For a Badlands National Park Trip Planner, contact Badlands National Park, P.O. Box 6, Interior, SD 57750 (tel. 605/433-5245; www.nps.gov/badl).
For information about the area, contact South Dakota Tourism, 711 E. Wells Ave., Pierre, SD 57501-5070 (tel. 800/SDAKOTA or 605/773-3301; fax 605/773-3256; www.travelsd.com); or the Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Association, 1851 Discovery Circle, Rapid City, SD 57701 (tel. 605/355-3600; www.blackhillsbadlands.com).
The National Park Service makes available a wide variety of brochures on topics including geology, prairie grasses, backpacking, biking, wildlife, plants, and use of horses in the park. You can pick them up at the park visitor centers and ranger stations. In addition, The Prairie Preamble, published by the nonprofit Badlands Natural History Association, P.O. Box 47, Interior, SD 57750 (tel. 605/433-5489; www.nps.gov/badl/exp/bnha.htm), provides up-to-date information on visitor center hours, park programs, camping, and hiking trails.
Visitor centers are located at Cedar Pass and White River. The Ben Reifel Visitor Center at Cedar Pass is open year-round and features exhibits on the park's natural and cultural history. The White River Visitor Center is open June through late August only, and includes exhibits about Oglala Sioux history.
