When you sit and think of the most beautiful place in South Dakota, which comes to mind? Our lush and green farmland? Fall Park? Custer State Park? It's a tough call, right? While we have a hard time nailing down a definitive answer, Conde Nast Traveler thinks they have come up with the answer, which is SoDak's stunning Badlands National Park:
The results are in and according to CNT's The Most Beautiful Place in Every U.S. State, the Badlands is South Dakota's best and most beautiful attraction.
"Picking just 50 places isn't easy, but we polled our Facebook followers, did some digging, and came up with this list of the must-see, must-visit spots in each state," shared Conde Nast, adding that "Of course, it only begins to scrape the surface of what this country has to offer—so consider it your starting point, and start exploring."
Featuring 242,756 acres, the Badlands are primarily comprised of colorful, larger-than-life pinnacles and buttes created 69-million-years ago by geologic forces of deposition and erosion.
If you enjoy exploring on foot, you are going to love the Badlands' many trails, which vary in length from an easy .25 miles to a strenuous 10 miles.
As if you needed another reason to visit, the Badlands are also home to beautiful drives, wildlife sightings galore, camping, and more.
In addition to the Badlands, Conde Nast also lists other All-American beauties like the Maroon Bells (Colorado), Pensacola Beach (Florida), and Crater Lake National Park (Oklahoma, pictured).
Badlands National Park is open year-round, with an entrance fee of $35 per private vehicle (which is valid for 7 days).
To learn more about Badlands National Park, please visit the National Park Service's website.
To learn more about the beautiful Badlands, check out these 9 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Visiting South Dakota’s Badlands National Park.
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