*How big is the park?

Badlands National Park is 381 square miles or 244,000 acres.

What is the highest point in the park?

The highest point in the park is 3,247 feet or 1,009 meters, located at the Pinnacles Entrance Station.

How much precipitation does the park receive every year?

The average annual precipitation is 16 inches.

Are dinosaur fossils found in the Badlands?

The spectacular formations found in Badlands National Park date from the late Cretaceous, Eocene, and Oligocene epochs. Although the park does not contain any dinosaur fossils, the rapidly eroding layers contain marine fossils and an incredibly rich diversity of extinct mammals from the Age of Mammals. Ancestors of the modern day rhinoceros, horse, pig, and cat are eroding out of various layers throughout the park. Fossils from early birds, reptiles, and invertebrates can also be found.

How did the park get its name?

Badlands National Park is located in the White River Badlands and was called mako sica (mako, land and sica, bad) by the Sioux Indians. The term badlands generally refers to an area that is difficult to travel through primarily because of the rugged terrain and lack of water. The fascinating landscape within the park erodes at a rate of about 1 inch per year, providing an ever-changing landscape.

Can I collect things in Badlands National Park?

All collecting of rocks, minerals, plants, fossils or cultural objects (i.e. arrowheads) is illegal and punishable by a fine.

Are there any paleontology excavations in the park?

During the summer months, Badlands National Park has an ongoing fossil excavation site known as "The Pig Dig" where visitors are invited to watch paleontologists at work. To date, over 14,000 bone specimens have been excavated from a location believed to have been a water hole 33 million years ago. The fossilized remains of 18 species of animals and one plant have been recovered through careful excavation of the site. During the summer season, the site is a popular destination for park visitors.

How many fossils have been discovered in the park to date?

It is hard to know how many fossils have been discovered to date. There is no way to get an estimate; however, an incredible amount of fossils have been found. For over 150 years, fossils have been excavated from the area in and around the park. Long before the Badlands became a protected National Park site, anyone with a shovel could conduct research in the park and remove its fossil resources.