Badlands National Park

Its creepy name came from Native American and French descriptions translating to “lands bad” and “bad lands to travel.” But the spectacular scenery of the deep canyons and fragile spires, especially at sunrise and sunset, is well worth a visit.

Of all the national parks, the Badlands is the one that contains the largest size of protected prarie ecosystem. It’s also considered to be one of the richest mammal fossil beds in the world. Check out a prairie dog town, camp out under the stars, go horseback riding, hike any of the handful of trails, or visit the Big Pig Dig (the fossilized remains of an ancient pig-like mammal).