This was one of the most beautiful spots of the country. It was like a small Grand Canyon. The clouds created the most dramatic ripples of shadows. The colors changed based on the sunlight. The formations looked fragile and otherworldly. The vistas and canyons were vast. The park itself was easy to navigate, following the rim of the canyon where there were many stop points. It can be confusing to find the entrance as GPS might take you a different route. The visitor's center has a nice display of the history and geology. The whole experience, for us, was around three hours. Of course, if we went on trails, it could be much longer. It's a must-see if you're in the area of Mount Rushmore.

Visiting the Badlands of South Dakota was a revelation that reshaped my perspective on the vast, untamed beauty of this country. Initially, I underestimated the allure of what seemed like an expansive, lonesome wasteland, but the reality was far more captivating. The landscape is a masterpiece of natural artistry, with its rugged terrain painted in striking hues—bands of red, gold, and purple layered across eroded buttes and canyons. The colors shift with the light, creating a dynamic, almost otherworldly scene that demands slow, deliberate exploration. Taking your time is key here. Driving through the Badlands, I found myself pulling over frequently to soak in the breathtaking vistas. Each lookout offers grand, panoramic views that feel both humbling and exhilarating. A word of caution, though: stay mindful of the edges—those steep drop-offs are no joke! Late August proved ideal, with warm days and clear skies enhancing the vivid scenery. The area is welcoming to all, as evidenced by the families with kids and pets joyfully exploring the trails and viewpoints. Whether you’re a solo adventurer or traveling with loved ones, the Badlands invite everyone to marvel at their raw, timeless beauty. This is a place where nature’s grandeur speaks for itself, leaving a lasting impression of awe and appreciation.

This place is AWESOME and Awe Inspiring!!! An incredible place to visit to see stunning landscape and many different types or wildlife, fauna, and flora! You really need to get off the paved main road to see all that the park has to offer! You will be happy you took the extra time to get off the beaten path! The Visitor center has amazing displays but the fossil lab is a DO NOT MISS place to see and talk to the people working there! They are happy to explain what they are doing for you!

Took the loop from Wall SD. Such a great drive along the loop. The scenary is just awesome. Weather was great and due to govt shutdown didnt have to pay entrance fee. Did not see much wildlife except prairie dogs and deer but did see a rattlesnake on the road. Very cool. A must see attraction if you are driving along i90. Dont miss it. Took us 1.5 hrs with all the driving and stopping for pics. There are many stops for picture taking.

One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been! The park is incredible, with amazing views. There’s a nice visitor center, and many spots to stop and enjoy the landscape and mountains. You’ll probably see a lot of wildlife there too. Also there is a free campground first come first serve in the Sage creek rd. We stayed there for one night and was amazing too see the sky.

This park was incredible!! Probably one of my favorite National Parks that I have been to. The scenery is amazing. We got out of our car and took some pictures at a few of the overlooks. We liked this park because we could drive through it and see all of the scenery!! There are some hikes, but we didn't get to do any of them (it was kind of cold and windy). I think this park is so worth the drive!

Badlands National Park is incredible. Its possible to see buffalo, prairie dogs, big horn sheep and a variety of other wildlife along the way there. The badlands themselves are amazing. Best if caught with a beautiful sunrise or sunset. But still a sight to see any other time. I recommend stopping at each of the overlooks as they give different perspectives. It does get extremely hot out there, so plan accordingly!

Beautiful park. This is one worth exploring. We got a sunset and a sunrise. I would highly recommend getting up early and seeing the sunrise over the hills. So many colors 😍

Surreal landscape: eroded eons of rock and clay where fossils tell of an ancient sea. Stunning formations that are a paradise for artists and photographers.

Kinda like stepping onto the moon - surreal landscapes carved over millions of miles. This was one of the better sites to see that. Far more interesting (more color) after a rain.

Amazing views, wild bison, and prairie dogs all over. Such a beautiful land we are fortunate to be visiting.

Took my breath away the second we rolled up. DON'T fall in. No matter how much it looks like you can sled down the side of the canyon YOU CAN'T. I'm not speaking from experience you are

All I kept hearing was that I needed to see the Badlands. Badlands?? Well, google maps took us to the middle of the loop and we by passed the lines into the park. It was breathtaking to see.

The first stop you come to after entering the park. Highly recommend you stop. Great intro to the wonders that lay beyond.

