The Ultimate Guide to Badlands Hikes: 5 Family Friendly Hiking Trails
5 Family Friendly Hiking Trails in Badlands National Park
As avid outdoor explorers, Badlands NP was high on our bucket list for our Epic 2023 summer adventure in South Dakota! Unlike most National Parks, staying on the trail is not required! Erosion eats away at the park, so visitors get to help shape the next version of Badlands!
We explored Badland National Park during our summer adventure! As a family of avid hikers (some more than others), we enjoy easy and challenging trails. Our favorite trails have views, rock scrambles, waterfalls, and the chance for local wildlife sightings of bighorn sheep. Badlands did not disappoint. Some of the best hikes in the park make our top 5 Family Friendly Hiking Trails in Badlands National Park.
Our top 5 Family Friendly Hiking Trails in Badlands National Park are:
- Saddle Pass Trail – Short and steep, but worth the effort to reach the top with amazing views of the Badlands wall!
- Yellow Mounds – A volunteer Park Ranger gave us a tip on where the locals see the Yellow Mounds a great place to explore…read on for more!
- Notch Trail – The log ladder on this trail provides a one-of-a-kind experience.
- The Door Trail – Step off the boardwalk and follow the trail markers…like hide n’ go seek in the Badlands, with beautiful views all around!
- The Window Trail – Easy boardwalk stroll to a “window” into the Badlands, perfect for first-time visitors.
Top Hikes in Badlands National Park You Can’t-Miss
These hikes are relatively short, meaning less than 5 miles. In many cases, they are less than 2 miles, making them great options for families. Several were on boardwalks. In my earlier hiking days, boardwalks put me off as non-hiking trails. My perspective shifted. I appreciate the boardwalk trails because they allow visitors of all abilities to enjoy the beauty of the National Parks, including the easy access provided by the Door Trail.
Our family truly enjoyed these hikes. This means we heard lots of “This is cool” or “Did you see this view?” and less of “My feet hurt” and “Are we finished yet?”! Every family has a hiker who shares the discomfort of the hike every step of the way. Well, minimizing the dissenting voices is vital to a fun day, especially in the extreme heat of summer months.
Discovering the Best Family-Friendly Trails: Hiking in the Badlands
Let’s dive into the hikes in Badlands National Park you shouldn’t miss, each offering a unique experience of hiking in the Badlands.
Quickly, here’s my general disclaimer: National Parks are fantastic and unique places to enjoy. You know your abilities (or lack of) and your comfort zone. Stay true to your comfort zone, be careful around cliff edges, don’t take big chances, etc., and you will have a fantastic visit to Badlands National Park!
Saddle Pass Trail: A Premier Hike in Badlands National Park
First, Saddle Pass Trail involves scrambling up some rocks, a steep climb, and a stunning view of the rock formations! You know, the kind of view when you feel like you’re on top of the world, with beautiful views of the Badlands, right? Yup, that’s what you get here! Mainly because you climb up nearly 220 feet from the Badlands floor.
Don’t worry; no real climbing experience is necessary. Just the ability to judge your surroundings and carefully traverse the trail. Hiking up the spine to the lookout point is narrow and somewhat steep. If you have young kids, watch them closely. We never felt in danger on this hike, and one of our hikers doesn’t like heights.
The rocky ground of the Badlands is constantly changing and eroding, which is why you can pretty much go off trail anyplace you like, thanks to the open hike policy. But, sometimes, the ground erodes and slips from under your feet. In rainy conditions, the rocky soil absorbs water and becomes incredibly slick. Be extra careful!!
How are the Views from Saddle Pass Trail?
Second, Saddle Pass offers stunning 360-degree views, making it one of the best trails in Badlands National Park. Hiking up from the Badlands floor to the first level; think of it like going from the basement to the first floor. Getting to level one is neat, and you are now level with the Badlands. Going up another level is like climbing the ladder to the house’s roof! From here, you get to see the entire neighborhood of the mixed-grass prairie and rock formations.
Except this neighborhood is miles and miles of earth formations unlike any you have ever seen!
How long is Saddle Pass Trail?
Third, Saddle Pass Trail is short, clocking in under 1 mile. It’s about 0.7 miles, to be exact. While we enjoy longer hikes, getting to business in less than 1 mile makes for some happy hikers at Our Campfire Unplugged!
Take it easy on the way down the trail! Sitting on your bottom and sliding down is okay.
Pro Tip: If the trail is wet, especially after heavy rains, it will probably be too slippery to climb!
Yellow Mounds: A Colorful Marvel in Badlands National Park
Yes. More precisely, my eye site showed these as a golden color.
Thanks to our volunteer park ranger friend, we got the details on where the locals go to enjoy the Yellow Mounds, a great opportunity for solitude. And the best part is, you get the Yellow Mounds to yourself!
