Badlands Overlook

North of Badlands National Park, breathtaking views set the back drop to this BLM camping hot spot. A careful descent to the gumbo beds below can yield beautiful petrified wood.

When to visit: Spring, Fall, Winter (if dry)

What you can find: Fairburn agate, prairie agate, bubblegum agate, petrified wood, jasper, rose quartz.

What to bring: Rock hammer, spray bottle, backpack, water, snacks.

Where to stay: The town of Wall is 6 miles to the north and offers hotels, camping, and food. Dispersed camping is allowed in the National Grasslands all around this area. This is a popular “boondocks” camping area during the summer and finding a place to camp and access the beds below is easiest outside of the main tourist season.

Getting there: From Wall, South Dakota drive south on SD-240 towards Badlands National Park for approximately 6 miles until you reach dirt forest service road Rd-7158 on your left. This road loops a couple miles on the Badlands Overlook and connects back to the main highway. Site A is the only “easy access” I have found to this area.

(Site A: 43°53’54.3″N 102°13’55.8″W)
(Site B: 43°53’55.0″N 102°13’35.4″W)

Rockhounding

This popular boondocks camping area boast epic landscapes with the chance to catch an amazing sunrise or sunset. Below the parking areas there is and endless stretch of gumbo beds that contain beautiful petrified wood, jaspers, rose quartz, and potentially the elusive fairburn. “Site A” is the only area that I have found a somewhat easy access to the beds below from the parking area on top of the overlook. It is a somewhat tricky traverse up and down the gumbo beds, and keeping track of where you are is very important as it is easy to get turned around and lose track of your way back up to the parking area. Site B is a random spot in the gumbo beds below. You can also park anywhere along the overlook and search the rock exposures at the top of the hills. Nice jaspers and petrified wood has been found at the top. 

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