America’s badlands got their sinister name when early settlers found them

impossible to safely roll a car through the cracked lunar landscape in the Upper Midwest. Our most famous badlands are preserved in the national parks of the Dakotas, off limits to canine hikers.

To give your dog the opportunity to explore these unique lands of carved rock,

head south from the Dakotas to the lesser-known badlands of Nebraska

beg. Here at the National Gala Grasslands you will find dog-friendly

Toadstool Geologic Park, where the relentless tag team of water and wind have

Fantasy rock formations carved into the stark hills.

“Mushrooms” form when the underlying soft clay stone erodes faster than the

hard sandstone that covers it. You can walk your dog on a mile-long marked trail

interpretive loop that takes you on an educational adventure through these

we stopped. Your dog is welcome on the hard rock trail, but you can also explore

the way for up-close looks down the ravines at fossil bone fragments that tie the

rocks and traces of 30 million years preserved in the stone.

There are some rocks to climb along the route, but this low walk

The clay and ash cliffs are suitable for any level of canine hiker. There is only

sporadic shade and seasonal streams in this old riverbed, so bring plenty

water for your dog, especially in the summer months. Take a break at the end of

the walk in the small fenced yard of the reproduced turf house next to the parking lot

lot.

For extended dog walks, Toadstool Park connects with the world famous

Hudson-Meng Bison Boneyard via a three-mile trail. This archaeological site seeks

unravel the mystery of how more than 600 bison died nearly 10,000 years ago in one area

the size of a football stadium. Human predation is the prime suspect.

Toadstool Geological Park is located 19 miles NW of Crawford, Nebraska in the US.

Forest Route 904 off of State Highway 2/71. The trail starts at the back of the six-

unit camp.