What to Know Before You Go

Is the Badlands worth seeing?

Contrary to its name, the Badlands are beautiful! The area was originally named mako sica or bad lands by the Lakota people because of its rocky terrain, extreme temperatures, and lack of water. Today, it’s a great place to recreate, take in the landscape, and see wildlife.

What is the Badlands best known for?

Seventy-five million years ago, Badlands National Park looked very different. It was a shallow sea instead of the rock formations you see today. The sea eventually dried up, leaving behind one of the world’s richest fossil beds. It is also home to many species today, including bison and prairie dogs.

Badlands was featured in a bunch of movies from the 90s like Armageddon, Starship Troopers, Dances with Wolves, and more recently, Nomadland. Have you seen all of these? If you love visiting filming locations, it’s