The view from a Badlands bench in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Why are they called the Badlands? The Lakota name for this place is mako sica, which translates to “bad lands.” Later, when early French fur trappers moved through this land, they called it les mauvaises terres a traveser, which means “bad lands to travel across.”
Hot, dry summers and cold, windy winters, combined with few sources of water, make this an inhospitable environment. During times of heavy rainfall, the soil becomes slick and sticky. The jagged mountains and canyons are hard to navigate through. Though evidence of Indigenous people hunting in this area has been found, it was used seasonally, not year-round.
We were at this Badlands bench scenic viewpoint in the beginning of June, early in the morning. Temperatures were already in the low 90s. It must get really hot in the middle of summer. The layered mountains are photogenic, probably even more so after a good rain.
Stark landscape.
Yes, it was!
The Badlands National Park is on my (long!) wishlist. Such a great place to put a bench 🙂
Yes, it was a great view from there, Sarah!
I love this setting!! Great perspective!
Thanks! It was stark but beautiful.
Fascinating stark and extreme expanses. Reminds me slightly of Damaraland, or the Fish River Canyon area in Namibia.
Yes, it is a stark, well-named landscape. I looked up pictures of the places you mentioned and it does look very similar.
We are heading this direction at the end of June and wondered if we should stop at the badlands! I’m sure we will!
It’s a nice park. The layered hills probably look better after a rainfall to bring out the contrasts. If you visit, go early in the day to avoid the heat.