How to get to this super secret place? Well, take the Badlands loop past the “official” Yellow Mounds Overlook parking (see below).
So, drive a little past the official overlook parking (if coming from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center) and take the pull-out on the left and take the pull-out on the left for easy access. Directly across the road, you will see two mounds (grass-covered if memory serves). Carefully cross the road, walk between these mounds, and enter the world of Yellow Mounds!
As you explore the Yellow Mounds, you’re standing on rocks deposited over 60 million years ago! Amazing!
We enjoyed hanging out here, running up and down the mounds, taking in the views from the mound tops. And the solitude of being alone in this vast wilderness with visitors so close by. Frankly, I’m shocked that other visitors didn’t come over to check out the fun we were having. But none did, and we enjoyed the quiet!
I can’t underscore enough how cool it is to walk around pretty much anywhere you want without being “off trail.” We typically like to stay on the trail to help do our part and preserve these places of beauty!
Notch Trail: A Thrilling Adventure in Badlands National Park
The difficulty of Notch Trail will depend on you and your situation. We found the trail to be generally straightforward. Going up and coming down the ladder are the most challenging parts and 100% manageable. We saw small kids (5 to 7 years old) easily navigate it, making it a great hike for families. They navigated it easier than several adults we watched. If you’re reasonably healthy and have an adventurous spirit, you will love this trail!
In 100% fairness, we watched some of our favorite YouTubers (Adventures of A+K) who included the Notch Trail in their Black Hills exploration! Their video pumped us up to hit this trail. Then, we heard from other people we knew that it’s no big deal and not that great.
Naturally, we lowered our expectations and thought Notch Trail would be okay. And maybe we were “too cool for school.” Anywho, Notch Trail was stop numero uno on our way into Badlands National Park for the Our Campfire Unplugged crew…And we loved this trail!
So, How Hard is Notch Trail?
Our group would rate it from easy (if paying attention) to moderate. Madeline and I were on the more accessible side. Sara was between easy and moderate, and Jack was closer to moderate. Going up the ladder was super cool and not really challenging. The descent is a bit trickier, particularly if you don’t like heights.
What’s the Big Deal About Notch Trail?
Notwithstanding the super cool wooden ladder attached to a wall of the Badlands, the views from the top of the trail are spectacular. Since this is likely one of your first stops, viewing the Badlands from the high ground is really special, offering great views of the Badlands. This vantage point allows visitors to see expansive Badlands, a great opportunity for photography.
This vantage point allows visitors to see expansive Badlands. After reaching the summit of the ladder, hikers have a short walk along a cliff’s edge to the overlook. Be careful! There are no handrails, and a fall from these cliffs won’t end well.
Is the Notch Trail Suitable for All Ages?
Great question! And one only you can answer! If your children are experienced hikers and know to be careful around the cliff lines and not run around or play in unsafe areas, then it’s probably not a big deal. Our kids are experienced near cliff lines. And we still remind them to be careful and mindful of their environment.
Final Word on Notch Trail
We loved this trail. Setting our expectations low was the key, in my view. The trail surpassed every single wish I had for it! It was a special trial for our crew!
Door Trail: Gateway to the Badlands’ Wonders
The Door Trail starts on an accessible boardwalk for a quarter of a mile. At the end of the boardwalk are a couple of stairs down to the Badlands. From here, hikers get to follow small arrows placed throughout the Badlands, making it like a seek and find hike for kids. Picture hide ‘n go seek on a trail.
Our kids took the lead on the trail and made a game of finding the trail markers.
The Badlands surround hikers. Think of this as an immersive experience. Rather than just looking at the formations, you enter them and almost transform into a living, breathing part of the park. The National Parks are unique like that! They allow visitors to experience with multiple senses what the landscape was like before humans altered the earth.
If the end of the trail isn’t clear, the NPS makes it clear with a sign telling you “end of the trail.” From the end of the trail vantage point, you are above many low Badlands areas and can see for miles.
How long is The Door Trail?
The Door Trail is about 1 mile. This hike is flat and very easy. The “trail” is wide open and has such an ample space that a huge number of hikers can be present, and it doesn’t feel super crowded.
What else should I see when I’m at The Door Trail?
Visitors can find four trailheads for The Door Trail at the parking lot. You will find:
- The Door Trail
- Notch Trail
- The Window Trail
- Castle Trail
The first three are short and easy hikes (see my descriptions above). Castle Trail is 10+ miles long and open (e.g., no shade, so bring plenty of water!), making it the longest trail in Badlands National Park. We did not hike it, so I can’t say much other than make sure you are prepared with plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat.
I believe it’s out and back so make sure you plan for a ride back to your car or are capable of hiking a long distance.
