Badlands Wilderness
About 38 million years ago this region was a marshy jungle filled with saber-toothed cats, camels no bigger than dogs, turtles the size of Volkswagens, and other long-extinct life-forms. Their bones were...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | South Dakota |
| Size | 64,144 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 43.8297, -102.3139 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 33) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 2 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- WildfireEvent
35 mi from the center point · 230 acres
- WildfireNeedles
36 mi from the center point · 6,018 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.8 miMinuteman Missile National Historic Site ↗Rapid City, SD
- 10 miQuinn Methodist Church ↗Quinn, SD
- 10.7 miWasta Rest Stop Tipi--Westbound ↗Wasta, SD
- 10.8 miWasta Rest Stop Tipi--Eastbound ↗Wasta, SD
- 11.1 miCalumet Hotel ↗Wasta, SD
- 11.8 mi
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Badlands Wilderness?
64,144 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Badlands Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Badlands Wilderness in?
South Dakota.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Badlands Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Badlands Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Sage Creek Campground, 0 miles out. 2 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Badlands Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 43.830, -102.314. Badlands National Park is 5 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Badlands Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Event at 35 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Badlands Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 33 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Badlands Wilderness?
Badlands National Park (5 mi) and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (7 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Badlands Wilderness?
6 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Minuteman Missile National Historic Site and Quinn Methodist Church.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.