Toadstool Rock

Toadstool formations vary in size and can be found among the Badlands.

NPS Photo / Serena Rosales

Quick Facts

Location:

Interior, SD

Significance:

Though other toadstool rocks can be found in the Badlands, this enormous one can be easily viewed from the road.

Amenities

2 listed

Parking - Auto, Scenic View/Photo Spot

A hoodoo or toadstool refers to a geologic structure where a large block of erosionally resistant (hard) rock is balanced by more quickly eroding (soft) rock underneath, making a toadstool-like feature. This particular hoodoo is made of a boulder of well-cemented river channel sediment from the Sharps Formation (Oligocene, 30-26 million years ago) balanced on eroding mudstone of the Scenic Member of the Brule Formation (Oligocene, 33.7-32.0 million years ago).