Lots of information about the formation of the Badlands and the current and past animals and plants that live in this region. Book store has a wide range of book s and literature of the native people and the tribes from this region. Fossil labe is open to 4. The Badlands are surrounded by the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. Learn about the importance of conservation of our public lands. Bison, prairie dogs and big horn sheep was seen throughout the park.

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is an almost required stop while driving through the Badlands. It is located on the southern part of the scenic loop. This is one of the only locations where there is water, flush toilets, and air conditioning! The visitor center was very busy the entire time we were there. The Rangers at the information desk seemed to be doing a great job answering questions and providing driving info. Thete is a good introductory film, a small exhibit area, and a gift shop. There were also a number of partially shaded picnic tables outside for those looking for somewhere to eat lunch. I downgraded the visitor center slightly to a 4-star as there was a surprisingly lack of safety information for visitors regarding the desert like environment, lack of shade, and heat warnings. We saw a number of people on trails without hats or water. The air temperature while we were at the Badlands was in the low 80s, but with the absence of shade on the trails, there was a real susceptibility to heat stroke.

Solid visitor center and if you can make the ranger talk 10/10, complete with telescopes on the moon and informational slide show. Always a must while traveling our nations parks. Camping was fun in the sever storm, not for everyone so be safe if spending the night and keep an eye on the radar. Have fun!

This visitor center had some well done exhibits and good information. I wished they had a park video, but we didn't see one. The shop was very overcrowded, but did have some nice merch. We loved the Badlands!

Great visitor center with a bunch of interactive exhibits that help teach everyone about the park for background information as you drive around. Small gifts store, but a great selection and really nice and helpful staff that answered all our questions and provided maps of the park.

Visitor center with exhibits, paleontologist working on fossils but it’s 5 miles into the park I wish it were closer to the entrance since you’ll miss out on notch, door, and window trails if you go straight to the visitor center from the east entrance. They were also out of maps (albeit it was a Sunday weekend).

Among the usual excellent Badlands visitor center features, this one also has an active working fossil lab. Part time fossil researchers work here seasonally here to sift through thousands growing specimens as visitors often turn into fossil hunters (we found one of my sons elementary school teachers picture on the amateur fossil hunter honor roll!!!!) It is a shame these researchers can't work here full time as funding is lacking and even more so this year (2025) as the executive branch is DOGEing left and right. We bought a ton of souvenirs to support NPS and hoping more awareness will allow higher visibility for some very interesting study.

You’ll probably see more Prairie Dogs coming in the nearby park entrance than here but it was still neat nonetheless! Tons of buffalo near/on the road coming in. Be careful coming around the bends and over the hills. We had one chasing after our car for a sec that we didn’t see around a bend! Drive carefully.

This is a must-see here. Tons and tons of prairie dogs, and there were a few bison and a pack of pronghorn nearby. Unfortunately there's some kind of disease being spread by bugs, so avoid the prairie dogs even more than you would normally.

Might have been the highlight of our trip. My son has always been obsessed with meerkats and prairie dogs so being able to get upclose was spectacular. You can buy unsalted peanuts from the shop for just $1 a bag.

It is a beautiful drive and so peaceful! Totally worth a visit. Saw Prairie dogs, burrowing owls, bison and antelope!

Drove the 5 miles out to Roberts Prairie Dog Town from Highway 240. It is a beautiful drive along a somewhat wahboarded road. This was our third trip out here in as many days. Didn't see a lot of prairie dog activity here, but got to see a herd of antelope and a few bison on the trip. Pinnacle gate area had more prairie dog activity than anywhere else in the park.

Had a fun time here and enjoyed being able to feed the prairie dogs it’s been on my bucket list forever

100 perfect worth the to this location. Prairie Dogs literally everywhere with a splash of bison. Views are wonderful as well. If you have kids it's a must, but adults will enjoy it the same! Drove to this location in Thursday around 6 and there were very few other drivers around.

Great little hike, not too far, not too short - just right

Absolutely our most favorite trail. Don’t let the distance influence you one way or another. This trail is all about the journey and you’re rewarded at the end with an incredible view. This hike will be what I compare all future hikes in my life to.

