Last updated: December 29, 2020
Thing to Do
GPS Adventure

Get ready for an adventure to experience Badlands National Park up close and personal! This activity uses GPS to show you different features of the park. Once completed, you can mail in your booklet or return it to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to earn an "I Walked The Badlands" patch!
Go on a GPS Adventure!
Looking for a family-friendly park adventure? Pick up a copy of the GPS Adventure Activity Book at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center and use it to navigate to points of interest. Your GPS-enabled device (a phone works just fine!) will lead you to natural features, trails, and wayside exhibits where you will learn more about the park.
All individuals who complete a minimum of three activities in the GPS Adventure bookley will be rewarded with an "I Walked the Badlands" patch. To claim your patch, submit your booklet to a ranger at the Ben Reifel visitor center or mail it to the park at:
Interpretation and Education Division
25216 Ben Reifel Road
Interior SD 57750
Please remember to leave fossils, flowers, rocks, and artifacts where you find them. Collecting in the park is illegal. It also illegal to leave items behind or create human-made geocaches. Make sure you're familiar with safety guidelines before heading out on your adventure.
- Pets are allowed only on paved or gravel roads and in developed areas such as campgrounds.
- Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet at all times.
- Pets are not allowed on trails or in public buildings. Leaving an animal unattended and/or tied to a fixed object is prohibited, as well as a danger to your pet.
- Pet etiquette dictates always cleaning up animal waste and disposing of it in trash receptacles.
- Service animals are an exception to most pet restrictions and are allowed on trails and in public buildings. Service animals must be kept on a leash at all times and, due to potentially infectious wildlife diseases, are not allowed in areas with prairie dog colonies.
- Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
This activity requires the use of navigation tools such as a compass and GPS. The route traverses rough and uneven terrain with limited support for wheelchairs.