After travelling to the Badlands, I was completely blown away by its unique natural beauty and the number of hikes that take you directly into it all. I have compiled this list of the best hikes in Badlands National park so you can explore the best of what this place has to offer!
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Picture yourself standing on the edge of a vast expanse, looking out over jagged cliffs in an otherworldly landscape. Welcome to Badlands National Park, a hiker’s paradise nestled in the heart of South Dakota.
Spanning over 240,000 acres, Badlands National Park, also referred to as simply “The Badlands,” is renowned for its mesmerizing rock formations, sweeping vistas, and exciting wildlife. The park is filled with short but sweet hikes, roaming Bison, and blowing grasslands for days. It is the perfect place to escape into the wilderness.
In this post, we’ll dive into the best hikes in Badlands National Park, guiding you through the untamed beauty of this remarkable natural wonder. We’ll also go over some helpful tips for making your trip to the Badlands a great success!
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Best Time to Visit Badlands National Park
The best time to visit the Badlands is during the shoulder season in the spring (April – June) and the fall (September – November). The summer months will bring a higher number of visitors, but most notably, some pretty extreme dry heat with temperatures reaching up to 46 degrees Celcius. However, it is good to note that June is considered the rainiest season for the park. I personally visited in July and with proper steps taken to ensure we stayed hydrated and protected from the sun, we still had a great time!
The time of day you visit can also really impact your experience. I recommend visiting during the golden hours of dawn and dusk to see the rock formations come alive with colour.
Entrance Fees and Park Hours
Like any US National park, there are entry fees to enter. You can purchase passes directly from the National Park Service website.
- Private Vehicle: $30 USD for the entire vehicle, no matter the number of people, for 7 days
- Badlands Annual Park Pass: $55 for a single private vehicle
You can also find varying fees for motorcycles, bicycles, and larger commercial vehicles in the same link.
Badlands National Park itself is open 24/7, however, the visitor’s centres and other amenities will have hours to them. You can find the hours for all the different centres here.
The 11 Best Hikes in Badlands National Park For All Hikers
1. Notch Trail
Trail Length: Approximately 1.5 miles round trip
Hiking Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1 hour
Total Ascent: 180 feet
Starting off with a bang, the Notch Trail is the most popular hike in the park. And my personal favourite if I might add! A moderate-level hike with occasional steep sections, the Notch trail takes you further in and amongst the rugged terrain and rock formations of the park and ends with an exceptional viewpoint. You’ll wander through a canyon, up an adventurous log ladder, and along an exposed path that provides dramatic cliff views. It really is quite thrilling!
While not the most difficult hike, a pair of sturdy shoes is highly recommended. There are some steep sections and the path consists mostly of loose gravel-like dirt. There is a dedicated parking lot for the Window, Door, and Notch trail, providing easy access to the trailhead.
2. The Door Trial
Trail Length: 0.8 miles out and back
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Time: 30+ mins
Ascent: 50 feet
A short and accessible hike, the Door Trail is perfect for getting up close to the park’s natural beauty without having to stray too far. This easy hike takes you along a boardwalk and ends with a platform where you can admire great views of the moon-like landscape around you. The best part of the entire hike starts at the end of the trail, as you are able to exit the path and wander through the jagged rock formations to your heart’s content.
The trailhead for the hike can be found right in the parking lot for the Door and Window trails. If you choose to wander beyond the boardwalk-marked path, make sure to proceed with caution.
3. The Window Trail
Trail Length: 0.25 miles round trip
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Time: 15+ mins
Ascent: 10 feet
The Window Trail is a short yet rewarding hike that offers spectacular views of the Badlands Wall, a 100 mile long ridge that spans across the South Dakota plains. The trail takes you through a natural window-like opening in the rocks, providing a framed view of a massive orange-coloured canyon. This short-but-sweet hike is also a great stopping point if you are driving the Badlands loop (one of the most scenic drives in the country). Filled with scenic vistas and unique geological formations, this is a hard hike to miss!
The trailhead is easy to find, located in a dedicated Window parking area.