Amazing trail. Went with teenagers who aren’t into outdoors and an environmentalist and a hiker and we all LOVED it. We did the Badlands, Custer State Park, and a few other places in South Dakota and this was the BEST. The ladder is a bit steep and you’re gonna need both hands, so if you have a water bottle find a way to strap it somewhere. Hike was pretty easy other than that. Some parts were easy stepping but we saw a lot of kids and people doing it. Views were so amazing and plenty of places to sit and rest if needed,truly so amazing. It’s a MUST. Enjoy!

We did this trail in the late morning. Took about an hr round trip. The ladder portion and the upper trail were not easy but were doable if you take your time. Navigating the ladder is the hardest part of the trail. The alternate route that people suggest on the internet did not go all the way to meet up with the NP trail. It dead ends. There is a nice rock area for sitting by the ladder if you want to wait for others and not do the ladder / upper trail portio. Def would do this trail in the cooler portion of the day.

If you want to do some hiking in Badlands but don't want to commit to anything crazy then I'd do this. Wear good shoes because some of the portions are tricky to move through. The ladder is the worst part. A very humbling experience. We did this later in the evening so it wasn't too hot. There's obviously no real shade. We saw some mountain goats. The views up at the top are really nice. Probably took us one hour. You have to go back down the terrible ladder on the way out though lol.

Beautiful park. This is one worth exploring. We got a sunset and a sunrise. I would highly recommend getting up early and seeing the sunrise over the hills. So many colors 😍

Surreal landscape: eroded eons of rock and clay where fossils tell of an ancient sea. Stunning formations that are a paradise for artists and photographers.

Kinda like stepping onto the moon - surreal landscapes carved over millions of miles. This was one of the better sites to see that. Far more interesting (more color) after a rain.

Amazing views, wild bison, and prairie dogs all over. Such a beautiful land we are fortunate to be visiting.

Took my breath away the second we rolled up. DON'T fall in. No matter how much it looks like you can sled down the side of the canyon YOU CAN'T. I'm not speaking from experience you are

All I kept hearing was that I needed to see the Badlands. Badlands?? Well, google maps took us to the middle of the loop and we by passed the lines into the park. It was breathtaking to see.

The first stop you come to after entering the park. Highly recommend you stop. Great intro to the wonders that lay beyond.

A short trail, but quite steep, with rocky climbs and some inclines very slippery with scree or loose gravel. Proper footwear highly recommended, and trekking poles or a walking stick probably a good idea too. This senior citizen made the climb up well enough, and I thought the descent was more treacherous than the ascent, but it was very gratifying for the views, and especially upon reaching the summit.

Reward on the Ancient River Ridge, Badlands, SD You don’t have to be a geologist to feel the energy of this place just as deeply—maybe not with scientific knowledge, but with the same awe and connection to deep time. I made it to the top—what used to be an ancient river—perched right on a narrow, eroded ridge, a couple hundred feet above the parking lot and surrounding ground. You can still see the platforms up there, almost like coarse stone steps, made of pebbles and sandstone laid down by ancient rivers or floodplains. They’re still resting in their original position after all these millions of years. Looking west toward the Black Hills, you can trace the ghost of the old river as it winds through the land, like the trail of a dead snake—faint, but still present. Fragments of the ancient riverbed are scattered everywhere on both sides of the ridge. Some are just now starting to break free from where they've quietly rested for eons, while others—massive ones—have already eroded and tumbled down to the lower levels of the Badlands. It’s wild to stand in a place that tells such a powerful geological story. How You Get Here Reaching the top of the Saddle Trail might be easy for most. But section by section, it can get a little tricky—especially where the hard ground is layered with loose, sandy gravel, like a fine dusting of marbles underfoot. Once you’re at the top, though, the terrain levels out. The landscape opens wide in every direction, and suddenly it feels like you’re just wandering through a peaceful city park. Off to the right, a narrow unofficial trail loops around an eroding hill, maybe 100 feet high. That’s where the real adventure begins. The world quiets down, and you step into something ancient—remote and untouched, with no one else in sight. On the far side of that hill, the incline kicks in. The trail steepens with every step, and the climb becomes a scramble over massive, coarse, sandy boulders—some the size of cars. It’s a tough climb, but the payoff is unforgettable: you’re standing right in the middle of an ancient riverbed, just as it was millions of years ago.

