Scoria Point in Theodore Roosevelt

Scoria Point

Offers a unique perspective on Badlands geological formations.

Guide Sections

Use Scoria Point's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.

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Scoria Point Details

Difficulty

Low

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In the middle of the South Unit, the Scoria Point Overlook is surrounded by the rock formations that gave this overlook its name. The Badlands landscape has been changing and evolving for millions of years. The red caps are a sign of their volcanic origin, when burning coals and ash baked the earth into a kind of brick. Over time, the rain and elements have eroded the softer rocks and earth, leaving behind formations and buttes topped with durable red caps of volcanic rock known as "scoria."