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4. Medicine Root Trail
Trail Length: 4 miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Time: Varies
Ascent: 0 feet
The perfect hike for those seeking peace and solitude, the Medicine Root Trail offers a serene hiking experience through the grassy prairie with views of the Badland rock formations in the distance. This trail is often overlooked by travellers due to its lack of wow factor when compared to the rest, yet provides a great opportunity to spot wildlife. Meandering through the grasslands, you’ll have the chance to see bighorn sheep, mule deer, and adorable prairie dogs! The Medicine root trail offers a different perspective of the park’s diverse ecosystem and a small respite from the crowds.
The most popular variation of the hike starts with a marked path next to the Castle Trail and ends at the intersection between the Castle Trail and the Saddle Pass Trail. You can also easily combine a portion of the Castle trail to turn it into a loop.
There is no shade on this trail whatsoever, so make sure to bring lots of water and sun protection if you are doing this hike in the summer. It might also be worthwhile to complete the hike in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the peak heat of the day. You’ll also want to watch out for rattlesnakes along this grassy trail.
5. Fossil Exhibit Trail
Trail Length: 0.25 miles round trip
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Time: 15 minutes
Ascent: 0 feet
The Fossil Exhibit trail is one of the best hikes in Badlands National Park for learning more about the park’s unique paleontological history. Featuring interpretive exhibits that showcase a variety of replica fossils, the Fossil Exhibit Trail is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the creatures that once roamed those lands. You’ll walk along a boardwalk that stretches out into the geological formations and can interact with the tactile exhibits as you go.
You can access the trailhead in a dedicated parking lot along Highway 240.
6. Saddle Pass Trail
Trail Length: 0.7 miles out and back
Level of Difficulty: Moderately difficult
Time: 30 mins
Ascent: 300 feet
The Saddle Pass Trail is a steep and challenging hike that ascends to the top of the Badlands Wall and rewards hikers with panoramic views over the White River Valley. You can wander a bit off-trail on this one or combine it with some of the Castle Trail if you’re looking to extend your hike. This is a great hike if you are a sucker for a good viewpoint and don’t mind the physical challenge.
While short in length, the Saddle Pass trail requires moderate fitness due to its steep and rocky terrain. Sturdy footwear is absolutely key, as the trail is not only steep but also full of loose rocks and gravel.
7. Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
Trail Length: 0.5 mile loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 15 minutes
Ascent: 300 feet
The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail is located in the southern part of the Badlands and takes you to a viewing platform raised high above the park’s beautiful landscape. Featuring educational signage along the route, you’ll pass through an oasis-like Juniper forest filled with lush greenery and a seasonal pond. After a short jaunt, you’ll reach a set of stairs to the viewpoint at the top.
While a relatively short hike, the Cliff Shelf trail packs a big punch when it comes to sweeping views over the grassy landscape and completely unique greenery along the way (there aren’t many trees to be found in the Badlands after all).
8. Castle Trail
Distance: 5.4 miles out and back (about 10.8 miles round trip if you hike both ways)
Trail difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Total Ascent: 340 feet
Time: Up to 2 – 3 hours
The Castle Trail is the longest maintained trail in the badlands. It offers hikers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the park’s unique and diverse landscape. The trail is consistently flat and traverses the park’s rolling grasslands and winds through colourful rock formations. You’ll also have the chance to view the Badlands Wall.
The main Castle Trailhead is located along Highway 240, near the start of the Notch trail. However, it can also be started from near the Fossil Exhibit trailhead. It can be hiked in multiple different ways to either shorten it or turn it into a loop.
Hike the Entire Trail Each Way
The simplest, yet most lengthy option is to complete the entirety of the out-and-back trail both ways. This allows you to experience the entire trail without having to arrange transport back from a different parking area.
Hike the Trail One Way
If you want to experience the scenery of the entire trail and have the ability to arrange a ride, then this is a great option. There are no shuttle options in the Badlands unfortunately, but if someone in your group isn’t a big hiker then you can have them pick you up at the end.
