A Wheelchair Accessible Guide to Badlands National Park
While in South Dakota, it would be a shame to miss one of its biggest attractions… Badlands National Park. This national park is made up of buttes (which look like mountains but unlike mountains, are made from erosion). The effect results in stunning formations and canyons. This wheelchair accessible guide to Badlands National Park will help you plan your trip there.
Where to Stay
Most people stay in nearby Rapid City to explore this national park. It is also where the closest airport is if you are flying in. Rapid City has plenty of hotels so finding an accessible room shouldn’t be a problem.
Since I was camping, we stayed in the town of Custer at Custer State Park. This state park also has lodges and cabins available. It’s about a little over an hour drive away. Badlands National Park is an easy day trip from here, but expect to make it a full day as the park has a lot to offer.
Things to Do
Look for Wildlife
You can never predict what wildlife you’ll see or when, but when I was here, I had the opportunity to see long-horned sheep and buffalo. A good clue that there is wildlife in the area is if you see a bunch of cars pulled over in an area other than an overlook. So, keep a keen eye out, because you never know what you could find.
Scenic Drive
This park is large and there are lots of accessible overlooks to take in the beauty. Driving through the park is a great, accessible way to experience it. Looking at the formations and thinking about how long it took them to form is somewhat mind boggling.
The colors of each formation (caused by the different colored sediments that have layered over time) are highlighted depending on where the sun is in the sky. There is accessible parking and restrooms throughout the park. Visitor’s centers are also accessible.
Many of the lookouts have accessible parking and pathways to see the view. I felt like I got to see and enjoy the park from many different perspectives without missing out on much.
Accessible Trails
National Parks do their best to make their parks accessible to all, and as part of that they try to offer accessible trails. In Badlands, the Fossil Exhibit and Window Trails have accessible boardwalks and the first section of the Door and Cliff Shelf Trails are also accessible to wheelchair users.
The Fossil Exhibit trail is the only one that I had a chance to do while I was there, and it was really interesting. There were plaques around the boardwalk that described the types of fossils found within the park, many of them animals that are now extinct.
Check Out the Visitor Centers
Visitor centers are almost always accessible and a good place to use an accessible restroom if you need it. The park rangers can be very helpful in recommending places to visit within the park and are a wealth of information. Often visitor centers will offer displays or short films that talk about the history of the park. They also offer a gift shop, which is generally where you get your national parks stamps in your passport book (if you collect them).
Wheelchair Accessible Guide to Badlands National Park Final Thoughts
This park has really good accessibility and is a beautiful place to visit. Sitting at the overlooks makes you feel so small as you take in the vastness of what you are seeing. I hope that this accessibility guide to Badlands National Park has put this amazing place on your bucket list.
For more accessible things to do in South Dakota, check out my trip report here.
