June Continues Upward Trend in Badlands Visitation

Just as birds migrate through the Badlands each year, South Dakota’s largest national park is receiving its annual influx of migrating visitors, heading typically to points west, like the Black Hills and Yellowstone. Visitation to Badlands National Park is up nearly 24% for the first half of 2004 with 300,893 visitors counted at park entrance stations, contrasted with 242,900 for the same period last year. For the month of June, visitation was up 7% with 165,208 visits counted Visitors continue to make most use of the Northeast Entrance, located seven miles south of Exit 131 of Interstate 90. 50% of park visitation accesses the park through this entrance complex.

July will be the last month that the park will be able to offer its full range of summer ranger programs due to a lack of available staffing. Effective August 7, visitor center hours will be reduced and programs will be cut back. A new schedule of activities will be released by July 25 with an updated schedule available at the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/bad/ The Ben Reifel Visitor Center remains open year round, closing only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. The White River Visitor Center, located on Pine Ridge Reservation, will close for the season on August 21, 2004.

Through July, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily . Daily ranger programs through August 7 are:

Geology Walk 8:30 a.m. Meet at Door Trail shelter

Fossil Talks 10:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Meet at Fossil Exhibit Trail shelter

Junior Ranger Program 10:30 a.m. Meet at Cedar Pass Campground shelter

Ranger Talk 2:00 p.m. Meet in Ben Reifel Visitor Center

Prairie Walk 5:30 p.m. Meet at Ben Reifel Visitor Center

Evening Program 9:00 p.m. Meet at Cedar Pass Amphitheater