Take the Saddle Pass Trail to Shorten It
If you have someone who can pick you up at the end of the trail but don’t want to complete the entire 5.4 miles, then cut the trail shorter but taking the saddle pass trail to its parking lot.
Take the Medicine Root Trail to Turn it into a Loop
If you want to add a bit of a loop into the hike, simply take the Medicine Root trail and loop back the way you came. This option works best if you’ve started from the Notch trail parking area.
Other Hikes in the Badlands National Park
Aside from the park’s best and most popular hikes, there are also a few additional unofficial hiking options that can help you get a little off the beaten path. The Badlands is also an “open hike” national park, which means that you are able to wander practically anywhere. Although, if you intend to wander off-trail in the backcountry, make sure you have some backcountry experience and have proper devices for navigating.
1. Deer Haven Trail
Deer Haven trail is considered a “social” unofficial network of trails that leads you deeper into the Badlands backcountry. The hike begins with a well-marked trailhead at Conata Picnic Area along the Badlands scenic loop and takes you to the Deer Haven oasis filled with small trees. The hike to the oasis is 3 miles. The trail starts off well-worn and easy to follow but becomes almost non-existent at some points so proper navigation devices are essential.
2. Sheep Mountain Table Hike
The Sheep Mountain Table is an incredibly scenic dirt road that can either be driven or hiked. The road extends about 5 miles from Highway 27 before it reaches the top of the table and a scenic overlook. It makes for the perfect easy hike, with the road cutting between beautiful rock formations as you go. And the beauty is, you can completely tailor the length of this hike by turning back at any point.
If you want to view the overlook without hiking the entire way, it is recommended to drive the road, park at the scenic overlook, and then hike down the road about 2.5 miles before turning back. However, it is important to note that the road conditions are a bit rough and become completely in-drivable after a storm.
3. Wandering Around Cedar Pass Campground and the Sage Creek Wilderness Area
The Cedar Pass campground and the Sage Creek Wilderness area are two incredibly scenic spots to set up a tent in the park. Cedar Pass is a more established campground with amenities such as picnic tables and a short walk from the Cedar Pass Lodge. Sage Creek offers the opportunity to try out more primitive camping.
The best part about both of these spots is that they are located in incredible scenic portions of the park. It is incredibly fun to simply wander and explore the scenic grasslands around the campsite.
Tips and Safety for Hiking in Badlands National Park
Variable Weather
The Badlands can experience some pretty dramatic weather extremes that are important to be aware of. It is not uncommon for thunderstorms to rage through the park and the extreme heat in the summer can become pretty intense. With that being said, preparation is key! Make sure to always check the weather before heading out for the day, pack a raincoat, and carry plenty of water and sun protection.
Wildlife
The unique wildlife is part of what makes the Badlands so incredible. However, like any natural environment, it is important to be cautious. The Badlands feature some pretty large animals such as bison and bighorn sheep, which can pose a threat to humans if they are provoked. Never approach them and proceed with caution especially when hiking in the less visited areas of the park. Rattlesnakes are also pretty abundant, so always watch your step.
Cell Reception in the Badlands
Along the main scenic road loop and the short popular hikes, you shouldn’t run into any problems with cell reception. However, as soon as you venture further into the backcountry or along any gravel more remote roads, you will lose cell reception fast. With that being said, it’s just important to be aware and prepared with proper offline maps and navigational devices. If you plan to venture off more remote, it might also be worth bringing a satellite phone for emergencies, especially with the number of rattlesnakes.
Final Thoughts on the Best Hikes in Badlands National Park
There you have it, the 11 best hikes in Badlands National Park! The Badlands is an absolute treasure trove of stunning natural beauty and captivating hiking trails. From dramatic rock formations to the unique plant and animal life, the park offers a diverse range of experiences for all you fellow nature lovers out there.
The trails listed in this post are true gems and really showcase the park’s awe-inspiring landscapes. I mean, who doesn’t love traversing canyons, climbing wooden ladders, and exploring endless lookout points? Each hike offers its own distinct features and provides great variety for hikers of all levels.
Happy adventuring!
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