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Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
The strange, almost alien badlands formations, as seen from Big Badlands Overlook.
Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

By Travel with Action
3.8 out of 5
Free cancellation available
Price is AU$26 per traveller* *Get a lower price by selecting multiple travellers
See tickets
Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 4h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
Overview

Unearth the long-buried past in Badlands National Park, a place like no other! This strange, alien landscape of rocky peaks hides tens of millions of years of history. Learn all about it as you explore with this self-guided driving tour, which takes you along the Badlands Wall and shows you the best overlooks, hiking trails, and more. Along the way, your virtual narrator will share fascinating stories about everything from fossils to Lakota history and beyond.

After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.

This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

Activity location

  • Hay Butte Overlook
    • Sagecreek Rim Road
    • 57790, Wall, South Dakota, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • 1101 Glenn St
    • 1101 Glenn Street
    • 57790, Wall, South Dakota, United States

Check availability

Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour in English
  • Activity duration is 4 hours4h4h
  • Opening hours: Thu 8:00 am-5:00 pm
  • English
Language options: English
Price details
AU$25.68 x 1 TravellerAU$25.68
Total
Price is AU$25.68

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's includedEasy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • What's includedWhat's includedGreat value: Purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • What's includedWhat's includedEngaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • What's includedWhat's includedPerfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tonnes of rave reviews!
  • What's includedWhat's includedOffline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • What's includedWhat's includedComprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • What's includedWhat's includedGo at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • What's includedWhat's includedHands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedAttraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

Know before you book

  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and an instructions email. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular
  • How to start the tour: Once on-site, open the Action's Tour Guide App: • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If there are multiple tour versions, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Amazing savings: • Driving Tours: Save money by purchasing a single tour for the entire vehicle, avoiding individual fees per person like on a bus tour. Connect your phone to the car speakers to share the audio.
  • Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. There's no expiration, making it perfect for revisiting on future trips.
  • Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalised stops and photo opportunities.
  • Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilise the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalised, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.

Activity itinerary

Hay Butte Overlook
  • 10m
The overlook faces the Badlands and prairie meadows. It's a wonderful place to see bison, pronghorn, and the park's diverse scenery. From the Badlands Loop Road, a popular park route, the overlook is a short hike. Note: This 41+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Badlands in 2-3 hours.
Badlands Wilderness Overlook
  • 10m
It is known for its unique landscapes, including rugged rock formations and deep canyons. The wilderness area is home to a variety of plant and animal life, including bison, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn. It is a popular destination for hiking and backpacking, as well as wildlife viewing and photography.
Roberts Prairie Dog Town
  • 10m
It houses many black-tailed prairie dogs. Prairie dogs, burrowing rodents from the Great Plains of North America, are known for their "bark" and behaviour. Visitors to the park enjoy seeing these fascinating animals in their natural habitat at Roberts Prairie Dog Town.
Ancient Hunters Overlook
  • 10m
This site is named after the ancient tribes that hunted in the Badlands. This site yielded bison bones and arrowheads. It was likely a butchering field where hunters cleaned and prepared bison corpses.
Yellow Mounds Overlook
  • 10m
It has unique layered rock formations. Iron oxide in the rock layers makes the Yellow Mounds yellow. The formations offer a unique picture of Badlands landscapes after millions of years of erosion and weathering.
Big Badlands Overlook
  • 10m
Here, you can take in another great view of the park’s yellow paleosols. These offer a window into the land’s distant past. Remember, this was once the bed of a warm, shallow sea. The paleosols you can see from here are part of the bottommost formation in the Badlands: the Pierre Shale.
Homestead Overlook
  • 10m
Lincoln believed the American west had the resources his country needed. Few Americans wanted to live there. West Coast Natives were wary of settlers in the unexplored region. So Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. All they needed to do was live on the land and work to improve it.
Big Badlands Overlook
  • 10m
This view overlooks Wilson Burns' 20th-century farmhouse. Burns showed how homesteaders survived this harsh environment. As a sheep rancher, he needed a lot of water. Most groundwater is buried several thousand feet deep! That was impossible for a typical homesteader. Burns was smart. He found a government-allotted plot with a freshwater spring.
Prairie Wind Overlook
  • 10m
This spot is quite different from previous overlooks, as the main attraction here isn’t badlands at all, but gentle, pleasant prairie. It’s a great example of the surprisingly diverse ecosystems of the park.
Big Badlands Overlook
  • 10m
Get your camera ready because this is one of the best views in the park! The sharp dropoff reveals the immensity of White River Valley below. It’s a vast flatland dotted with the iconic Badlands rock formations.
Big Badlands Overlook
  • 10m
Lakota Chief Spotted Elk (Big Foot) gave it its name. In 1890, the US Army pursued Spotted Elk and 200 Lakota through this route. He was soon apprehended by the 7th Cavalry. Spotted Elk surrendered peacefully to save his people. In 1990, Congress apologised but did not compensate the tribe. The Lakota are still trying to withdraw the 20 Medals of Honour given to cavalrymen who massacred them.
White River Valley Overlook
  • 10m
From here, you may see The Castle, a magnificent formation. It will be the largest formations seen from the overlook. Beyond the castle, the White River Valley extends forever. The White River created this valley long ago, as you would have surmised from the name.
Fossil Exhibit Trail
  • 10m
The trail includes interactive exhibits showcasing the park's fossil heritage, including ancient animal fossils. The wheelchair-accessible trail welcomes all ages and fitness levels. Visitors can learn about extinct animals like the rhinoceros and three-toed horse and their environment along the trail.
Saddle Pass Trail
  • 10m
This 0.7-mile trail takes under half an hour to hike and features some great opportunities for bird watching and sightseeing along the way. Despite its short length, this is one of the steepest in the park, with over 200 feet of elevation gain. If it has rained recently, you should steer clear of this one.
Ben Reifel Visitor Center
  • 10m
If you’re looking to take a quick break from your expedition through the Badlands, this is a great place for it. In addition to a picnic area and the usual amenities, you’ll also find things like the Fossil Preparation Lab here, which shows what palaeontologists do with fossils once they’ve discovered them.
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
  • 10m
This half-mile loop offers one of the best views in the park. In addition to the stellar vista from the top of the loop, you’ll also get to explore one of the Badlands’ lesser-known biomes as you walk through a lush juniper forest.
Notch Trail
  • 10m
The Notch Trail features 1.5 miles of rough terrain for the intermediate hiker, including a rope ladder that takes you up to a tremendous vista of the White River Valley. Hikers looking for tricky terrain and great views will love this trail.
Door Trail
  • 10m
This quarter-mile, fully accessible boardwalk is more of a stroll than a hike. It leads to a break in the Badlands Wall. This gap, known as The Door, features unbeatable views of the landscape beyond. Be sure to bring your camera for this one!
Castle Trail
  • 10m
Finally, there’s The Castle. At 5.4 miles, it’s the longest-maintained trail in the park. It weaves through prairie, Badlands peaks, and all kinds of unique formations along the way. If you want to get a good look at all the different features of the Badlands, this trail is a great choice.
Big Badlands Overlook
  • 10m
It’s a fitting place to conclude, as it offers one of the best views in the whole park. This sweeping vista looks out across the eastern stretch of the Badlands Wall and reveals beautifully striped layers of rock dating back tens of millions of years. If you’re looking for that one perfect photo of the Badlands, you’re likely to capture it here.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIESHay Butte Overlook
    • Sagecreek Rim Road
    • 57790, Wall, South Dakota, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE1101 Glenn St
    • 1101 Glenn Street
    • 57790, Wall, South Dakota, United States

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