Badlands National Park

What if one of America’s most “hostile” landscapes turned out to be one of its most breathtaking?In this episode of Two Chicks With Hiking Sticks, we explore Badlands National Park in South Dakota — a land shaped by 75 million years of erosion, ancient inland seas, prehistoric mammals, and powerful Lakota history.We’ll walk through:Why the name “Badlands” comes from the Lakota word makȟóšičaHow this landscape preserves some of the world’s richest Oligocene fossil bedsThe story behind its designation as a National Monument in 1939 and National Park in 1978Wildlife encounters with bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferretsThe best hiking trails — including Notch Trail, Door Trail, and Castle TrailWhat makes this one of the most dramatic Dark Sky destinations in the countryFrom rugged spires to rolling prairie, this park tells a story of resilience — geological, ecological, and cultural.If you love hiking, American history, national parks, and discovering the deeper stories behind iconic landscapes, this episode is for you.Lace up your boots. Let’s hike into 75 million years of history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.