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 makȟóšiča
• How this landscape preserves some of the world’s richest Oligocene fossil beds
• The story behind its designation as a National Monument in 1939 and National Park in 1978
• Wildlife encounters with bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets
• The best hiking trails — including Notch Trail, Door Trail, and Castle Trail
• What makes this one of the most dramatic Dark Sky destinations in the country

From 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.

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