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Private - Badlands Rugged Jeep Backcountry Tour with Lunch

32 Reviews 4.94 out of 5 stars Based on 32 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Rapid City, USA
Book online or call us

from $399 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
Jeeps have been modified to provide excellent full field of view for back seats . . . easy to stand for photos and views!
Old Ghost Town . . . Scenic SD
Many science fiction and cowboy movies filmed here
Option to walk easy boardwalk trails.
Charlie and our Jeep Gladiator 'Maxx' seats up to 10 guests.
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 31 (0) days in advance.
7 to 8 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

Leave standard highway traffic behind on an open-top 4x4 expedition crafted for remote backcountry access and open-air photography that standard vans and hard-top SUVs simply cannot rival. Our Jeeps offer both comfort and adventure seating.

Shift into true 4x4 drive as our custom Jeep powers up Sheep Mountain Table—the Badlands' highest overlook—for commanding 360-degree views across the South Unit (weather permitting; popular alternatives provided if muddy).

Leave the highway behind to explore the authentic old jails
and rustic saloons of the ghost town of Scenic.

Journey along gravel Sage Creek Rim Road to track roaming bison, pronghorn, and active prairie dog towns in the remote basin. Step inside the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to discover museum exhibits and working paleontology labs, then take in towering geologic spires at iconic Pinnacles Overlook.

With unobstructed open-air photo sightlines and expert regional narration, this tour delivers an unforgettable Badlands safari.

What's Included

  • Lunch Subs/salads/chips. Guests may bring their own food or beverage. (Twist caps and no glass please.)
  • Snacks
  • Bottled water
  • Gratuities Not Included
See 1 more

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point
OR
Meeting point
End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

Sheep Mountain Table Road

Sheep Mtn Table is off the beaten path - not many people get out to explore this area like some other areas in the National Park. It is located next to the famous Stronghold Table (Ghost Dance). It is found in a unique and isolated location, wedged between the North and South Units. Lots of Lakota and Homesteading history . . . and it has great views of the Badlands and distant Black Hills.The road when dry is safe. However, Sheep Mtn Table may not be included if road is wet.*"Sheep Mountain Table Road is a dirt road that should not be driven during or after storms. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended, even in dry conditions." - National Park Service
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40 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Scenic

Once upon a time upcoming railroad stop - hotels, banks and bars . . . now an empty ghost town.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Ben Reifel Visitor Center

This is the main facility in the North Unit of the park. You can talk with rangers, explore museum exhibits, check out the Fossil Preparation Lab and there is time to visit the Badlands Natural History Association bookstore.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Fossil Exhibit Trail

The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a fully accessible boardwalk featuring fossil replicas and exhibits of extinct creatures that once lived in the area. Just .25 miles long the trail takes you past 75 million years of history and the animals that once inhabited this land.
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20 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Yellow Mounds Overlook

These strangely colored mounds are the result of an ancient sea draining away and the chemicals from decaying plants turning the soil yellow. They make for a great photo opportunity.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Pinnacles Overlook

This is the highest overlook on the Badlands Loop Road, and it offers some of the most panoramic views. This view displays the expanse of the Sage Creek Wilderness area from which you just came. On clear days, the Black Hills are visible on the horizon. Bison might be visible in the distance. This overlook is also a popular spot for Bighorn sheep to gather. This is also a lambing area for Bighorn sheep in late April to early May, so it’s not unusual to see lambs traversing the rocky slopes of the Badlands.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Roberts Prairie Dog Town

First we stop at the Sage Creek Overlook, looking back at the path we have just traveled . . . many think this is the best of all the Park views.We then stop to view the largest prairie-dog town in the accessible areas of Badlands National Park. Other than the mounds of dirt where the prairie dogs have made their homes, the first thing you will likely notice is the high-pitched squeaks and noises coming from the Prairie dogs. Prairie dogs provide habitat for approximately 200 animal and plant species, so keep your eyes open for other wildlife at this pulloff.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Sage Creek Wilderness Area

This is a less traveled area of Badlands National Park with unusual scenery and wildlife such as bighorn sheep, bison, black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs. This area is one of the oldest in the Park and most of the badlands formations have eroded away, and the underlying Cretaceous sediments are more suitable for soil development for the grasslands. Because of this and the Sage Creek running through it, you will find wildlife. Bison, sheep, antelope, deer and more (this is the water hole). The roads are less developed but no problem for our Jeep Gladiators.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Included

Show 7 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Private – Badlands Rugged Jeep Backcountry Tour with Lunch?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MST).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-16571P34

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.94
32 reviews

Average 4.94 out of 5 stars based on 32 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
30
4 stars
2
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 31 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Private – Badlands Rugged Jeep Backcountry Tour with Lunch?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MST).
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Lunch. Subs/salads/chips. Guests may bring their own food or beverage. (Twist caps and no glass please.).
  • Snacks.
  • Bottled water.
The following is NOT included:
  • Gratuities Not Included.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 5..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Private - Badlands Rugged Jeep Backcountry Tour with Lunch is as follows:

  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Private – Badlands Rugged Jeep Backcountry Tour with Lunch will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • LunchSubs/salads/chips. Guests may bring their own food or beverage. (Twist caps and no glass please.)
  • Snacks
  • Bottled water
  • Gratuities Not Included

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Report Product Issue

Activity name