UpToWhereWhat can you see from Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands)?
Shimmering spires of layered time in South Dakota's badlands.
From Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands), the terrain-limited line of sight reaches up to 137 km. The single farthest piece of visible terrain lies 137 km to the west-northwest (bearing 293°), at 2,003 m elevation. These results account for Earth's curvature and standard atmospheric refraction, computed from 30-meter resolution Copernicus GLO-30 elevation data across 2,051,943 terrain samples.
Open the interactive visibility map →Visibility by direction
The horizon is most open toward the west, where sightlines run 107 km on average; terrain closes the view down fastest to the east, at 0.5 km.
| N | 33.8 km | |
| NNE | 27.8 km | |
| NE | 31.0 km | |
| ENE | 7.0 km | |
| E | 0.5 km | |
| ESE | 0.7 km | |
| SE | 0.9 km | |
| SSE | 0.8 km | |
| S | 56.0 km | |
| SSW | 2.9 km | |
| SW | 2.4 km | |
| WSW | 20.7 km | |
| W | 107 km | |
| WNW | 107 km | |
| NW | 34.9 km | |
| NNW | 42.9 km |
Farthest named landmarks in view
48 named peaks, hills and headlands stand inside this viewshed. These are the farthest ones you could pick out on a clear day:
| Landmark | Visible distance | Direction | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Mountain | 138 km | WNW · 293° | 2,003 m |
| Terry Peak | 137 km | WNW · 292° | 2,150 m |
| Bald Mountain | 137 km | WNW · 293° | 2,015 m |
| Deer Mountain | 135 km | WNW · 291° | 2,027 m |
| White Tail Peak | 131 km | WNW · 282° | 2,123 m |
| Custer Peak | 126 km | WNW · 289° | 2,074 m |
About Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands)
Pinnacles Overlook crowns Badlands National Park at 3,625 feet, where crimson and gold sedimentary spires rise from ancient inland seas. Deep canyons reveal millions of years of geological history through variegated rock layers. Bighorn sheep graze these rugged heights above the eroded buttes.
Did you know?
- The Badlands preserve one of the richest fossil beds on Earth from the Oligocene epoch, including ancient rhinos, sabre-toothed predators, and three-toed horses, many unearthed in formations visible from Pinnacles Overlook.
- Sedimentary layers deposited 23 to 75 million years ago.
- Bighorn sheep gather here for grazing in late spring.
- Faces south, ideal for dramatic sunset photography.
- Overlooks deep canyons carved through softer claystone and siltstone.
Frequently asked questions
How far can you see from Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands)?
On a clear day the terrain allows a line of sight of up to 137 km from Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands). The average visible distance across all 360 directions is 29.9 km. Atmospheric conditions (haze, humidity) usually reduce practical visibility below the terrain-limited maximum.
What is the farthest point visible from Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands)?
The farthest terrain visible from Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands) lies 137 km to the west-northwest, at an elevation of 2,003 m. Earth's curvature and atmospheric refraction are accounted for in this calculation.
How high is Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands)?
The observation point at Pinnacles Overlook (Badlands) sits at 946 m above sea level (Copernicus GLO-30 elevation model).
How is this visibility map calculated?
UpToWhere traces lines of sight in 360 directions from the observer using 30 m-resolution Copernicus terrain data, correcting for Earth curvature and standard atmospheric refraction. You can run the same analysis for any point on Earth with the free calculator.
Run your own analysis
Want to know what you can see from your house, a summit you're planning to climb, or a plot of land? UpToWhere computes the same 360° viewshed for any point on Earth in seconds — free.
Try the viewshed calculator
