• Badlands formations against the blue sky; photo by Rikk Flohr

    Badlands

    National Park South Dakota

Ranger Guided

Badlands National Park accepts reservations for ranger-guided field trips as staff is available. Please contact the park's Education Specialist for information on program availability.

Groups of 25 students or fewer can request a 60-minute ranger-guided hike. Teachers may request a program focused on prairie animal adaptations, the geology of the Badlands, or naturalist skills.

Groups greater than 25 students can request a 30-minute ranger talk. Ranger talks are presented in the outdoor amphitheater at the Cedar Pass Campground.

Groups with 26-50 students may be divided into two smaller groups in order to participate on a ranger-guided hike. Please note that the same ranger will present the hike twice. The teacher will be responsible for planning and delivering the field trip activities for the group that is not with the ranger. For every 15 students, one teacher or chaperone must be present.

Did You Know?

Ben Reifel speaking at the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater - 1971

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center was named after Ben Reifel, the first congressman from the Sioux Nation, who served 5 terms. Afterwards, he served as consultant and Special Assistant for Indian Programs to the Director of the National Park Service. Badlands was his favorite national park.