Badlands National Park has always been one of those places that stays with us. Our first visit was back in 2018, when we celebrated Eli’s tenth birthday there with a very memorable birthday treat: a chicken patty with a candle stuck in it. It wasn’t fancy, but it was exactly the kind of simple, funny moment that has become part of our family’s story.
This time, our return to the Badlands looked a little different. It was just Matt and me. We had originally planned to stay at Sage Creek Campground since we hadn’t camped there before and wanted to experience a new part of the park. But since it was so hot, we quickly changed plans and grabbed a cancellation at Cedar Pass Campground. After arriving, we settled in, ate a quick dinner, and headed out on the Badlands Loop Road for what we like to call “animal hour,” that magical time in the evening when the wildlife becomes more active.
As we drove through the park, we spotted bison wandering across the landscape, a rattlesnake making its way across the grass, pronghorn antelope moving across the prairie, and golden eagles soaring overhead. The Badlands have a way of making you feel like you’ve stepped into another world, and watching the animals move through that rugged landscape.
As the sun began to set, the sky changed colors and a storm started rolling in. We sat and watched the bison roam while dark clouds gathered over the dramatic formations. We made our way back to the trailer and watched the lightning light up the sky.
Eight years after our first visit, we were so glad to find our way back to Badlands National Park. While this trip was different from the last one, the park still gave us incredible scenery and great wildlife encounters.
