Out on the open prairie of South Dakota, the ground suddenly breaks into a maze of striped spires, gullies and buttes. These soft layers of ash and mud are eroding fast, and they hold one of the richest fossil beds in the world. Most of the best hiking sits in one compact area near the Cedar Pass, where several short trails start from the same parking lot. Come early or late for soft light and cooler air, and keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, bison and prairie dogs along the road.
TRAILS
1 OF 8
Notch Trail
Difficulty
Hard
Length
1.25 mi
Elevation gain
250 ft
Cedar Pass · Door and Window parking area — The park's signature short hike. You wander up a dry canyon, climb a steep log-and-cable ladder, and then follow a narrow ledge to the Notch, a gap in the wall with a wide view over the White River Valley. It's thrilling but not for anyone afraid of heights. Avoid it in rain; the clay turns slick in minutes.
⚠︎ Closed since August 31, 2026 for ladder repairs, until further notice. Check nps.gov/badl.
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 8
Door Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.25 mi
Elevation gain
Minimal
Cedar Pass · Door and Window parking area — A short boardwalk leads through a break in the Badlands Wall called the Door, which opens onto a sea of pale, eroded ridges. Past the end of the boardwalk, numbered posts mark a route onto the formations themselves. It feels like walking on the moon. Watch your step and follow the posts so you can find your way back.
Photo: Eekim, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 8
Window Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.25 mi
Elevation gain
Minimal
Cedar Pass · Door and Window parking area — The shortest walk in the group: a level boardwalk to a natural opening in the Wall that frames an eroded canyon. It's wheelchair-friendly and a good stop for anyone who can't do the longer trails. Combine it with the Door Trail since they share a parking lot. Early morning light is the best time for photos.
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 8
Castle Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
10 mi
Elevation gain
350 ft
Cedar Pass · Door and Window parking area — The longest marked trail in the park runs about five miles one way between the Door and Window lot and the Fossil Exhibit Trail. It's mostly level, crossing prairie and skirting tall formations, so it's a good choice for a long, quiet walk. Do it as a shuttle with two cars, or turn around whenever you like. There's no shade or water at all, so carry plenty.
Photo: Eekim, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 8
Saddle Pass Trail
Difficulty
Hard
Length
0.7 mi
Elevation gain
200 ft
Cedar Pass · Saddle Pass trailhead — Short and very steep, this trail climbs straight up the face of the Badlands Wall to meet the Castle Trail on top. The view back over the prairie is big for so little distance. Footing is loose and crumbly, and it gets dangerous when wet or in high heat. Come down slowly, facing the slope if you need to.
Photo: Eekim, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 8
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
0.9 mi loop
Elevation gain
200 ft
Cedar Pass · Cliff Shelf parking area — A mix of boardwalk, stairs and dirt path that climbs onto a shelf of land that slumped down from the Wall. Junipers grow here in a surprising green pocket, and the top platform looks out over the White River Valley. Bighorn sheep sometimes graze nearby. The stairs make it more of a workout than the distance suggests.
Photo: Chris Light, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
7 OF 8
Medicine Root Loop
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
4.2 mi loop
Elevation gain
150 ft
Cedar Pass · Castle Trail junctions — A gentle loop through mixed-grass prairie that hooks onto the Castle Trail, with the formations rising along the horizon. It's a fine way to see the grassland side of the park, with wildflowers in early summer and meadowlarks singing. Start from the Castle Trail at the Old Northeast Road or the Saddle Pass junction. Hats and sunscreen are a must out here.
Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
8 OF 8
Fossil Exhibit Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.3 mi loop
Elevation gain
Flat
Badlands Loop Road · Fossil Exhibit Trail — A fully accessible boardwalk with touchable fossil replicas and exhibits about the ancient mammals that once lived here, from early horses to rhino-like beasts. Real fossils still erode out of the hills around you, which is part of why this park matters. If you spot one, leave it in place and tell a ranger. It's a great stop for kids.
Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Badlands trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.