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South Dakota, USA
Get your discount tickets for the Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour, save up to 9% !
Overview
Unearth the long-buried past in Badlands National Park, a place like no other! This strange, alien landscape of rocky peaks hides tens of millions of years of history. Learn all about it as you explore with this self-guided driving tour, which takes you along the Badlands Wall and shows you the best overlooks, hiking trails, and more. Along the way, your virtual narrator will share fascinating stories about everything from fossils to Lakota history and beyond. After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Meeting and Pickup
You can also begin the tour from 21290 SD-240, Philip, SD 57567, USA. The tour works in both directions, so you can begin in Wall and end in Philip, or vice versa.
Redemption Instructions
1. Find The Setup Instructions NOW: • Download the App: actiontourguide.com/app • Find Your Password: Search your email or text messages for "Action Tour Guide" • Enter Password: Open the app and enter your 8-digit password • Download the Tour NOW while you have WiFi or cell service • Offline Ready: Once downloaded, the tour works without internet • Need Help? Visit: actiontourguide.com/redeem 2. Download The Tour NOW: • Download NOW over WiFi or cellular data ahead of your trip. • Don't wait until travel day - your tour is VALID FOREVER from purchase. • Your password redemption is limited to the number of travelers booked. Please enter the same password on each device. 3. Audio Tour Tips: • This is a self-guided audio tour - no one will meet you at the starting point. • Entrance and attraction tickets are not included. Please book those separately. • Curious how it works? Watch a quick video here: actiontourguide.com/tutorial • For the best audio experience, connect to the car stereo via Bluetooth, USB, or AUX, or listen through your phone's speaker. • CarPlay and Android Auto aren't supported yet. • New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. 4. Help & Support: • Visit our FAQs: actiontourguide.com/faq • Chat online: actiontourguide.com • Call: 1-435-288-0560 • Email: support@actiontourguide.com ❄️ Winter Closure 2025: The park is open, but some facilities might have reduced hours. Please note that a standard entrance pass is required for Badlands National Park. It’s valid for 7 consecutive days per vehicle and is not included in the tour price.
Language Offered
English-AUDIO
Itinerary
1. The overlook faces the Badlands and prairie meadows. It's a wonderful place to see bison, pronghorn, and the park's diverse scenery. From the Badlands Loop Road, a popular park route, the overlook is a short hike. Note: The tour is over 34 miles long, with more than 32+ audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
2. It is known for its unique landscapes, including rugged rock formations and deep canyons. The wilderness area is home to a variety of plant and animal life, including bison, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn. It is a popular destination for hiking and backpacking, as well as wildlife viewing and photography.
3. It houses many black-tailed prairie dogs. Prairie dogs, burrowing rodents from the Great Plains of North America, are known for their "bark" and behaviour. Visitors to the park enjoy seeing these fascinating animals in their natural habitat at Roberts Prairie Dog Town.
4. This site is named after the ancient tribes that hunted in the Badlands. This site yielded bison bones and arrowheads. It was likely a butchering field where hunters cleaned and prepared bison corpses.
5. It has unique layered rock formations. Iron oxide in the rock layers makes the Yellow Mounds yellow. The formations offer a unique picture of Badlands landscapes after millions of years of erosion and weathering.
6. Here, you can take in another great view of the park’s yellow paleosols. These offer a window into the land’s distant past. Remember, this was once the bed of a warm, shallow sea. The paleosols you can see from here are part of the bottommost formation in the Badlands: the Pierre Shale.
7. Lincoln believed the American west had the resources his country needed. Few Americans wanted to live there. West Coast Natives were wary of settlers in the unexplored region. So Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. All they needed to do was live on the land and work to improve it.
8. This spot is quite different from previous overlooks, as the main attraction here isn’t badlands at all, but gentle, pleasant prairie. It’s a great example of the surprisingly diverse ecosystems of the park.
9. From here, you may see The Castle, a magnificent formation. It will be the largest formations seen from the overlook. Beyond the castle, the White River Valley extends forever. The White River created this valley long ago, as you would have surmised from the name.
10. The trail includes interactive exhibits showcasing the park's fossil heritage, including ancient animal fossils. The wheelchair-accessible trail welcomes all ages and fitness levels. Visitors can learn about extinct animals like the rhinoceros and three-toed horse and their environment along the trail.
11. This 0.7-mile trail takes under half an hour to hike and features some great opportunities for bird watching and sightseeing along the way. Despite its short length, this is one of the steepest in the park, with over 200 feet of elevation gain. If it has rained recently, you should steer clear of this one.
12. If you’re looking to take a quick break from your expedition through the Badlands, this is a great place for it. In addition to a picnic area and the usual amenities, you’ll also find things like the Fossil Preparation Lab here, which shows what paleontologists do with fossils once they’ve discovered them.
13. This half-mile loop offers one of the best views in the park. In addition to the stellar vista from the top of the loop, you’ll also get to explore one of the Badlands’ lesser-known biomes as you walk through a lush juniper forest.
14. The Notch Trail features 1.5 miles of rough terrain for the intermediate hiker, including a rope ladder that takes you up to a tremendous vista of the White River Valley. Hikers looking for tricky terrain and great views will love this trail.
15. This quarter-mile, fully accessible boardwalk is more of a stroll than a hike. It leads to a break in the Badlands Wall. This gap, known as The Door, features unbeatable views of the landscape beyond. Be sure to bring your camera for this one!
16. Finally, there’s The Castle. At 5.4 miles, it’s the longest-maintained trail in the park. It weaves through prairie, Badlands peaks, and all kinds of unique formations along the way. If you want to get a good look at all the different features of the Badlands, this trail is a great choice.
Inclusion
Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
Great value: Purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
Exclusion
Park Passes
Cancellation Policy
Refundable tickets
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Please note that a standard entrance pass is required for Badlands National Park. It’s valid for 7 consecutive days per vehicle and is not included with the tour.
Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
Reviews
4.6
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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