Drive Sage Creek Rim Road

During your visit to Badlands National Park, drive Sage Creek Rim Road, which offers amazing views of the Wilderness Area. This is a dirt road and can be rough during or after storms!

Overlooks on Sage Creek Rim Road

Sage Creek Rim Road features a number of overlooks and pull-offs to park safely and enjoy the view. From east to west, the overlooks on Sage Creek Rim Road are:

• Hay Butte Overlook

• Badlands Wilderness Overlook

• Roberts Prairie Dog Town

• Sage Creek Basin Overlook

Driving Sage Creek Rim Road

Sage Creek Rim Road (SD 590) is a dirt/gravel road that travels through the Sage Creek Wilderness Area of Badlands National Park. It provides access to several overlooks and the Sage Creek Campground, as well as opportunities for backcountry access and wildlife viewing. Bison, bighorn, prairie dogs and a wide variety of birds are frequently seen from Sage Creek Rim Road.

Sage Creek Rim Road connects SD 44 and the Badlands Loop Road (240). It intersects with SD 44 just east of the town of Scenic and with the Badlands Loop Road just north of the Pinnacles Overlook. Sage Creek Rim Road may be temporarily closed during or after heavy rain or snow. Contact the park for up-to-date information on the status of Sage Creek Rim Road.

Safety Tips

• Seeing Badlands National Park can be exciting, especially when you spot the perfect view. Be sure to pull off into a pull-out or overlook to enjoy. Please do not stop in the road, as this stops traffic.
• Wildlife is commonly seen on many park roads. Remember to keep a minimum of a 100-foot distance from any wildlife -- if the wildlife notices you, you are too close.
• Follow all posted speed limits and be especially careful when passing parking lots, where pedestrian traffic is common.
• Check the weather. Weather in Badlands National Park can change rapidly. Use extra caution when driving in rainy, snowy, or icy conditions.
• Lost? Cell phones are not always reliable in the park, where service can be spotty. Make sure to pick up a park map from an entry booth, the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the White River Visitor Center, or check out online maps before heading out.
• Visit this safety page for more information on having a safe visit to Badlands National Park.

Details

Duration

1-2 Hours

Activity

Scenic Driving

Pets Allowed

No

Pets are permitted in Badlands National Park with some restrictions. Pets must be kept on a leash no more than six feet in length at all times. Pets are only permitted in developed areas, such as campgrounds and picnic areas, and other areas open to motor vehicles, such as gravel and paved roadways, roadway corridors, and parking lots. Pets are prohibited from hiking trails, public buildings (i.e. visitor centers), and backcountry areas, including the Badlands Wilderness Area, and areas with prairie dog colonies. Pet etiquette dictates always cleaning up animal waste and disposing of it in trash receptacles.

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Sage Creek Rim Road is open year-round, but may be closed in the winter due to weather conditions. Contact the park for more information about the current condition of Sage Creek Rim Road at [phone].

Time of Day

Any Time

Sage Creek Rim Road is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Accessibility Information

Sage Creek Rim Road is a dirt gravel road with dirt gravel pull-offs. This terrain can be rough for people using wheelchairs.