Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
Highlights
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Self-guided audio tour
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Duration 2 to 4 hours
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Available in English audio
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Offline maps included
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Access for 1 year
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Purchase per car
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, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. This is not an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit. No expiration. The tour comes with lifetime validity! Get ready to embark on a journey through time and discover the secrets of the Badlands National Park.
At a Glance
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Free cancellation
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1 hours
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Instant Confirmation
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Available in English
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Mobile voucher
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Private Tour
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Family friendly
Featured Reviews
Explore the stunning Badlands National Park at your own pace with a self-guided driving audio tour, rich in stories and history.
Included
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Easy-to-use app: download action’s tour guide app onto your phone
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Great value: purchase per car, not per person. more affordable than bus or guided tours!
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Engaging storytelling: uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
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Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. proven with tons of rave reviews!
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Offline maps: no signal, no problem! works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
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Comprehensive route and stops: see it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
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Go at your own pace: start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
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Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. easy to use!
Excluded
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Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Meeting Point
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
1101 Glenn St, Wall, SD 57790 , United States
What to expect
Hay Butte Overlook
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: This 41+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Badlands in 2-3 hours. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Badlands Wilderness Overlook
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.
Roberts Prairie Dog Town
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.
Ancient Hunters Overlook
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.
Yellow Mounds Overlook
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.
Big Badlands Overlook
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.
Homestead Overlook
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.
Prairie Wind Overlook
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.
White River Valley Overlook
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.
Fossil Exhibit Trail
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.
Saddle Pass Trail
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.
Ben Reifel Visitor Center
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.
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
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.
Notch Trail
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.
Door Trail
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!
Castle Trail
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.
The experience can be subject to change due to bad weather or unforseen circumstances. We always endeavour to give you the best possible experience.
Additional Information
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Public transportation options are available nearby
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Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
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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.
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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.
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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
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Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
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Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
What our experts say
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Download the app before arrival.
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Visit the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.
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Bring snacks for your journey.
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Check for wildlife at Roberts Prairie Dog Town.
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Don’t miss the views from Ancient Hunters Overlook.
More About this Experience
Introduction
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.What to expect?
Embarking on the Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour promises an unforgettable experience filled with awe-inspiring natural beauty and captivating stories. As you navigate the park's winding roads, you can expect to encounter breathtaking views of the iconic Badlands Wall, a geological wonder that stretches for miles. The tour will take you to the best overlooks, allowing you to soak in the panoramic vistas and snap stunning photos. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to explore the park's various hiking trails, immersing yourself in the rugged wilderness and discovering hidden gems along the way. Delve into the park's rich history, uncovering fascinating tales of ancient fossils and the indigenous Lakota people. With this self-guided tour, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the park's geological significance and cultural heritage.Who is this for?
The Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour caters to a wide range of individuals seeking an extraordinary adventure. Nature enthusiasts will be enthralled by the unique landscape and the chance to witness the impressive rock formations up close. History buffs will appreciate the opportunity to delve into the park's rich past, immersing themselves in the stories of ancient fossils and the indigenous Lakota people. Photographers will find endless inspiration in the park's sweeping vistas and dramatic lighting. Families can enjoy a memorable day trip together, exploring the park at their own pace and creating lasting memories. Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple, or a group of friends, this self-guided tour offers an immersive and flexible experience suitable for all.Why book this?
The Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour offers a multitude of unique selling points that set it apart from other guided tours. With the convenience of the Tour Guide App by Action, your journey becomes effortless and engaging. The stories and information play automatically based on your GPS location, allowing you to focus on the stunning scenery without the hassle of reading maps or guidebooks. The tour provides a hands-free experience, ensuring your safety while driving through the park. Furthermore, the tour offers comprehensive assistance throughout the day, with the option to call, chat, or email for help whenever needed. You'll receive a full itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated stories, videos, and text, ensuring you don't miss any hidden gems along the way. The tour is designed for offline use, so you won't need a cell signal or Wi-Fi, and it includes an offline GPS map and route to guide you seamlessly. Enjoy the flexibility of a private tour in your own or rental car, allowing you to take breaks for photos, snacks, and hikes at your leisure. The Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour offers excellent value for money, as you only need to purchase one tour per car, saving you compared to a bus tour where you pay for each person.Good to know
Before embarking on the Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour, it's essential to remember that this is not an entrance ticket to the park. Make sure to check the park's opening hours before your visit to plan your day accordingly. After booking, you will receive an email with instructions to download the Tour Guide App by Action and access your unique password. These steps require a good internet or Wi-Fi connection. The tour comes with lifetime validity, allowing you the flexibility to use it on any day, at any time. Whether you choose to explore the park over multiple days or save it for your next trip, the tour will never expire. Transportation, parking fees, and food/drinks are not included in the tour price, so it's important to make the necessary arrangements. While the tour provides a comprehensive overview of the park, entry to all paid attractions within the park is not included and is optional.Reviews
Feedback from individuals who have experienced the Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour has been overwhelmingly positive. Travelers have praised the convenience and user-friendly nature of the Tour Guide App by Action, which seamlessly guides them through the park's highlights. The professionally narrated stories and the wealth of information provided have been commended for enhancing the overall experience and deepening visitors' understanding of the park's geological and cultural significance. Many have appreciated the flexibility of the tour, allowing them to explore at their own pace and take breaks for photos, snacks, and hikes. The offline use capability has also been highlighted as a standout feature, ensuring travelers can enjoy the tour even without a cell signal or Wi-Fi. Overall, individuals have expressed their satisfaction with the Badlands National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour, describing it as a captivating and enriching adventure that exceeded their expectations.This is a popular product and the date you are looking for just sold out. Next available date is