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Private Badlands National Park Wildlife and Scenic Tour

10 Reviews 4.60 out of 5 stars Based on 10 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 90% of reviewers
90% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Rapid City, USA
Book online or call us

from $295 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
Private Badlands National Park Wildlife and Scenic Tour Image 1
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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 22 (0) days in advance.
7 to 8 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

At My XO Adventures, we don’t just guide tours—we create lifelong memories through deeply personal connections to the land. What makes this experience unique isn’t just the stunning Badlands views or the wildlife encounters—it’s who you’re sharing them with.

Our team isn’t made up of part-time guides reading from scripts. We are storytellers, geologists, naturalists, and soulful travelers who call this region home. Every tour is customized to your interests, pace, and curiosity, and we treat our guests like family—from the first greeting to the final goodbye.

Expect laughter, learning, comfort, and care in every moment. We go beyond the overlook and behind the scenes to places most travelers never see. You won’t be herded or hurried. You’ll be welcomed, inspired, and transformed.

This isn’t a tour. It’s a journey with meaning—crafted from passion, guided with heart, and remembered forever.

What's Included

  • Snacks
  • Carbonated beverages Soda/Pop
  • Bottled water
  • Gratuities
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Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point
Pickup details

We'll arrive with a professional guide and a vehicle with the My XO Adventures Logo on the side. Your driver will call upon arrival.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability.
Read more

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Badlands National Park

The Badlands are one of those places that stop you in your tracks. Strange, wild, quiet, and wide open.I never get tired of seeing the colors change with the light. Sunrise and sunset feel sacred here.Bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs—you see them often. They belong to the land more than we do.This isn’t just a sightseeing stop. It’s a place you feel in your gut. Raw and real.
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3 hours Admission Ticket Free

Sage Creek Wilderness Area

This area is far from the crowds. No pavement, no noise—just open space and wildlife doing their thing.You’ll often see bison up close here. They’re calm but huge. Gives you some real perspective.I like stopping here to let folks breathe it in. It’s quiet in a way that’s hard to describe.Feels like the land hasn’t changed in a thousand years.
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45 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Pinnacles Overlook

PThis is usually the first place that makes people go, “Wow.” And I get it—it hits hard.You can see forever out here. Layers of stone, sky, and space that make everything else feel small.It’s also one of the best spots for spotting wildlife. We’ve seen bighorn sheep right below the ridge.It’s a must-stop, plain and simple.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Ancient Hunters Overlook

This place is easy to overlook—but it has deep roots. People hunted bison here long before roads existed.I like to talk about what life might have been like back then. You feel the past here.Not much to read. Not many signs. Just quiet hills and stories if you’re open to hearing them.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Yellow Mounds Overlook

These hills look like they were painted. Bright yellows, purples, and pinks you don’t expect in South Dakota.They’re ancient soil layers pushed to the surface. A geologist’s dream. A photographer’s too.It’s one of the most colorful stops in the whole park—and people always want to get out here.
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20 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Bigfoot Pass Overlook

This is a heavy place. Named after Chief Big Foot, who died at Wounded Knee.He and his people passed through here during the dead of winter. It didn’t end well.I stop here to share the story. Not to bring the mood down, but to respect what happened.It’s part of this land’s truth.
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Homestead Overlook

This spot looks simple, but it says a lot. Imagine showing up with a wagon and being told, “This is yours.”Grasslands for days. Wind. No trees. Just you and whatever you could build.It wasn’t easy living. Still isn’t. But people tried, and some stayed.It’s a good place to think about what it took to start from nothing.
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Fossil Exhibit Trail

This short trail is great for kids and adults who want to see what lived here before us.It has fossil displays, fun signs, and it's flat enough for everyone.You won’t need hiking boots or water bottles—just curiosity.We stop here when people want something hands-on and easy to walk.
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Ben Reifel Visitor Center

If you want to learn more, this is the best place. Clean bathrooms, great exhibits, friendly rangers.You can watch fossils being cleaned in the lab or ask real questions and get real answers.It’s a good stop to cool off, pick up a map, or understand what makes this place tick.
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30 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Big Badlands Overlook

This is your first real “whoa” moment if you’re coming in from Wall.It opens up fast—layers of red, white, gold, and pink stretching for miles.It’s a great sunrise spot if you're up early. And the views are better than any screen can capture.Even after hundreds of visits, I still pull over for this one.
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15 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Wall Drug

Wall Drug is weird in the best way. It started with free ice water during the Great Depression.Now it’s part diner, part museum, part wild west photo shoot.You can get a donut, sit on a jackalope, or find a pair of boots.It's cheesy, yes. But it’s also fun. And the coffee’s still just five cents.
Read more

45 minutes Admission Ticket Free

Show 10 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Private Badlands National Park Wildlife and Scenic Tour?

A: This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-166604P24

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.60
10 reviews

Average 4.60 out of 5 stars based on 10 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
9
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 22 (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 National Park Wildlife and Scenic Tour?
A:
This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Snacks.
  • Carbonated beverages. Soda/Pop.
  • Bottled water.
  • Private transportation.
  • Expert Private Guide.
The following is NOT included:
  • Gratuities.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 4. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

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 National Park Wildlife and Scenic Tour 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 National Park Wildlife and Scenic Tour 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

  • Snacks
  • Carbonated beveragesSoda/Pop
  • Bottled water
  • Private transportation
  • Expert Private Guide
  • Gratuities

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Report Product Issue

Activity name