Coming from the east, the Painted Canyon visitor center was our first opportunity to see the park. We pulled in and parked behind another Ram Promaster. We had hoped to say hi to them but they drive off as we got out.
There is great view from the visitors center and a short trail. If you are passing through and low on cash, you just stop here rather than paying the fee for the park.
We were lucky to get one of the few campsites left in the National Park campground. It was a paved site next to a big class A motorhome.We spent the next day driving and hiking.
On the Coal Fire Trail we were just about finished with the loop trail when we saw a buffalo. He had decided he owned the trail.
We chatted with a couple from Georgia while we waited and hoped the buffalo moved on.Green and flowers. He didn’t so we had like back the entire loop.
With lots if green and flowers it did not seem like badlands were that bad. 
We talked with Ranger Jonathan on our first night and mentioned that we might change sites the bext night. Mrs Ram found us a site on the edge of the campground for our next two nights.
We left that big paved site available for somebody driving a larger house.