Badlands

Moderate. The longest trail in the park begins at the Door and Window parking area and travels five miles one way to the Fossil Exhibit Trail. Relatively level, the path passes along some badlands formations. 10 miles/16 km (round trip)

Cliff Shelf Nature Trail is one of several short, accessible hikes near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center of Badlands National Park.

One of several picnic areas available for use in the park along the scenic loop road.

Badlands National Park has an Open Hike Policy, meaning that you are allowed to hike off-trail. As a visitor to the Badlands, you are free to explore social trails like Deer Haven, the Sage Creek Wilderness Area, or any other part of the park you can visit safely. Deer Haven is either a short round-trip (6 mile) hike or a more extensive 23 mile loop. The trail is not marked, so navigation will rely on map/compass or GPS routing.

One of the park's most popular trails providing an accessible view of badlands buttes and formations.

Fossil Exhibit Trail is one of several features in the park that provide accessible enjoyment of the park's resources.

On the Castle Trail portion of the Medicine Root loop, the trail is almost entirely within the upper part of the Brule Formation (Poleslide Member; Oligocene Epoch, 32.0-30.0 million years ago).

A memorable ladder along Notch Trail.

This is the park's most popular trail. It features badlands buttes, views, and a wooden ladder!

Saddle Pass is one of several short accessible hikes near by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center of Badlands National Park.

The wilderness area has a primitive campground and no official trails. Any trip to the area needs to be planned ahead of time.

This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze alligator fossil and information about how alligators moved to survive a changing climate.

This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze Ammonite fossil and information about how Ammonites died in response to a changing climate.

This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze Dog fossil and information about how dogs evolved to survive a changing climate.

This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze Mesohippus fossil and information about Mesohippus evolved to adapt to changing climates.

This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze nimravid fossil and information about how nimravid died in the face of a changing climate.

This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze oreodont fossil and information about how the fossilization process occurs.

This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features an annotated photograph of a badlands landscape with several layered elaborated on.

This is a stop along the Fossil Exhibit Trail of Badlands National Park. This exhibit features a replica bronze Titanothere fossil and information about how Titanotheres died in response to a changing climate.

This short trail leads to a natural window in the Badlands Wall with a view of an intricately eroded canyon.