Rainbow Over Badlands National Park at Sunrise

Rainbow arcs over eroded badlands formations and grasslands in Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, South Dakota.
Rainbow arcs over eroded badlands formations and grasslands in Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, South Dakota.

A rainbow arcs across a dramatic sky over the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands in South Dakota. This area, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, preserves a vast expanse of mixed-grass prairie and badlands topography. Established in 1960, the grasslands are a remnant of the Great Plains' natural landscape, supporting diverse wildlife and offering opportunities for dispersed recreation. The unique geological formations visible are the result of millions of years of erosion, creating a rugged and visually striking environment.

Taken July 2017

Photo Part Of
South Dakota
Badlands, Black Hills, and Custer State Park across multiple trips
26 photos
Buffalo Gap National Grasslands
Mixed-grass prairie, badlands formations, and bighorn sheep along the southern edge of Badlands National Park
5 photos
Map
OpenStreetMap Google Maps
More from South Dakota
A Lonely Stretch of Highway 44 in Badlands National Park
A Lonely Stretch of Highway 44 in Badlands National Park
Highway 44 runs along the southern edge of Badlands National Park, linking the town of Interior to Rapid City and…
Bison Bull Along Wildlife Loop Road, Custer State Park
Bison Bull Along Wildlife Loop Road, Custer State Park
Custer State Park's bison herd grazes across 71,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest in the Black Hills,…
American Bison on Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park
American Bison on Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park
American bison graze along Wildlife Loop Road, an 18-mile route through Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South…
Wild Sunflowers Along Sheep Mountain Road in the Badlands
Wild Sunflowers Along Sheep Mountain Road in the Badlands
Sheep Mountain Road climbs through the South Unit of Badlands National Park, also known as the Stronghold Unit, which the…
Horseback riders on Black Elk Peak trail, South Dakota
Horseback riders on Black Elk Peak trail, South Dakota
Horseback riders ascend a trail on Black Elk Peak in South Dakota's Black Hills, a landscape often shrouded in mist.…
Sylvan Lake Fog, Black Hills, South Dakota
Sylvan Lake Fog, Black Hills, South Dakota
Early morning fog blankets Sylvan Lake in South Dakota's Black Hills, obscuring the surrounding granite formations. Created in 1891 by…
Nearby Photos

Built in Minneapolis

Minneapolis Photographer

An ongoing archive of work.

© 1996–2026 Chad Davis