Aerial Tours
If you want to see the Badlands from above, you have two options: helicopter and hot-air balloon. Badger Helicopters (tel. 605/433-5322) takes off near the park's east entrance (take I-90, exit 131) between mid-May and mid-September. Call for current rates.
Those looking for a hot-air-balloon adventure can contact Black Hills Balloons (tel. 605/673-2520; www.blackhillsballoons.com), which offers flights over the Badlands and Black Hills year-round.
Biking
Off-road biking is not allowed in the park, but the Loop Road is accessible to bikes. There are bike racks at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The 22-mile route from Pinnacles Overlook to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center is mostly downhill (though there are several steep passes to climb). Many bikers ride along Sage Creek Rim Road, past the prairie dog town, to spectacular views of the Badlands wilderness. During summer, though, car traffic is heavy and the temperatures hot. There are no bike rentals available in the park.
Horseback Riding
Several companies offer guided trail rides through the backcountry of the Badlands (and the Black Hills). They include family-run Dakota Badland Outfitters (tel. 605/574-3412; www.ridesouthdakota.com). Call for rates, activities, and reservations.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
