Tired of trail mix? Sample the South Dakota– specific chislic (marinated and fried cubes of sirloin) at Badlands Saloon & Grille.īuckhorn shares the same lush, rugged setting as Olympic National Park without all the foot traffic. Wall is home to the Buffalo Gap National Grassland Visitor Center and the historic Wall Drug Store, a sprawling roadside attraction where you can stock up on souvenir shot glasses and “Where the Heck Is Wall Drug” bumper stickers. Create your own camp in places like Badlands Overlook (not to be confused with Big Badlands Overlook), about a mile north of Badlands and just south of Wall, SD. Rock hunters should check out the Fairburn area near the French Creek Campground-the only developed campground in Buffalo Gap-or any eroded space in the 600,000 acres of impossibly open prairie. You don’t need a permit and it’s all free. Hike it, bike it, bring your horse and ride it. Part of Nebraska National Forest, Buffalo Gap is one of 20 National Grasslands. There are plenty of sedimentary rock formations-and 85 percent less foot traffic-next door in Buffalo Gap National Grassland. The otherworldly badlands of the Midwest aren’t confined solely to Badlands National Park. Instead of Badlands National Park (South Dakota) Try: Buffalo Gap National Grassland (SD and NE) Or forgo finger sandwiches for a Local Smokie with ginger carrots at Wieners of Waterton and a cold pint at the Thirsty Bear, the best (and only) pub in the 100-person town. Off trail, afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel at Waterton Lake is a thing if you’re feeling fancy. Lose those crowds entirely by taking a quick, scenic ferry ride across Upper Waterton Lake and vanishing along the Crypt Lake Trail, which ranks high among the most gorgeous hiking spots in the Canadian Rockies-featuring dramatic cliffs, waterfalls and 10 backcountry campgrounds en route. At just 450K annual visitors, Waterton sees a fraction of the Glacier hordes (3 million per annum at last count), but favorite spots like Red Rock Canyon and Cameron Lake can still get congested-especially during high season from late spring to early fall. You can hike from one to the other (bring your passport!) through the Goat Haunt, which isn’t haunted and has no goats, though you may spy some on nearby Goat Haunt Mountain. and Canada teamed up to designate both areas as the world’s first international peace park. In 1932, as a symbol of goodwill, the U.S. Instead of Glacier National Park (Montana) Try: Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta, Canada)įifteen years after Waterton Lakes became Canada’s fourth national park in 1895, Glacier was designated just south of the border.

Ocean lakes campground