Ranger Programs

A limited schedule of naturalist-led walks and programs generally begins in mid-June, and offerings become more frequent as visitation increases. Check the activities board at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center or campground bulletin boards for times, locations, and other details. Activities vary each year but often include the following:

• Evolving Prairie Walk. Generally conducted in the early evening, this 60-minute, 1-mile stroll introduces visitors to the paleontology, prairie, and people of the Badlands. Participants meet at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.
• Fossil Talk. Generally slated for midmorning and late afternoon, this program allows participants to join a naturalist for a 20-minute discussion of the geological history and fossil resources of the White River Badlands. It's wheelchair accessible and meets at the Fossil Exhibit Trail.
• Night Sky Program, or Evening Program. Beginning at 9pm, these 45-minute amphitheater programs cover topics such as the night sky, paleontology, geology, the prairie, and the area's human history. The program is wheelchair accessible and meets at the Cedar Pass Campground amphitheater. The program begins when the sky is dark.