Established in 1978, Badlands National Park is home to one of the most well-preserved prairie lands in the United States. Miles of grassland carpet eroded sedimentary layers, exposing colorful striations in the hills and buttes as well as magnificent fossil records from millions of years ago. Present-day wildlife is also abundant which includes, but is not limited to, bighorn sheep, coyotes, prairie dogs, and pronghorn antelope. Only a short drive from the Black Hills of South Dakota, it’s a must-see place that’s easily accessible to other nearby natural attractions and fantastic glimpse into what our great plains used to look like.