#1 Overlooked Tour: Sunsets and Stars in Badlands National Park
One of the things I tell my guests on the many tours of Sunsets and Stars in Badlands National Park is early European explorers struggled to describe the area. I still do. I can say this (apologies in advance.) It cannot be painted; photography cannot capture the actual moment.
Few come close in their passion for writing. It’s tough because it’s so raw, so exposed, and can make some feel so vulnerable and, well, naked.
Some of us have inhibitions on these subjects, but spend some time in the Badlands, and your proverbial clothes are off.
You are connected with whatever you connect to and are reminded of your humanity, your life, the time you have left, and how it’s such an incredible miracle that you’re here. Truly. So, let’s take it all off and have a look around.
Before I get started, I want to say that my location at Badlands National Park is better than the location you think is the best. I need to establish that. I’m sorry for you. It’s true. Never been there? Come out and see me. Hands down, no doubt, and that’s why I love it. You gotta be proud of where you live.
First off, if your imagination of a sunset conjures up putting your sunglasses on and looking into the sun as it lowers below the horizon, you are missing out. In the Badlands, the sun is there, but it’s the land that brings this masterpiece alive. The shadows, peaks, buttes, and spires thrown onto the ground are out-of-this-world. You’ll find yourself gazing out over it all in absolute amazement.
As an example of massive erosion, the wind and water are the artists, with the soil being its medium. Billions of details, sharp lines, shapes, angles, strata layering of multiple colors, and wildlife exist in this so-called Badlands. You spend more time looking at the land and how it changes before your eyes every second. In my book, that rocks.
There’s a certain magic in witnessing the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in gold, orange, and deep crimson hues, but this isn’t the end. It’s only the beginning. Don’t believe me? I love the moment I tell my beloved guests to wait about 15-20 minutes before we move.
Why would we do that? I tell them, sadly for those people you see in the distance leaving the parking lot because the flaming ball of fusion dipped below the horizon don’t realize the show is about to begin.
These are the sunsets and stars in Badlands National Park that we have such a privilege seeing on a regular basis.
Anyone who spends time in nature watching sunsets or the night sky is shaking their heads right about now in agreement. Before the sun goes down, you’ll want to know atmospheric conditions. I’m not a meteorologist. Everything I know is from book reading, interactions, and experiences. Again, the atmospheric conditions. Are there high-flying clouds above? Is there a clear sky on the horizon? What is the temperature and direction of the wind? This is about to define your experience.
Back to the schmucks setting up viewing in the most popular location, a paved parking lot with staircases to a lookout. To me, this sucks, but to others, it’s the best.
We observe the chain of cars empty the park. How wonderful! If you hadn’t noticed, the Blue Hour had already begun.
This is the curtain call of sorts. It’s like a gender reveal party behind you, opposite the sun setting. For the most part, a thick layer of blue and pink are prominent in the sky. It’s a boy AND a girl.
Rays of the sun from below the horizon hits these colors and reveal beams of light. Look carefully, and you can see more of the color spectrum. Purple, yellow, and green are in there too.
This is when a car ride is a great idea. This takes you to different angles and subjects. Many features become silhouettes, outlining even the finest of details. Find a magical place with a vast open sky.
This is everywhere in the Badlands, and part of the experience is getting up and adjusting your zero-gravity chair towards another part of the sky. Our eyes don’t have the capacity to take it in all at the same time.
This is part of what I think is so special about being in the Badlands on a beautiful night with a crystal clear miracle in the heavens above.
If nothing inspires you, this will. If the world is weighing you down, it will lift you. For some, it makes them feel small. For me, it makes me feel big. The fact that I’m alive to witness it means I must be pretty special, too. Think about that one. It’s life-changing.
Badlands at Night
Before you know it, shooting stars are whizzing overhead. A comet is in the sky. Satellites orbit. Planets rise, and darker it gets. Constellations begin to appear, and connecting the dots becomes a familiar game. Not to mention, on one of many nights, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) come out to play. Have you never seen them?
You need to chase down a Northern Light or two. Life is not complete without watching this symphony of light. It’s my favorite, and I could lay out there every night.
At My XO Adventures, we’ve discovered that some of the most breathtaking moments happen when the day says so long. and the night embraces the land. Welcome to South Dakota’s best-kept secret: sunsets and stars.
A Landscape Like No Other
The Black Hills and Badlands region is a natural marvel. Think extreme contrasts. Rolling hills, dramatic rock formations, and sweeping plains create an otherworldly backdrop for the day’s final light show. The geography of South Dakota lends itself to spectacular sunsets.
The wide-open skies mean no other place on earth showcases a better field of view. The best sunsets are where you can see the most uninterrupted sky. That fits the Badlands Definition in the same way I fit my skinny jeans. It’s not age-appropriate, but hey, what the hell.
Far from city lights, South Dakota boasts some of the darkest skies in the United States (Dark Sky Tracker). This makes it a prime location for stargazing, where constellations, planets, and even the Milky Way reveal themselves in their full glory National Park Service on Dark Skies).