Saddle Pass Trail is short but intense! It’s only about 0.25 miles, but don’t let the distance fool you—it’s steep and climbs quickly up the rock formations. We hiked it when the trail was wet and slippery, which made it tricky but also added to the fun. The views from the top are absolutely worth the effort—expansive Badlands scenery all around. Wear good shoes and take your time. It’s a quick adventure with a big reward!

This is a short and steep trail that leads to great viewpoints. However, it also gives access to the Castle Trail and the Medicine Root Trails. Both are flat and easy and can be combined into a four mile loop start at the top end of the Saddle Pass Trail.

One of the best places I've ever seen. It was incredible to visit. I imagine that because it was off-season, the place was almost empty, which made it a great adventure.

My favorite trail in the park. Can be a little tricky coming down. But if you have proper footwear (actual hiking shoes) shouldn’t be a problem. Views were incredible. My boys loved climbing on the rocks. A must stop for sure.

Best hike I found in the park! The first third is quite slippery but then you'll find your footing. Multiple lookout spots from the top make this a Must-Do!

Beautiful place to backpack in. Saw tons of bison and prairie dogs on a tough yet rewarding hike through the sage creek backcountry.

Amazing primitive campground that will immerse you into the heart of the Badlands, pit toilet only, no water. Can fill quickly at times as it is a free campground, several trails lead into the surrounding creek basin and hills.

Beautiful region- we lucked out and saw many friends near sunset, including part of the herd on Sage Creek Road when we were heading back to primitive camping.

Best place to see Bisons and Prairie dogs, must visit to explore wildlife of Badlands.

Best viewing for Bison and prairie dogs

S little disappointing

Loads of wildlife

The Badlands is like another planet. We thought Death Valley was, too, but this was just amazing around every turn. The drive wasn't bad even on the outside of some high up places since you're driving across the top of the hills, and I don't like driving up high but I was okay. There were a lot of turn offs and several places to get out and just walk. It was about 22 miles for the scenic loop part and it took us about 4 hours with stopping and walking about 7 or 8 times....just drive slow and enjoy it. We were there on a Monday at 10am in July and we had the road to ourselves a lot of the time because we started in Wall and not the other entrance by the visitor center off the interstate. By the time we got to the end, there were a ton of cars coming towards us so it seems that's the busiest entrance where you'll have a lot of people following you. I'd recommend stopping at the. Visitors center at the end. I would go back anytime I'm out there.

Hard to rate any overlook in Badlands less than 5 stars. This overlook is very big with plenty of parking. It boasts 2.5 levels of viewing vistas with decent stretch of official and unofficial walking paths (to cliff edges and hilltops including across the road). It is located almost immediately to the east of the north entrance (big foot road). Many visitors who are short on time may have chosen to west on Sage creek road and ended up missing a grand full 360 vista view.

Amazing & other-worldly experience. The Bandlands Loop drive is 100% worth the time! We were there at sunset for gorgeous views & completed the majority of the drive after dark. We plan to drive through again on our way back east to see it during the day.

Beautiful national Park, definitely worth the 50min plus drive from Rapid City. I think sunset or sunrise this place would be beautiful was lucky enough to catch the sunset this time around.

$30 park entry fee per vehicle. Worth every penny. Around every corner is a completely different view.

An absolutely killer viewpoint and great spot to start driving the Badlands Loop! Even though I got there when it was starting to get dark, still by far one of the coolest landscapes I’ve seen.

Beautiful 18 mile drive thru badlands. Prairie dog town at either end. Start at Ben Reifel center and go west ending in Wall SD. Shopping and lunch at Wall drug a great way to unwind after the drive.

Very cool hike with very scenic views. Make sure to follow the red markers or you could get lost. Saw a mule deer and lots of birds. Lots of sunflowers. MAKE sure you wear sunscreen and bring extra. Make sure you have more water than what you think you need. Definitely recommend!

