Eroded Ridges and Layered Cliffs in Badlands National Park

This landscape photograph shows the eroded ridges and layered cliffs that make Badlands National Park unique. The park, in southwestern South Dakota, covers a large area where sedimentary rocks have worn down into steep slopes, narrow ridges, and sharply outlined buttes. Over millions of years, wind and water have shaped the soft rock, exposing bands of sandstone, siltstone, and clay. In the foreground, there are mounds and small ridges that lead into larger formations farther away. These lower shapes are rounded and have uneven textures from constant erosion. Green prairie grass grows between the ridges, showing where the park’s mixed-grass prairie meets the exposed rock formations. In the background, taller cliffs display horizontal layers, with light and dark bands clearly visible across the landscape. Gentle light from one side highlights the ridges, making the depth between the foreground and distant formations stand out.

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