Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park is famous for its striking scenery, but the steep-sided rock formations are more than just a source of beauty: they harbor one of the world's richest mammal fossil beds from around 30 million years ago and 69 million year old sea life fossils. Badlands also preserves the largest expanse of mixed-grass prairie in the national park system. The park is home to diverse plants and animals, including prairie denizens like the American bison and pronghorn. Prairie dog colonies provide food and habitat for the endangered black-footed ferret, as well as other predators ranging from bobcats to golden eagles.