The Wall & the Badlands
Taking in the view, we agreed that we’d be adding South Dakota to our list of places to spend a season.
In late June 2025, Sean, Riv, and I took a roadtrip up to South Dakota to visit a friend who works seasonally at Custer State Park. Our first stop once we arrived in what's been called “the most boring state” was Badlands National Park.
We found dispersed camping at “The Wall” and as usual, arrived in the dark. The road was muddy and along the edge of the cliff, so I was getting anxious, but Sean assured me the road was slanted away from the edge and into the prairie, so even if we did slide we’d be sliding into safety.
Typically we like a spot more to ourselves when dispersed camping, but this is a popular place. We parked with others on each side of us, popped the top, set up bed, and peacefully fell into slumber.
Around 7am I was woken by the sound of base. “Are you kidding me? Who’s playing music this early? It literally only sounds like base too.” I asked Sean, still tucked into my sleeping bag. “I don’t know; that’s annoying.” I sat up to see a guy standing close to the edge plucking at stand up base. My mood instantly changed. “Sean, it’s literally a dude with a base!” I said half laughing.
Follow Smokey the Girl on Social Media to see the video of them playing! Click the icons below
We watched as two others joined him, one with a guitar and the other a banjo. We listened to them play some of the best live folk music we’ve heard. Maybe they were really that good, or maybe it was the feeling of the moment, but I wish every morning of camping started this way. As we pulled out of camp and past them, we wished we could stay all morning and listen. But we had a full day packed with fun, so off we were.
Sean always loves looking at the camping set up of others, and we saw a wide variety of campers from folks in SUVs to others pulling large 5th wheels. If you’re planning to visit the Badlands, we definitely recommend camping at The Wall. You must be self-sufficient and self-contained, meaning you have everything you need, including bathroom facilities and pack everything out with you. Keep our public lands beautiful!
Exploring at camp, about a 2 min walk from the truck
Before officially entering the park, we had to stop at Wall Drug. A place that is heavily advertised through billboards from many miles away. It was a whole downtown tourist trap, but sometimes you gotta stop and poke around at all the little trinkets. We had fun walking around, Sean got a famous maple donut, and we took Riv to see the “World’s Largest Jackalope.” It’s not a place we would go out of our way to visit again, but if you’re traveling to the Badlands, it's worth a quick visit to Wall Drug.
The World’s Largest Jackalope
Entering the park from Sage Creek Rim Rd, we were greeted with beautiful prairies of grass and wildflowers. To our pleasure, we saw so much wildlife frolicking about: prairie dogs, bison, burrowing owls, pronghorn, black-footed ferrets, and big horn sheep.
As we continued driving, we enjoyed the juxtaposition of the grasslands to our left and the badlands to our right. This landscape was so cool; we’d never seen anything like it! Whoever called South Dakota “the most boring state” clearly doesn't know how to feel awe taking in the beauty of our diverse earth.
Check out the Black Hills film album I captured along the way! Click here!
We drove the Rim Road, occasionally pulling over to watch wildlife and take photos. It was a perfect June day with blue skies, sunshine, and comfortable temperatures. Stopping at the Fossil Exhibit National Recreation Trail, we put up the windshield blind, turned the AC up, and told Riv we would be back soon. The truck will idle for an hour and a half before turning off. Noting the time, we started on the trail, but quickly stepped off the boardwalk, as Badlands is a “right-of-way” park.
Sean and I spent about 45 minutes making our own adventure, carefully climbing up and over the rock. As we were exploring we discussed how easy it would have been to hide away here. There are so many side canyons and you realize it’s much larger once you’re in it than just viewing it from the rim.
Not a bad view, if you ask me!
After checking on Riv, we set out for another short hike, this time in the opposite direction where there were much fewer visitors. We climbed up a side canyon as far as we safely could. The rock is hard yet brittle. You have to watch your step and really test your hand holds. It was a fun challenge and a cool experience, much different from your traditional designated trail in a park. Taking in the view, we agreed that we’d be adding South Dakota to our list of places to spend a season.
To leave the park, we backtracked west along the Rim Rd, stopping at the park sign by Pinnacles Entrance Station to take a video. I can't wait to one day look back at all the places we’ve been and will be grateful to current me for taking all the pictures and videos I do. I like to think of it as making a beautiful movie of love and adventure for my 80 year old self.
You should visit!