Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park is located near Rapid City, in the state of South Dakota, United States. The park protects sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles and the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States.

Park Purpose

As stated in the foundation document:

The purposes of Badlands National Park are based on the various pieces of legislation that resulted in the creation of Badlands National Park and the legislation governing the National Park Service. Badlands National Park is to be managed to accomplish the following:

• Protect the unique landforms and scenery of the White River Badlands for the benefit, education, and inspiration of the public.

• Preserve, interpret, and provide for scientific study of the paleontological and geological resources of the White River Badlands.

• Preserve the flora, fauna, and natural processes of the mixed-grass prairie ecosystem.

• Preserve the Badlands Wilderness Area and associated wilderness values.

• Preserve and interpret the history, culture, and heritage of the Sioux Nation and Lakota people.

• Preserve and interpret the archeological and contemporary history of use and settlement of lands within the park.