Departure Point

• After booking the tour, please ensure you have downloaded the app and the tour in advance. For the best experience, we advise doing this while you have a strong internet connection.

Return Details

• After booking the tour, please ensure you have downloaded the app and the tour in advance. For the best experience, we advise doing this while you have a strong internet connection.

Duration
5 hours - 7 hours

Languages Available

• Audio guide - English

Points of Interest

Stop At: Hay Butte Overlook
Sagecreek Rim Road, Wall, SD 57790
The overlook faces the Badlands and prairie meadows. It's a wonderful place to see bison, pronghorn, and the park's diverse scenery. From the Badlands Loop Road, a popular park route, the overlook is a short hike.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Badlands Wilderness Overlook
Rim Road, Wall, SD 57790
It is known for its unique landscapes, including rugged rock formations and deep canyons. The wilderness area is home to a variety of plant and animal life, including bison, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn. It is a popular destination for hiking and backpacking, as well as wildlife viewing and photography.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Roberts Prairie Dog Town
Rim Road, Wall, SD 57790
It houses many black-tailed prairie dogs. Prairie dogs, burrowing rodents from the Great Plains of North America, are known for their "bark" and behaviour. Visitors to the park enjoy seeing these fascinating animals in their natural habitat at Roberts Prairie Dog Town.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Ancient Hunters Overlook
South Dakota 240, Wall, SD 57790
This site is named after the ancient tribes that hunted in the Badlands. This site yielded bison bones and arrowheads. It was likely a butchering field where hunters cleaned and prepared bison corpses.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Yellow Mounds Overlook
South Dakota 240, Wall, SD 57790
It has unique layered rock formations. Iron oxide in the rock layers makes the Yellow Mounds yellow. The formations offer a unique picture of Badlands landscapes after millions of years of erosion and weathering.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Conata Basin Overlook
South Dakota 240, Wall, SD 57790
Here, you can take in another great view of the park’s yellow paleosols. These offer a window into the land’s distant past. Remember, this was once the bed of a warm, shallow sea. The paleosols you can see from here are part of the bottommost formation in the Badlands: the Pierre Shale.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Homestead Overlook
South Dakota 240, Wall, SD 57790
Lincoln believed the American west had the resources his country needed. Few Americans wanted to live there. West Coast Natives were wary of settlers in the unexplored region. So Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. All they needed to do was live on the land and work to improve it.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Burns Basin Overlook
South Dakota 240, Wall, SD 57790
This view overlooks Wilson Burns' 20th-century farmhouse. Burns showed how homesteaders survived this harsh environment. As a sheep rancher, he needed a lot of water. Most groundwater is buried several thousand feet deep! That was impossible for a typical homesteader. Burns was smart. He found a government-allotted plot with a freshwater spring.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Prairie Wind Overlook
Badlands Loop Road, South Dakota
This spot is quite different from previous overlooks, as the main attraction here isn’t badlands at all, but gentle, pleasant prairie. It’s a great example of the surprisingly diverse ecosystems of the park.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Big Badlands Overlook
Route 240, South Dakota
Lakota Chief Spotted Elk (Big Foot) gave it its name. In 1890, the US Army pursued Spotted Elk and 200 Lakota through this route. He was soon apprehended by the 7th Cavalry. Spotted Elk surrendered peacefully to save his people. In 1990, Congress apologised but did not compensate the tribe. The Lakota are still trying to withdraw the 20 Medals of Honor given to cavalrymen who massacred them.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: White River Valley Overlook

