Best trails in Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park in South Dakota is a visually fascinating and unique series of buttes and spires scattered throughout a sparse prairie. It has the world's richest fossil beds from the Oligocene epoch.
Top trails
Visitor info
Fee covers the entry of a motorcycle and its occupants for 7 days
Fee covers the entry of an individual that is hiking, bicycling, etc... for 7 days
Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days
This pass admits a single, private, non commercial vehicle and its occupants into the park. This pass does not include camping or give any type of discount at stores inside the park. Valid for one year from month of purchase.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Ben Reifel and White River Visitor Centers are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have accessible parking and restrooms. The park's introduction film includes closed captioning, and assisted listening devices are available for loan.
National park brochures are available in text-only, audio-described, and foreign-language formats online or by mail.
Evening ranger-led programs at the Cedar Pass Campground amphitheater are wheelchair accessible via a paved and lit path from the reserved spaces in the parking lot. Programs at the Fossil Exhibit Trail and the Ben Reifel Visitor Center are also wheelchair accessible.
Additional information about accessibility at Badlands National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/badl/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The Ben Reifel and White River Visitor Centers are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have accessible parking and restrooms. The park's introduction film includes closed captioning, and assisted listening devices are available for loan.
The Cedar Pass Lodge gift shop and dining room are wheelchair accessible and have accessible parking and restrooms.
The Bigfoot Pass Picnic Area has wheelchair accessible parking, ramps, and an accessible vault toilet.
The Cedar Pass Campground has two individual wheelchair accessible camping sites, one accessible group site, and many other level campsites. The restrooms there are wheelchair accessible.
The Sage Creek Campground has wheelchair accessible vault toilets but is rustic and has uneven terrain.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Trail reviews for Badlands National Park
I had dismissed this trail as too long until a park ranger at the visitor center said to just hike out as far as I wanted and then turn back. I'm so glad she gave me that suggestion, as this was my favorite part of Badlands National Park. I parked at the Fossil Exhibit Trail parking lot, crossed the road, hiked out for 15 minutes, and then hiked back 15 minutes. It was hot, sunny, and windy. While most of the other trails were crowded, I had this trail to myself, only passing 5 people in 30 minutes. The views were spectacular. The trail is just marked with red poles. So glad I hiked part of this trail!
Beautiful trail through the badlands national park. Medicine loop trail to the castle rock trail. About 4.5 miles. Very nice!!
This might be my most favorite trail I’ve ever hiked at sunset. Just amazing, easy, just walking through the Badlands..
Saddle Pass offers a fast and challenging ascent up the Badlands Wall, transitioning quickly from lower prairie to the upper plateau. The trail is brief but demanding — a steep scramble over loose rock and slick mud that gets your heart rate up in a hurry. The views from the top are outstanding and come with the satisfaction of earning them. Descending requires caution; footing can be tricky, and at times, sliding on your seat may be the safest option. But for those looking to move beyond the typical overlook experience and into the landscape itself, this trail delivers. Highly recommended as a quick but immersive way to experience the raw terrain of the Badlands.