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Best trails in Badlands National Park

Best trails in Badlands National Park

4.4(22,432 reviews)

·

United States
#22 of 60 national parks

Want to find the best trails in Badlands National Park for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 25 great trails for hiking, walking, and birding and more. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 14 easy hiking trails in Badlands National Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 0 to 846 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Badlands National Park.

Top trails

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Visitor info

Hours & contact
Open 24 hours
Passes & fees
Starting at $15
Accessibility
General park hours
Every day • Open 24 hours
Phone
(605) 433-5361
Entrance pass
Motorcycle

Fee covers the entry of a motorcycle and its occupants for 7 days

$25
Purchase pass
Per Person

Fee covers the entry of an individual that is hiking, bicycling, etc... for 7 days

$15
Purchase pass
Private Vehicle

Fee covers the entry of a private vehicle and its occupants for 7 days

$30
Purchase pass
Annual pass
Park

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.

$55
Get details from the park
All U.S. national parks

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.

$80
Purchase pass
2025 Fee-free days

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

Overview

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.

Facilities

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.

Camping

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

Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.

Trail reviews for Badlands National Park

22,852 trailgoers Busiest in June
May 22, 2025Road biking
Easy to parkNot crowdedGreat conditionsGreat views

Beautiful trail through the badlands national park. Medicine loop trail to the castle rock trail. About 4.5 miles. Very nice!!

Medicine Root and Castle Trail Loop
Jun 30, 2025
Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Great views, the stairs were a bottle neck and it was very HOT when I went but it was great to immerse yourselves in the Badlands.

Notch Trail
Jun 27, 2025Hiking
Not crowdedGreat views

The hardest part is the drive up. We had a bronco and would not have tried it in anything smaller. The trail itself is not marked but easy to follow for the most part. I downloaded the map and had no issues. Also fun to go off Trail! We saw nobody at all until we got back to our car - this was exactly the Badlands experience I'd hoped to get!

Difficulty: Moderate
Cedar Butte Trail
Jun 23, 2025Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedGreat conditionsGreat views

Absolutely love this trail highly highly recommend. It gives both a view from afar then you loop into the badlands. Also has a view point from the saddle pass trail and it’s absolutely beautiful. Easy walk and the perfect distance to view ratio with all the short trails in the badlands.

Difficulty: Easy
Medicine Root and Castle Trail Loop
Jun 20, 2025Hiking
Great conditionsGreat views

We went on such a hot day but this is a fun trail as you get to just walk through the rocky badlands. It seems like you’re walking on the moon, such a wildly different landscape.

The Door Trail
May 27, 2025Off-road driving

No words - hundreds of pics and videos to go through. Was the only one there for hours for a reason. The road (mud) from last couple days of rain was so slippery that the car and I could’ve been at the bottom of Badlands easily. Required: high clearance vehicle Recommended: 4x4, off-road driving experience, comfortable to be in remote/ total desolation. This place is like the baby of the north Badlands and Bryce canyons, but 1000% more spiritual. I did not record the entire trip - also added a detour on the prairie. You can hike this trail for sure - something I may do if I am in the area again.

Sheep Mountain Table Road
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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Badlands National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Badlands National Park is Notch Trail, which has a 4.7 star rating from 7,114 reviews. This trail is 1.2 mi long with an elevation gain of 118 ft.

What is the longest trail in Badlands National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Badlands National Park is Sage Creek Loop. This trail is estimated to be 19.8 mi long.

How many trails are in Badlands National Park?

There are 25 trails in Badlands National Park. These trails have an average 4.4-star rating from 22,432 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Badlands National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Badlands National Park has you covered. Sage Creek Loop boasts the most elevation gain with 846 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Sheep Mountain Table Road, which will get you 623 ft of elevation gain.

Are there camping trails available in Badlands National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 3 camping trails in Badlands National Park and the most popular is Castle Trail with an average 4.6 star rating from 1,282 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Badlands National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there is 1 running trail in Badlands National Park which is Castle Trail with an average 4.6 star rating from 1,282 community reviews.