This trail is the only longer option fir hiking in the Badlands National Park, it’s 11 miles as an in and out; it’s probably a better plan to hike the most interesting part as a loop of Medicine Root Trail and Castle Trail (which makes 4 miles), and add Castle Trail sections as in/outs or not, according to taste. There are four entries to Castle Trail, one in the west, which adds 4 miles; in the east, which adds 3 miles; and without add-on in the ‘center’ from Saddle Trail or from Old NE Road

This was the highlight of Badlands for me. If you only have half a day (or you move slowly), by all means, you should see the overlooks along the scenic drive (especially White River, Burns Basin, Pinnacles, and Hay Butte). But if you have enough time to see the heavy hitter overlooks and have 4-6 hours to spare, do yourself a favor and hike the Medicine Root / Castle Trail Loop (in that order). The terrain is mostly flat, and on the Medicine Root Trail you will see beautiful rolling prairies with imposing rock formations off in the distance before reaching the Castle Trail, where you will walk through stunning valleys surrounded by incredible rock formations above you and deep, imposing canyons beneath you. This is a wonderfully enjoyable hike that won't leave you feeling exhausted by the time it is over, and it is one of the best places to experience the beauty of Badlands National Park

The most freaking place you can go! Beautiful scenery plenty of parking. Moderate to easy trails

This was a really great hike. We did the Castle trail from the trailhead to Fossil trail and on the way back we split off onto the Medicine root trail until it joined back up with the Castle trail. It was a little over 11 miles, and while it was pretty flat, it was moderately challenging due to the length. The views were breathtaking. We also were able to find several toads (it had rained the night before) and saw deer and several big horn sheep!

Honestly not my favorite trail. There is very little shade and you aren’t as close to the cool formations as the nearby notch, door, and window trails. However, there are much less crowds here, and you will find places to climb around

I did this trail 👣 recently. I went backpacking 🎒. I first packed a gallon of water 💧 into my pack and then added the essentials of backpacking. My pack was pretty heavy. I also had my Camelback filled with water. I did a one night 🌙 adventure. It was so rewarding, but it was hot. I saw a rattlesnake! Bring the kids...

A spectacular trail offering breathtaking views of the Badlands over a vast horizon from the comfort of wide white gravel paths and a beautiful boardwalk. Careful on the boardwalk though, the wood is very smooth and sometimes coated in a thin layer of silt that can be slippery. Several benches along the trail at wonderful viewpoints for a delightful sit! Partly accessible, but the full trail requires ascending stairs. Highly recommend if you're passing through!

This trail was decent. It was easy to hike and had a path and stairs in many spots. I found it less exciting than other trails (notch, door, saddle pass) and that is why I gave it 4 stars. It is well maintained but the views aren't as grand as the other hikes

It’s a fairly short walk. Easy for a hiker and fine for others if you don’t mind some stairs. This is a loop. It does have about 75 steps on the right hand side of the loop and about 25 on the left path. The other portions are dirt or boardwalk. It definitely didn’t take 30 mins but maybe we miss some part of it. It took us no more than 15. I show views of this trail from The Notch Trail so you can see it looking down on it.

Lovely trail with some breathtaking views as you climb the stairs. it’s a very small loop, about .6 miles. pretty easy and can be done by almost everyone.

An excellent walk to spot birds and some other wildlife with reaaly great views! a must do walk

The Cliff Shelf Trail is a short trail that can be done as an out and back on the 7 as a loop trail that returns via a dirt path through some shade trees. There is a pretty steep climb up a section of stairs to the top observation point.

Easy loop trail that offers great views over the wide landscape. Try sunrise for a great experience. The southern part of the loop is mostly flat and easy, but if you want to complete the loop, there are over a hundred steps to be conquered.

Amazing views!! So beautiful 😍

I've been noticing many improvements throughout Bedlands Park. Visiting places like this has been one of the best decisions of my life. This particular overlook is a gem — it has restrooms, a few longer parking spots suitable for RVs, and two boardwalks on opposite sides of the overlook. There are also picnic tables with roofs for shade. It’s a great spot to take a break during your travels.

Beautiful view, absolutely recommend if you are interested in seeing the badlands. Watch out for rattlesnakes!

The first view of the Badlands is shocking, like an alien landscape. This overlook is fantastic to provide that view.

We talked to a paleontologist who works here, and she encouraged us to go off the path to help the park find fossils. Going off the path led to some great views. Try not to wander too far though and be mindful of wildlife!

Like most overlooks, it's really nice. It has two boardwalks out for a better view. The is also a single cassette toilet at this. overlook.

How awesome is a place like this.

What an awesome place to stand & walk out in the prairie amongst the Badlands of South Dakota. Once you see it, you will understand why the natives named it Badlands.

A scenic overlook in its own right. Endless sight of beautiful grasslands provides a peaceful environment. Not many stop by this overlook. If you want solitude of its kind, this is the place. When we thought the view could not get any better, a rainbow appeared. It was a fascinating experience to have picnic with a rainbow decorating the gloomy sky.

