Badlands National Park guide · 1 min read
Driving the Badlands Loop Road Overlooks
Badlands Loop Road, also known as Highway 240, is the route most visitors take through the North Unit of Badlands National Park.
The road is two lanes and paved, and it suits all kinds of motor vehicles. It includes several steep passes and stretches with reduced speed limits, so take them slowly. Wildlife is common along the road, so watch for animals and drive with care.
The road follows what is called the Wall, a line of eroded, jagged rock that separates the upper and lower prairies. Overlooks and pull-offs are placed along the way so you can stop safely and step out to enjoy the view. Most of the overlooks in the park are wheelchair accessible, so visitors with mobility needs can take in the scenery too.
Big Badlands Overlook sits at the edge of a steep drop into the formations and looks out over the eastern portion of the Wall. Panorama Point offers a wide view down toward the White River Valley, with the badlands stretching for miles toward the horizon. Bigfoot Pass Overlook includes a picnic area, so it is a good place to stop for a meal.
Yellow Mounds Overlook looks out over hills of yellow and is among the most colorful views on the loop. The color comes from ancient soils called paleosols, which weathered and changed color after being exposed to the sun.
Pinnacles Overlook sits near the western end of the loop, close to where Sage Creek Rim Road begins. Heading west from here, the pinnacles and spires gradually fade and give way to rounded hills and small stands of pine trees.
