Badlands Natural History Association

06/02/2026

🥾Notch Trail

This hike comes with a ladder… and a whole lot of bragging rights.

📍1.25 mi / 2 km round trip | Approx 1.5 hours | Moderate-Strenuous

The trail leads through a canyon, climbs (and descends) a rope ladder, and follows a ledge to “the notch” for a view of the White River Valley.

⚠️A true visitor favorite — but not for the faint of heart. Watch for drop-offs and loose gravel. Avoid during or after rain. If heights aren’t your thing, you may want to sit this one out.

🛍️You can purchase a walking stick, water bottles, and more at Badlands Natural History Association, located in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. All proceeds support Badlands National Park programs.

06/01/2026

05/28/2026

Planning a trip to Badlands National Park but not sure where to begin? We’ve got you covered!

This guide is perfect for visits ranging from 1–3 days and can easily be customized to fit your schedule—whether you’re here for just a few hours or an entire week.

Please note: The White River Visitor Center and Fossil Prep Lab are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (May–September).

Ranger-led activities and evening programs are also available throughout the summer season.

05/22/2026

You won’t want to miss this amazing addition to our 2026 Summer!

Badlands National Park is excited to present a special 2026 Summer Speaker Series, held at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center Theater. All talks take place at 2 PM Mountain Time and are free and open to the public, with a Q&A after each session. The series highlights expert voices sharing natural, cultural, and historical stories of the Badlands and surrounding region.

Join us this Memorial Day weekend, for our first speaker:

• Sunday, May 24
Park Ranger Ed Welsh
Nearly 200 Years of Discovery and We’re Just Warming Up

Following programs include:

• Saturday, June 13
Richard Sherman
Lakota Ethnobotany

• Sunday, June 14
Gusti Rattling Hawk
How The Land Connects Us

• Friday, July 17
Astronomer Paul Ricketts
The Sun

• Saturday, July 18
Dr. Craig Howe
Lakotan AstroHistory

• Sunday, July 19
Astronomer Dean Regas
Tour the Universe: You Are Here

• Sunday, August 23
Jeff Tillery
Managing Disease in Badlands Bighorn Sheep

• Monday, September 7
Park Ranger Christian Knutson
Prairie Ingredients

NPS Image: Poster for the 2026 Badlands National Park Summer Speaker Series. Title at top with program description. Eight events are listed with dates, speaker names, and talk titles, arranged in two columns. Background features light pastel illustrations of Badlands formations and small star accents.

05/22/2026

Looking for an evening activity while visiting the Badlands? Our Evening Ranger Programs are back!

Programs will be held nightly through the summer at the Cedar Pass Lodge Amphitheatre. Evening Ranger Programs begin at 9pm, followed by a nightly Night Sky Program at 9:30 pm.

This week, from schedule of topics is as follows:

🕵️‍♂️ May 22 — Badlands History Mysteries with Ranger Heather
🦇 May 23 — Bats, Man with Ranger Kevin
🦴 May 24 — Safari Through Time with Ranger Lydia
🛩️ May 25 — Badlands Bombing Range with Ranger Chris
🦬 May 26 — Beastly Banter with Ranger Seth
🐕May 27 — Every Dog Has Its Epoch with Ranger Ed
🕵️‍♀️ May 28 — Badlands History Mysteries with Ranger Heather

NPS Image: Poster advertising evening programs. A camera illuminates a graphic moon. The background is an illustration of a stary night sky and Badlands formations. Cartoon ticket stubs list each presentation title and date.

05/21/2026

Planning a trip to Badlands National Park? Here are 10 tips to your Badlands adventure!

📌Save this post for your trip planning and tag your travel buddy!

05/21/2026

Daily programs are back! We cannot wait to see you this summer!

Our daily summer Ranger programs are back!

Starting this week, we are now offering these programs daily through September:

🪨 8:30 am - Geology Walk at Door Trail
🦴 10:30 am - Morning Fossil Talk at Fossil Exhibit Trail
🦴 2:00 pm - Afternoon Fossil Talk at Fossil Exhibit Trail
🌾5:30 pm- Evening Prairie Walk at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center
🤠 9:00 pm - Evening Program at the Cedar Pass Lodge Amphitheatre
🌌 9:30 pm - Night Sky Program at the Cedar Pass Lodge Amphitheatre

In addition, both of our visitor centers and the Badlands Fossil Preparation Lab are open daily:

🏠 8:00 am to 5:00 pm - Ben Reifel Visitor Center
🛠️ 9:00 am to 4:00 pm - Badlands Fossil Preparation Lab (located in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center)
🏠 9:00 am to 4:00 pm - White River Visitor Center

NPS Image: Poster advertising Badlands National Park Daily Ranger programs, from May 17th through September 7th 2026.

05/12/2026

🌾Medicine Root Loop Trail

Wide open skies and peaceful solitude await.

📍Moderate | 4.18 mi / 6.73 km round trip | Approx. 2 hours

Explore mixed-grass prairie with distant Badlands views. Medicine Root trail can be accessed along Old Northeast Road. It can also be accessed by hiking Castle or Saddle Pass trails where they intersect with Medicine Root trail.

🧢You can purchase hats, refillable water bottles, road guide keepsakes, and more in the Badlands Natural History Association store. We are located in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Make sure to grab a trail map while you are here!

All proceeds go back to supporting Badlands National Park.

04/30/2026

Discover the incredible animals that call the Badlands home!

From open prairies to dramatic rock formations, this rugged landscape supports a rich variety of wildlife.

Visit us in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center for park information, wildlife-inspired books, plush, and more.

You can also shop online at www.badlandsnha.org

Photo Credit: L. Bowers

04/21/2026

Before you set out on your Badlands adventure, stock up on all the essentials.

Need point-to-point guides, detailed topo maps, caps, passport books, and more?

You can shop online at www.badlandsnha.org or visit us at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center when you arrive.

Every purchase in our store supports important park programs, including the Fossil Preparation Lab, Night Sky Program, and Park Volunteers.

Gear up for the journey and give back to the park you love along the way.