Window Trail: A Family-Friendly Badlands Hike
This is a super easy and flat boardwalk trail to a “window,” giving visitors a view of the Badlands below. Clocking in at 0.3 miles on a flat and easy boardwalk, just about anyone could tackle this hike.
Navigating the Badlands: Interactive Map of the Badlands
The National Park Service provides FREE interactive maps available via their APP.
Before you embark on your adventure, having a Badlands National Park map to navigate the diverse trails is helpful.
What Else do I need to Plan for on my Badlands Adventure?
Besides these 5 Family Friendly Hiking Trails in Badlands National Park, visitors definitely should check out the prairie dog towns, numerous panoramic overlooks, look for some bison, and the visitor center.
Is there a cost to enter Badlands National Park?
Yes, Badlands charges a fee to enter the park.
Cars are $30 for 7 days; Motorcycles are $25, and walking in will cost you $15. The entrance fee is worth every penny! Season passes for ONLY the Badlands Park are available for $55. Annual Park Passes (get you into all National Parks) only cost $80. So, if you plan on visiting several National Parks that charge entrance fees, the Annual Park Pass is your best bet. It saved us tons of money on entrance fees.
The NPS offers five days of free park admission throughout the year, making it a great time to visit. Check the NPS website for the exact days before your visit.
Where do I buy an Annual Park Pass?
The National Park Service sells passes at the park and online. REI and other retailers sell passes at no mark-up. In fact, REI sells the pass for $79.00 at the time of this writing!
How do I see the Prairie Dogs at Badlands National Park?
The Badlands Loop road will take visitors past several prairie dog towns. Prairie Dogs look like tiny gophers to me, but they are super cute. They dig holes, or burroughs, and connect these underground into massive networks. These are very social animals and work as a group.
For instance, several Prairie Dogs sit out of their holes, watching for predators. They communicate to the rest of the colony when danger is near.
While you may be tempted to feed or touch Prairie Dogs, please don’t. It’s against park regulations, and these are wild animals. It’s cute but wild. Some carry diseases like the Black Plague. So enjoy from a distance!
What Are the Best Overlooks in Badlands NP?
Badlands National Park might also be a one-time visit for you, so I recommend taking in as many perspectives of this unique landscape as possible. If you are tired of beautiful vistas and the Badlands landscape, make sure to get in the Pinnacle Overlook before heading out of the park.
This quick stop offers a beautiful view of the canyons cut through the Badlands by the Cheyenne and White Rivers starting about 500,000 years ago. It’s estimated in about 500,000 years, the Badlands will be fully eroded.
What is the Best Way to Visit Multiple National Parks on One Adventure?
Planning your adventure is critical to ensuring you have enough time to enjoy and explore each National Park. The NPS supports over 400 National Park Units, which makes National Parks closer to home than we may think.
Create an amazing adventure by mixing in National Parks, National Forests, and National Historic Parks. For more helpful ideas, head over to our article on Planning a Trip to National Parks!
What Animals live in Badlands?
We were fortunate to see some pronghorn, bison, and prairie dogs all safely from the car. Binoculars are very nice to have in the park.
What Else Should I Check Out While in the Badlands?
Other than 5 Family Friendly Hiking Trails in Badlands National Park, check out Wall Drug Store! And, while you’re exploring, look at the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore (see our post about visiting with kids), Custer State Park, and Spearfish Canyon.
Carve out a few minutes to stop by the world-famous Wall Drug store. This store mixes Buc-ees (minus the gas), Walmart, and a flea market with a deli. If Wall Drug doesn’t carry what you’re looking for, you probably don’t need it! Wall Drug has a chapel for the missionary priest who traveled there!
We took the obligatory picture under the Wall Drug sign and enjoyed free water, 5-cent coffee, and some out-of-this-world soft serve. The soft-serve gets custom-mixed based on your order. I can’t recall seeing that before, and it impressed me!
Can I visit Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore in One Day?
I think so! It would be a long day! Here’s how I would do it. I would arrive at Badlands NP around 8 AM and hit Notch Trail, The Window Trail, and The Door Trail. Next, I would head to Saddle Pass Trail, the Yellow Mounds, and the Panoramic Overview. I would head to Wall for a donut to refuel. Then, head out to Mount Rushmore.
At Mount Rushmore, I would start near Custer, SD, and drive north on Iron Mountain Road toward Mount Rushmore. Arrive at the monument after 5:30 or 6 PM and enjoy smaller crowd sizes. Walk the Presidential Trail Loop and grab dinner in Hill City, SD! Then I would brag about a fantastic day in the National Parks!
Enjoy Your Day in the Badlands National Park
Enjoy your day in this epic wonderland regardless of which hikes you choose! Badlands is like stepping onto another planet (I imagine) for some time without ever leaving Earth. We hope you build some happy memories on these 5 Family Friendly Hiking Trails in Badlands National Park!!
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