From here, you may see The Castle, a magnificent formation. It will be the largest formations seen from the overlook. Beyond the castle, the White River Valley extends forever. The White River created this valley long ago, as you would have surmised from the name.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Fossil Exhibit Trail
South Dakota
The trail includes interactive exhibits showcasing the park's fossil heritage, including ancient animal fossils. The wheelchair-accessible trail welcomes all ages and fitness levels. Visitors can learn about extinct animals like the rhinoceros and three-toed horse and their environment along the trail.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Saddle Pass Trail
South Dakota
This 0.7-mile trail takes under half an hour to hike and features some great opportunities for bird watching and sightseeing along the way. Despite its short length, this is one of the steepest in the park, with over 200 feet of elevation gain. If it has rained recently, you should steer clear of this one.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Ben Reifel Visitor Center
25216 South Dakota 240, Interior, SD 57750
If you’re looking to take a quick break from your expedition through the Badlands, this is a great place for it. In addition to a picnic area and the usual amenities, you’ll also find things like the Fossil Preparation Lab here, which shows what paleontologists do with fossils once they’ve discovered them.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
South Dakota
This half-mile loop offers one of the best views in the park. In addition to the stellar vista from the top of the loop, you’ll also get to explore one of the Badlands’ lesser-known biomes as you walk through a lush juniper forest.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Notch Trail
South Dakota
The Notch Trail features 1.5 miles of rough terrain for the intermediate hiker, including a rope ladder that takes you up to a tremendous vista of the White River Valley. Hikers looking for tricky terrain and great views will love this trail.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Door Trail
South Dakota
This quarter-mile, fully accessible boardwalk is more of a stroll than a hike. It leads to a break in the Badlands Wall. This gap, known as The Door, features unbeatable views of the landscape beyond. Be sure to bring your camera for this one!
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Castle Trail
South Dakota
Finally, there’s The Castle. At 5.4 miles, it’s the longest-maintained trail in the park. It weaves through prairie, Badlands peaks, and all kinds of unique formations along the way. If you want to get a good look at all the different features of the Badlands, this trail is a great choice.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Big Badlands Overlook
Route 240, South Dakota
It’s a fitting place to conclude, as it offers one of the best views in the whole park. This sweeping vista looks out across the eastern stretch of the Badlands Wall and reveals beautifully striped layers of rock dating back tens of millions of years. If you’re looking for that one perfect photo of the Badlands, you’re likely to capture it here.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Gutzon Borglum Historical Center
342 Winter St, , Keystone, South Dakota
See that bust to your left? That honors Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor behind Mount Rushmore. Born in Idaho in 1867, Borglum led what some might call a complicated life. He first entered the public sphere when the Metropolitan Museum of Art accepted a sculpture of his for display in 1906—the first time they had ever done so for any work by a living American.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Avenue Of Flags
13000 Sd-244, , Keystone, South Dakota
Just ahead is the Avenue of Flags. There are actually 56 flags here, in alphabetical order. 50 are indeed state flags, but what about those other six? Those come from the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: 64 Presidential Trail
64 Presidential Trail, Keystone, SD 57751
The Hall of Records is a proposed structure that was planned to be built in the vicinity of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It was intended to serve as an archive and repository for important historical documents related to the Presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore, as well as other important American historical records.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Presidential Trail
Keystone, South Dakota
It is a tourist route that highlights the history and legacy of former U.S. Presidents. There are sites and attractions related to several Presidents, including Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which features the carved faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Sculptor's Studio
Highway 244, Keystone, South Dakota
Up here is Gutzon Borglum’s studio. Inside, you’ll find a huge plaster sculpture showing the original design for Mount Rushmore, which is quite a bit more intricate than the final product! As you’ll notice, the original design featured fully carved bodies for each of the presidents.
Duration: 10 minutes

Additional Information

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
• How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
• Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
• Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
• Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
• Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
• Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
• Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.

Inclusions

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

Exclusions

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

Redemption Instructions
You’re not done yet! It’s time to set up the tour you purchased.

Follow these steps now, while in wifi/signal. Do NOT wait until your travel date or while onsite.

1. Find the tour setup email:
Search your email for the phrase "Your tour operator sent you a message” OR “Set up your Action Tour Guide self-guided tour now."

>> If it’s not in your Inbox, check the All Mail folder.

>> If it’s not in All Mail, ask us to resend: https://actiontourguide.com/redeem/

2. Follow the email instructions NOW, not later.

>> Do NOT wait until your travel date to access the tour for the first time. The tour is not tied to your travel date.

>> For the tour guide app to function as intended, iPhones must be iOS 13 or above and Androids must be version 9 or above.

3. Not familiar with our self-guided audio tours? Watch this quick tutorial: https://actiontourguide.com/tutorial

⚠️ Important Note:
Your purchase is for the audio tour ONLY. It does not include entrance tickets to parks or attractions.

⚠️ CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use phone speakers if needed.

Questions? https://actiontourguide.com/faq/

❄️ Winter Closure 2024:
Badlands: The park is open, but some facilities might have reduced hours.


Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted

The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Travel with Action in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.

This offer is not eligible for promo codes.