Badlands – Nomad View

Nomad View Dispersed Camping

The Nomad View Dispersed camping in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland is located outside the north entrance to the Badlands National Park. It is a site that has been popularized in numerous sites, videos, and blogs over the years. Easy access and stunning views are the main reasons for its huge popularity. We saw all types of campers along the rim. There was everything from backpackers to fifth wheelers. This site is under review by the National Forest Service due to the careless behavior of the few campers that are not following the NFS camping guidelines. This is readily apparent by the wear and tear along the forest service road 7158.

For about five years Rebecca had dreamed of camping here and she was not disappointed. From the campsite we had chosen the views of the badlands stretching out to the east and south were extraordinary. A stand of trees just below the rim provided hours of bird watching from our chairs looking directly into the canopy.

Everything was going fine until a squall line appeared off to the west moving rapidly towards us. Working frantically to lower the top and pivot the K2R2’s nose into the wind was harrowing. The wind struck with unbelievable force rocking us as we lowered the top, snapped the locks, and jumped into our seats to move as quickly as possible. The wind propelled the sand, debris, large raindrops and small rocks in a fevered fusillade. I stopped and set the brake and we both were sitting wide eyed in stunned silence. After the squall line passed we moved the K2R2 back to the edge and enjoyed a beautiful sunset and sunrise. This was our second dust storm of the trip and the bipolar weather of the great plains.