Badlands National Park Video Synopsis
Encompassing 244,000 acres of otherworldly landscapes, Badlands National Park is home to massive towering spires, deep canyons, oceans of undisturbed mixed grass prairie, ancient fossil remains, and one of the last refuges for the largest mammal in North America – the American Bison. Journey with us to discover a rugged land teaming with incredible wildlife, pristine natural habitat, and endless opportunities for unbounded adventure.
The Making of Our Badlands Film
This Badlands National Park video was the 16th film we produced in our award-winning video series which will eventually encompass every single national park in America. To make this film happen we spent two weeks in Badlands National Park during August capturing the park in a great time to visit with fewer visitors and pleasant weather.
We actually produced one other film on the Badlands before this one but ended up returning to do it again because South Dakota Tourism hired us to go out and get footage that they could use in their marketing campaigns. The Badlands is one of our favorite places and coming back to do another film here was a lot of fun.
As it was early April the nights were cold and the days weren’t much warmer. the prairie wind howled and routinely gusted upwards of 50 miles an hour. Our cameras and tripods were toppled many times resulting in the damage of no small amount of equipment.
But we adapted to the weather and managed to find ravines and nooks out of the whipping wind that provided the shots you see in our film. Visiting in April meant the park was just about empty. We spent weeks there and rarely saw another person in our travels.
The wildlife was abundant and the vast silence of the prairie was something I’ll never forget. Night skies were filled with stars and our cameras even picked up a the faint glow of the northern lights.
Why I Continue to Come Back to Badlands
I’ve heard it said that the Badlands is “an interstate park”, meaning a good park to pop into off of the interstate, but not necessarily one to plan a trip around. I’m hear to tell you that Badlands National Park is well worth planning a trip around. I’ve returned to the Badlands probably five or six times since my initial visit and every time I’m simply blown away.
Taking in a sunset somewhere near the Sage Creek turn off as the golden light transforms the landscape all around you is something you can never be prepared for and an event that’s sure to leave a lasting memory. Watching the amber light sweep across the formations in the distance as the sun puts on it’s final dazzling show is truly something to behold.
Hearing the distant grunts of the bison from miles away, the yips of the coyotes, and the evening song of the meadowlark will make you feel transported, as if the cars, cities, and buildings that brought here never existed. Yes the Badlands is a special place that stands in affirmation of everything America’s National Parks represent. It’s a place I’ll continue to revisit to revel in its quiet and spacious beauty.
The Equipment We Use
Here’s some quick picks from our current camera kit that we use to create all of our national parks films. For those interested, we created an article that details our full camera kit including all the support equipment etc.
- Camera (photos): Our Camera
- Camera (video): Big Video Camera & Small Video Camera
- Lenses: Wide Angle & Zoom
- Tripods: Photo Tripod & Video Tripod
- Head: Tripod Head
- Pack: Camera Backpack
- Drones: Small Drone & Big Drone
- Action: Action Camera
- On-the-Go Stabilized: Small Stabilized
Badlands National Park Filming Locations
Locations featured in this film include:
- Big Badlands Overlook
- Door Trail
- Notch Trail
- Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
- Castle Trail
- Saddle Pass Trail
- Norbeck Pass
- White River Valley Overlook
- Panorama Point
- Prairie Wind Overlook
- Burns Basin Overlook
- Homestead Overlook
- Conata Basin Overlook
- Ancient Hunters Overlook
- Pinnacles Overlook
- Hay Butte Overlook
- Roberts Prairie Dog Town
- Sage Creek Basin
- Sheep Mountain Overlook
- Yellow Mounds
- Fossil Trail
Learn More About Badlands National Park
From the making of this film and other trips, we’ve learned a lot about Badlands National Park. Here’s some of the things that might be helpful for you in case you’re planning a trip to Badlands:
- Badlands National Park (Comprehensive Guide)
- Best Things to Do in Badlands National Park
- Best Hikes in Badlands National Park
- Interesting Facts About Badlands National Park
- Hiking the Notch Trail
- Hiking the Castle Trail
Watch More of Our National Parks Videos
National Park Videos: All of Our National Park Videos
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