Worth the Detour | June 2024
The Trails at a Glance
Location: Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Trails Hiked: Door Trail, Window Trail, Notch Trail, Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, and Saddle Pass Trail
Distance: Individual trail distances are listed below. We walked all five trails to their ends, including the marked route beyond the Door Trail boardwalk.
Difficulty: Easy to strenuous, depending on the trail
Terrain: Boardwalks, stairs, steep climbs, loose rock, and exposed ledges
Trail Information: Badlands National Park Hiking Trails
Our First Stop: The Badlands
In June 2024, we set out on a road trip to California, with a few adventures planned along the way. Our first stop was Badlands National Park in western South Dakota, where we spent the weekend before continuing west.
We stayed at the Badlands/White River KOA near Interior, and with temperatures in the 90s, I was pretty thankful we'd chosen this campground.
Another campground we'd looked at was out in the open, with hardly any shade. The KOA had plenty of trees along the White River, which sounded much better for a hot June weekend.
Of course, our last-minute plans meant we didn't exactly get our pick of campsites.
We ended up with what had to be one of the smallest, most awkward tent spots in the campground and the spot sat lower than the surrounding ground.
Still, we got everything set up and settled in for the evening.
What could possibly go wrong?
Hiking the Badlands
We spent Saturday exploring Badlands National Park, hiking five different trails throughout the day.
The landscape here feels like a whole different side of South Dakota. Steep ridges, narrow canyons, and layers of rock stretch as far as you can see.
One of my favorite things about hiking is getting to explore beyond what you can see from the road. The Badlands gave us plenty of opportunities for that!
I was also pretty grateful for the new hiking boots I'd gotten before the trip. Some of these trails have a lot of loose rock and gravel, especially on the steeper climbs, and having decent traction made a difference.
Door Trail
Distance: 0.26 miles round trip on the boardwalk, with additional walking beyond it | Difficulty: Easy
Door Trail begins with a boardwalk leading through a natural opening in the Badlands Wall, appropriately known as "the Door."
Beyond the boardwalk, numbered posts mark the route through the rock formations. We followed them all the way to the trail end before heading back.
I liked being able to get out among the formations. The farther we went, the more we could appreciate just how vast this landscape is.
It's a fairly easy hike, but the scenery makes it well worth exploring beyond the boardwalk.
Window Trail
Distance: 0.26 miles round trip | Difficulty: Easy
Window Trail is one of the shortest hikes in the park, but it still offers a great view.
The boardwalk leads to a natural opening in the Badlands Wall, where you can look out over a canyon filled with eroded rock formations.
It's a quick stop and doesn't require much effort, making it an easy addition while exploring the nearby trails.
Notch Trail
Distance: 1.25 miles round trip | Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Notch Trail was one of the more adventurous hikes of the day. It starts through a canyon, surrounded by towering Badlands formations. We also spotted prickly pear along the way.
A steep wooden log ladder takes you up the hillside. Climbing it was one of the highlights. It's not something you encounter on your typical hiking trail!
At the top, the trail continues along a narrow ledge, with exposed sections and loose gravel underfoot. This was another place where I appreciated having good traction!
Eventually, we reached the Notch, a natural opening overlooking the White River Valley. The view was pretty incredible!
Between the ladder, the ledges, and the view over the valley, this was one of the most memorable hikes of the day.
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
Distance: 0.86 miles round trip | Difficulty: Moderate
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail was a bit different from the other hikes.
Rather than climbing through exposed rock formations the entire way, this loop winds through an area of juniper trees perched along the Badlands Wall.
The trail follows a combination of boardwalks, stairs, and natural paths, climbing about 200 feet in elevation.
It was interesting to see an area with so much vegetation surrounded by the otherwise rugged, dry landscape.
The juniper trees were a welcome change of scenery after all that exposed rock.
Saddle Pass Trail
Distance: 0.68 miles round trip | Difficulty: Strenuous
Saddle Pass might be short, but don't let the distance fool you.
This trail climbs steeply up the Badlands Wall, with plenty of loose rock and gravel along the way. It was definitely another spot where I was thankful for my new hiking boots.
Once we made it to the top, we were rewarded with some great views over the White River Valley and the surrounding formations.
It's amazing how different the Badlands look once you're standing above those ridges.
Not a long hike by any means, but it certainly makes you work for the view.
The trail distances above reflect the National Park Service's current listings and may differ from older guides. The 0.26-mile distance for Door Trail covers only the boardwalk; we continued to the end of the marked route, so our hike was longer.
A Wedding, a Storm, and a Flooded Campsite
After spending the day hiking, we had a small family wedding to attend that evening. The ceremony took place overlooking the Badlands, which made for a pretty incredible backdrop. Afterward, we headed to Wall for supper and the reception.
Meanwhile, back at our campground, South Dakota weather was doing what South Dakota weather does best.
A storm had rolled through while we were away, and when we returned that night, we discovered our campsite was completely flooded.
Remember that little low spot where we'd managed to squeeze our tent?
Yeah, that wasn't such a great spot after all.
We ended up moving the tent in the dark to the side of a small hill. With barely enough room for it to begin with, we didn't have many options.
It wasn't the most level sleeping arrangement, but we managed to stay dry and sleep comfortably, even at a slight slant!
Not quite how we'd planned to end the day, but we won't forget that campsite anytime soon.
One Last Drive Through the Badlands
Sunday morning, we packed up camp and continued west toward California. Before leaving the Badlands behind, we took the scenic route along the western stretch of Badlands Loop Road.
We passed through the Yellow Mounds area, where the landscape looked noticeably different from the formations we'd spent the previous day hiking through. Instead of the mostly gray and tan ridges, these hills were layered with shades of yellow, pink, and purple.
We stopped at a couple more overlooks along the way, including Pinnacles Overlook, taking in some final views of the rugged landscape before leaving the park.
Along a dirt road through the open prairie, we spotted a lone bison. Just one, out there by itself, but always a cool sight to come across!
From there, we continued west toward California.
Between five hikes, a wedding, and our unexpectedly flooded campsite, we'd already packed quite a bit of adventure into the first weekend of our trip.
And we still had a long way to go before reaching California!
A Few Things to Know
The hikes vary quite a bit in difficulty. Door and Window are relatively easy, while Notch and Saddle Pass involve steep terrain, loose gravel, and some exposure. Don't let the short distances fool you.
Wear good hiking shoes. I was especially thankful for my new boots on the steeper trails. The loose gravel and rock can make climbing and descending more difficult than you'd expect.
Be prepared for the heat. There isn't much shade on most of these trails, and summer temperatures can get pretty high. Bring plenty of water and consider hiking earlier in the day.
Keep an eye on the weather. Conditions can change quickly, and Notch and Saddle Pass can be treacherous during or after rain. Apparently, it's also worth paying attention to whether your tent is sitting in the lowest part of the campground.
Camping: We stayed at Badlands/White River KOA, near Interior, South Dakota. The shade trees were a big advantage during our visit, although I'd recommend paying a little more attention to your specific tent site than we did.
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