We didn't see any flowers on our trip, only the boys walked with me while three other adults stayed back with the car (it was a bit hot that day). It wasn't terrible but there really wasn't much to see.

A wonderful place to sit in silence and listen to the wind. If you and the other humans are quiet, you can listen to the planet and feel your stress disappear. It's possible to sit here and see nothing man-made in your field of vision.

An EXCELLENT overlook if you are interested in learning more about the prairie and the grasses. There are signs that explain what is going on and a short walk of about a block each direction. It is a nice change from all of the overlooks of the Badlands, not that they are bad, but it was nice to understand the grasslands better.

Beautiful and quiet handicap accessible ramp. All you can hear is the sound of the birds. Pure serenity.

There was prairie and there was wind!

Would be nice if it was shown to be under construction. Completely closed and a carload of hungry children. There are not many spots to picnic. First time we were there we did have buffalo right around the corner.

I didn't spend much time at the picnic area other than to park. The benches and what not looked nice though. The real value of this place is it is a good starting point for a hike up to deer haven. About a 3 mile hike, just make sure to do it in good weather. 90 percent of it is on flat ground, but the last bit is definitely a scramble up some rocks.

The road at the picnic area was closed, but there was a bison in the lot. Close to the famed Pig Dig site.

Trail head for deer haven. About a 4 mile hike gets you to the entrance the maze through is half the fun

It’s a nice little picnic spot the only complaint that I have is the mud. It was very muddy at that time but it probably won’t be like that year around. It had a nice little deck on top of it so you wouldn’t get sunburned or get sun in your eyes. I think it’s very unique that it has that deck on top of it. If I were trying to find somethjng to eat then I would probably choose here. Besides the mud ofc

Gorgeous and easy back country camping (weather dependent)!

A nice spot to get out of the car and take a walk

Lots of information about the formation of the Badlands and the current and past animals and plants that live in this region. Book store has a wide range of book s and literature of the native people and the tribes from this region. Fossil labe is open to 4. The Badlands are surrounded by the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. Learn about the importance of conservation of our public lands. Bison, prairie dogs and big horn sheep was seen throughout the park.

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is an almost required stop while driving through the Badlands. It is located on the southern part of the scenic loop. This is one of the only locations where there is water, flush toilets, and air conditioning! The visitor center was very busy the entire time we were there. The Rangers at the information desk seemed to be doing a great job answering questions and providing driving info. Thete is a good introductory film, a small exhibit area, and a gift shop. There were also a number of partially shaded picnic tables outside for those looking for somewhere to eat lunch. I downgraded the visitor center slightly to a 4-star as there was a surprisingly lack of safety information for visitors regarding the desert like environment, lack of shade, and heat warnings. We saw a number of people on trails without hats or water. The air temperature while we were at the Badlands was in the low 80s, but with the absence of shade on the trails, there was a real susceptibility to heat stroke.

Solid visitor center and if you can make the ranger talk 10/10, complete with telescopes on the moon and informational slide show. Always a must while traveling our nations parks. Camping was fun in the sever storm, not for everyone so be safe if spending the night and keep an eye on the radar. Have fun!

This visitor center had some well done exhibits and good information. I wished they had a park video, but we didn't see one. The shop was very overcrowded, but did have some nice merch. We loved the Badlands!

Great visitor center with a bunch of interactive exhibits that help teach everyone about the park for background information as you drive around. Small gifts store, but a great selection and really nice and helpful staff that answered all our questions and provided maps of the park.

Visitor center with exhibits, paleontologist working on fossils but it’s 5 miles into the park I wish it were closer to the entrance since you’ll miss out on notch, door, and window trails if you go straight to the visitor center from the east entrance. They were also out of maps (albeit it was a Sunday weekend).

Among the usual excellent Badlands visitor center features, this one also has an active working fossil lab. Part time fossil researchers work here seasonally here to sift through thousands growing specimens as visitors often turn into fossil hunters (we found one of my sons elementary school teachers picture on the amateur fossil hunter honor roll!!!!) It is a shame these researchers can't work here full time as funding is lacking and even more so this year (2025) as the executive branch is DOGEing left and right. We bought a ton of souvenirs to support NPS and hoping more awareness will allow higher visibility for some very interesting study.