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The Badlands - Sunbeams and Moonbeams

The Badlands are mysterious and inspiring by daylight and mystical and enchanting at sunset.  Now you can experience both in the same trip!  This journey starts at the The Museum of Geology in Rapid City in late morning or midday and takes you through the Badlands the way most people see it: In broad daylight.  Then we stay for the sunset before completing the journey.

We start with a scenic drive to the east gate of Badlands National Park.  Along the way we visit Wall Drugstore, visit a preserved missile silo and the visitor center of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.  Then it gets even better; we drive the Badlands Scenic Byway and visit the Park’s Visitor Center and stop at many of the turnouts and waysides.  There are plenty of chances for photography, wildlife viewing and short hikes.  The afternoon shadows lengthen as the sun’s path continues on its daily journey, hinting at what is yet to come.

After dinner (on your own in the town of Wall), we return to the Badlands National Park.  There we use the remaining time to see more scenery and look for wildlife.  As the sun gets low on the horizon, we go to an overlook to watch the sun complete her journey and work her magic.

The return trip takes about an hour and the show-aint-over-yet!  Depending on the weather and phases of the moon - the show goes on.  There are chances to pull off onto darkened side roads to view the night sky and spend some time with the stars, moon and celestial neighbors. 

This is a day long trip with pickup and drop-off times vary based on the changing seasons.  Please check times before booking tour.

Note: Tour dates, departure and return times will vary with the rhythms of the solar and lunar cycles.  Our reservation agency has the details.





Private tours may choose optional times.

I spent over 9 hours with John, traveling through the area, first in the daylight, and then back to see the sunset. It was an amazing experience. I fell in love with the area. John's expertise in geology and paleontology showed in how he was able to explain the formations and all that we were seeing. Not being even a novice in those fields, John was able to explain it me in 'laymen's' terms.

John was courteous, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to be with during the whole trip. I would recommend this company without any reservations. I have already told folks who were traveling in that direction to call them for an outstanding tour.

- Sue H., Pittsburgh, PA

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