Jackson County: Badlands National Park and Delta-01

Badlands National Park is partly located in Jackson County; its North Unit is also partly located there. Delta-01 Launch Control Facility is in western Jackson County. Visitor experiences range from trails and scenic overlooks to a ranger-guided visit that requires a reservation.

Delta-01 and the history of the Minuteman Missile

Delta-01 Launch Control Facility is located in mixed-grass prairie, about half a mile north of Interstate 90 Exit 127. The landscape and facility give this place distinct character: open prairie meets the history of the Minuteman system. Access to the launch control facility is available only as part of a ticketed, ranger-guided tour and with an advance reservation. As reservation procedures may change, check the requirements before planning your visit. Visitors can also take a cellphone tour of the exterior of Delta-01. A 30-minute park film, “Beneath The Plains: The Minuteman Missile On Alert,” also introduces the history of the Minuteman Missile.

Badlands National Park: Landscape and trails

The national park’s landscape includes native mixed-grass prairie, wildlife, fossils, and dramatic skyscapes. The park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; road conditions may vary seasonally. State Highway 44 offers an alternative, scenic route into the park. The Badlands Loop Road, also known as Highway 240, is a two-lane paved road through the North Unit.

The Door Trail begins with a 226-yard, accessible boardwalk. It leads through an opening in the Badlands Wall to an overlook of the Badlands. The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a fully accessible loop with a boardwalk, fossil replicas, and exhibits about extinct creatures. The trails offer different experiences: the Door Trail focuses on passage through the Badlands Wall and the view, while the Fossil Exhibit Trail features a loop with fossil replicas and exhibits.

The Notch Trail leads through a canyon, up a wooden ladder, and then along a cliff edge to a dramatic view of the White River Valley. As of August 31, 2026, it is closed until further notice while park staff repair a section of the ladder. Check its current status before planning a visit.

Night skies and other park offerings

Badlands National Park has very clear night skies because it is not surrounded by large cities or other significant sources of light pollution. A summer night-sky viewing program is offered every evening at the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater between Memorial Day and Labor Day. As the seasonal schedule may change, check the dates in advance. The annual Badlands Astronomy Festival brings together space science professionals, amateur astronomers, educators, and visitors.

At the Fossil Preparation Lab in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center in the North Unit, visitors can watch and interact with paleontologists at work. The lab’s availability may vary seasonally, so check its current status before visiting. The park’s offerings also differ in focus: night-sky viewing centers on the landscape after dark, while the lab offers a glimpse into the work of preparing fossils.

Museum and tasting room in Kadoka

The Kadoka Depot now serves as a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In Kadoka, Badlands Distillery offers locally crafted spirits in its tasting room. As tasting room operations may vary, it is advisable to check availability before visiting. For trip planning, the museum at the Kadoka Depot, the Badlands Distillery tasting experience, park trails, and Delta-01 offer different points of interest.

Discover more destinations: Kadoka, Interior, Butte, Fall River County, Roberts County, Clark County, Brule County, Clay.

Go to the main travel overview: South Dakota.