bunny. The bunny sits very still as I lower myself until I am laying on the ground on the path. I snap a few photographs before the bunny hops away.


We return to the car and drive over to the Visitor's Center. We buy a few items from the gift shop, and then exit the park to go to Rapid City, South Dakota.

Wild rabbit hiding among tall dried grasses in natural habitat.