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

    Badlands

    National Park South Dakota

Badlands Offers Full Moon Hike

Subscribe RSS Icon | What is RSS
Date: June 14, 2011
Contact: Aaron Kaye, 605-433-5243

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, Interior, S.D. — On Thursday June 16th, join Badlands rangers for a moonlit hike across the prairie and into the scenic rock formations. See the Badlands like never before – under moonlight.

The program will begin at 9:00 pm at the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater. A short multimedia presentation on observing the moon, lunar phases, and nocturnal animals will precede the hike. Come learn about the endangered and nocturnal black-footed ferret. Once thought to be extinct, the park is now celebrating the 30th anniversary of the rediscovery of black-footed ferrets in America.

The one hour, 1.5 mile hike begins and ends at the amphitheater. The amphitheater is located next to the Cedar Pass Campground a quarter mile from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center on Badlands Loop Road (Hwy 240). Visitors are encouraged to bring water, a jacket, insect repellent and sturdy, closed-toed shoes.

Regular park entrance fees apply. See nps.gov/badl or contact the park at 605-433-5361 for more information.

-NPS-

Did You Know?

Early motorist meanders through the Upper Tunnel

Early motorists along the Badlands Loop Road traveled through tunnels carved into the formations. Since the road’s layout defied engineering logic by being based on scenery rather than stability, the road is constantly shifting. Though the tunnels are long gone, the sense of adventure remains.