Badlands National Park

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."  ~William Shakespeare

           


If you want to learn about erosion and see one of the most dramatic examples of its processes, you will want to visit Badlands National Park in South Dakota.  Mount Rushmore could not compete with this unique and beautiful creation by Nature, and the kids were not at all impressed seeing it after being here!


              


This is paradise for any child (or the young at heart) who loves to climb and play with rocks!
Our four-year-old talks about "climbing the mountains in the badlands", but these formations aren't actually mountains, they are called pinnacles, buttes, and spires.


                    


We spent as much time here as we could before the sun went down.  The park offers a "Geology Walk" in the mornings throughout the summer, but we had to continue west on our journey.  If you are planning a visit, research their website and go to the visitor's center when you arrive for more information.  


                                   


We set up camp for the night (only a $10 fee) but had to take our tent down at 12:30 am, due to extremely high winds.
It was worth it to actually feel one of the erosional processes at work!


              
                                       

Find out more about the Badlands and other very cool natural wonders through these sites.
See what you can do to help protect these beautiful places for humans, wildlife, and the health of our planet.

Badlands National Park

Badlands Formation

Badlands Fossils

WebRangers

National Park Service

The National Parks: America's Best Idea-PBS








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danielle@fullcirclechild.com