Badlands National Park
The Badlands, Glacier and Yellowstone national parks are all open year round. Checking road conditions in both Yellowstone and Glacier this time of year is still an absolute must because snow is not uncommon. Glacier National Park just began plowing Going-to-the-Sun Road. For more information on the road conditions and how far the plows have traveled in Glacier follow this link and select the "Where are the plows?" option. For road conditions in Yellowstone follow this link or call 307-344 2117 for current conditions.
There are so many great parks and public lands in all the states you'll be visiting. Use the adventure finder on our home page to find places to visit based on your favorite activities, but here are some of our favorite state-by-state highlights:
South Dakota: Mount Rushmore is a must-see on any visit to the region. So is the nearby Crazy Horse Memorial. But don't forget about the Badlands, which are home to some of our nation's most stunning landscapes.
Utah: This state is home to the Grand Circle, a collection of seven national parks, eight national monuments and numerous state parks, historical sites, prehistoric Indian ruins, colorful ghost towns and stunning geologic formations that reach from northern Arizona into southern Utah. A summary of the highlights is available here.
Arizona: While we absolutely love the Grand Canyon, we also recommend checking out Arizona's State Parks, where you can slide on the natural water chute at Slide Rock State Park or see saguaro cacti, the symbol of the American West, at Catalina State Park.
New Mexico: Make sure to explore Carlsbad Caverns, famous for its spooky caves and extrordinary bat flights.
Texas: Explore Big Bend National Park, where you'll find a beautiful desert environment along the Rio Grande.
Enjoy your trip, and be sure to stop by and let us know how your trip went!