Scott and I have always been fascinated by Badlands National Park. The Lakota people were the first to name this place “mako sica” or “land bad.” Extreme temperatures, harsh terrain, and a lack of water and shelter helped earn this area its name. Although the fastest way to see the park is by driving, hiking in Badlands is an amazing experience for anyone used to exploring on foot. This National Park has an Open Hike Policy, which means that you are allowed to hike off-trail! As a visitor to the Badlands, you are free to explore trails like Deer Haven, the Sage Creek Wilderness Area, or any other part of the park you can visit safely. In this article, we’re sharing 10 amazing hikes in Badlands National Park.
1. Saddle Pass Trail
Distance: 0.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 300 feet
Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: moderate
The Saddle Pass Trail is a rather short hike and can be considered strenuous. This trail lets you climb up the Badlands Wall to a view over the White River Valley. The end of the trail connects with the Castle and Medicine Root Loop trails. Despite being one of the shorter trails in the park, Saddle Pass is one of the steepest, with approximately 300 feet of elevation gain!
2. Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
Distance: 0.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: moderate
This loop follows boardwalks and climbs stairs through a juniper forest along the Badlands wall. The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail rises 300 feet to an amazing view of the White River Valley. Approximately 25 miles to the south, you can see the flat-topped Eagle Butte, from this elevation. More than 50 plant and 100 bird species have been identified in this small area.
3. Notch Trail: The Badlands Most Thrilling Hike
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 180 feet
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy to moderate
If you can only do one hike in this park, this is the one you should do! The Notch Trail goes up a canyon to an overlook with dramatic views over the Great Plains. This hike is pure fun! It features a walk through a scenic canyon, a climb up a wooden ladder, and a brief walk along a cliff trail. The hike is 1.33 miles round trip with 125 feet of elevation gain. The Notch Trail also brings you right to a cliff’s edge, so may not be the best option for hikers with a fear of heights.
4. Door Trail
Distance: 0.75 miles
Elevation Gain: minimal
Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: easy
If you want to get up close to the incredible rock formations of the Badlands without a full-on hike, this is a great option! This accessible quarter-mile boardwalk leads through a break in the Badlands Wall, known as “the Door”. This is where the maintained trail ends. If you want to keep going, prepare to hike 0.5 miles into the Badlands, on rough, uneven terrain. The National Park Service lists this part of the trail as strenuous. However, this trail is relatively flat and most people will find it to be easy and fun.
5. Window Trail
Distance: 0.25 miles
Elevation Gain: none
Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: easy
This short walk leads hikers to a natural window in the Badlands Wall. Here you can really enjoy the view of “the Wall”. You can also have a closer look at the pinnacles and spires that make the Badlands National Park so famous.
6. Fossil Exhibit Trail
Distance: 0.25 miles
Elevation Gain: minimal
Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: easy
This hike is really more of a walk. It’s an accessible boardwalk that features fossil replicas, and exhibits of now-extinct creatures that once roamed the area. Badlands National Park has one of the largest mammal fossil beds in the world. The Fossil Exhibit Trail is the best place to learn about all of those discoveries.
7. Castle Trail
Distance: 10 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 340 feet
Time: 5 to 9 hours
Difficulty: easy-moderate
This is one of the best hikes in Badlands National Park. The Castle Trail is a 5-mile, point-to-point hike that wanders through the heart of the Badlands. There are a few different ways to hike this trail. You can either hike the Castle Trail point-to-point, out-and-back or combine the trail with the other trails, like Medicine Root Trail and/or Saddle Pass Trail to make the hike into a loop. You’ll hike through grasslands, around pinnacles of rock and stone, with the chance to spot bighorn sheep and even a rattlesnake.
8. Medicine Root Trail
Distance: 4 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: 100 feet
Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: easy to moderate
The Medicine Root Trail connects with the Castle Trail near the Old Northeast Road in the east with the Saddle Pass Trail and the mid-portion of the Castle Trail. This hike will let you explore the mixed-grass prairie while enjoying views of the Badlands in the distance. The views along the Medicine Root Trail are similar to but not as good, as those from the Castle Trail. The main reason to hike the Medicine Root Trail is to turn the Castle Trail hike into a loop.
9. Deer Haven Trail
Distance: up to 6 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: minimal
Time: 1-7 hours
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Deer Haven is a wilderness area of the Badlands where you can hike unmaintained trails into the backcountry. If you want to explore the Badlands on a personal level, without the crowds, this is one of the best hikes. The fun part about hiking Deer Haven is the fact that you can wander this network of trails, without following exact point-to-point directions. Before your hike, make sure to register your vehicle and write down your name in the Backcountry Register. The hike to Deer Haven starts at the Conata Picnic Area. If you follow the trail for 3 miles, you will reach Deer Haven, a small alcove of trees. Here you have some amazing views of the park and a great chance to spot wildlife.
10. Sage Creek Wilderness Area
Distance: up to 6 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: minimal
Time: 1-7 hours
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Explore the backcountry of the Badlands by hiking the Sage Creek Wilderness Area. There are no maintained trails in the Sage Creek Wilderness, but you are permitted to hike the area on your own. This Area can be accessed from several points. One of the most popular points is the Sage Creek Campground, but can also start at the Sage Creek Basin Overlook. Enjoy your hike out into the Sage Creek wilderness, following the faint human and bison trails that are visible in the tall grass.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoy your trip to Badlands National Park. This place is truly amazing and we’re planning to come back here, to explore more of it! Scott and I also made a video about our boondocking experience near this park. We had some crazy rainstorms with 55 mph winds. You can watch it below.
Also, we wrote a helpful article about how to find great boondocking, check it out!