General information about the National Park
Badlands NP protects not only a large area of badlands but also one of the largest prairie landscapes in the country.
Number of visitors
In 2023, Badlands NP ranked 24th in the visitor statistics for the most visited national parks.
Best time to visit: In spring and autumn, you avoid both the heat and dangerous thunderstorms.
Our visits:
So far 2 visits: August 1994, June 2017
Entrance fees and opening hours
- 30$/car and all passengers valid for 7 days
- Covered by the Anual Pass*
- Open 24h all year round.
*The Anual Pass is so to speak the "flat rate" for all Parks managed by the National Park Service. The pass costs a one-time fee of $80 and can be purchased at the entrance to each National Park, National Monument, etc. The pass is valid for 13 months.
Sheep Mountain Table
Description: Sheep Mountain is a table mountain and offers beautiful views over the badlands and the surrounding area. The unpaved road leading up the mountain is a junction of Highway 589. If you are coming from the south, you will reach the junction about 16mi after the White River Visitor Center on the left. The junction is signed. Coordinate: Latitude 43.724464, Longitude-102.528507. First you drive a few km in the plains towards the mountain. Here there are already a few nice little hoodoo fields to discover. The road then begins to wind its way up the mountain. After about 4.8mi you reach the first big overlook. Here there is a bigger parking lot (Coordinate: Latitude 43.692623, Longitude -102.579081) and the possibility to turn around. During our visit in June 2017 the road was in very good condition one could have driven it also with a normal passenger car.
From here on, the road is just a better dirt track. A high ground clearance is definitely needed. We did not need 4×4. We were driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee and its ground clearance was just enough. The road leads another 2.5mi out to Table Mountain and there are several viewpoints of the Badlands. About 984ft from the end of the road it got too rough for us. We parked the car and walked the rest of the way.
Our rating: We really enjoyed the drive up Sheep Mountain Table. The views of the vast expanses and the badlands were simply breathtaking. It is possible to get at least to the first parking lot after a good 4.4mi with a normal car. In our opinion, the way is worth it, even if you only drive up to here.
Sage Creek Road
Description: Sage Creek Road is a scenic road in the north of the park. It connects two highways and offers the possibility to drive a loop through the Badlands NP. The entire route is unpaved but it was in such a good condition during our visit in June 2017 that you could have driven here with any car. Since it is a connecting road, you can probably assume that the road will also be mostly in a very good condition.
On Sage Creek Road you drive along many different badlands. Partly they look rugged and monochrome and then again you find soft hills that are really colorful.
Our rating: The scenery during the drive changes more often and so we really liked the drive over Sage Creek Road. It' s also much less busy here and so you're often all alone and can explore the landscapes in peace and quiet.
Saddle Pass Trail
Description: The Saddle Pass Trail is only 0.25mi long, but it climbs the nearly vertical Badland Wall. The trail is very steep and because of the surface also very slippery. Especially going downhill, was really borderline at times. However, at the top you are rewarded with a great view of the White River Valley. If you want to save the steep ascent and descent, you can also reach the viewpoint via the 4mi Medicine Loop Trail.
Trail length: 0.25mi roundtrip
Altitude difference: 164ft
Time needed: 1 hour
Difficulty level: moderate
Our rating: We really liked the trail, because you hike past bizarre rock formations all the time. It was really fun to discover them. Of course, you were then also rewarded with a very nice view at the top. Only the descent was then less fun, because it was extremely slippery, although or maybe because it was extremely dry.
Notch Trail
Description: The Notch Trail is a 1.5mi trail. It leads through a small canyon until you reach a ladder. After climbing the ladder, you hike a few hundred meters along the rim until you reach the Notch . This is so to say a view window from which you can enjoy the view into White River Valley.
Trail length: 1.49mi roundtrip
Altitude difference: approx. 132ft
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Difficulty level: moderate - The trail is well developed and relatively easy to hike. Climbing the long and high ladder, however, may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Our rating: We also liked this trail very much. Except for the ladder, it was also very easy to walk. Since it is not really far, we can only recommend it.
Loop Road
Description: The Badlands Loop Road leads across the eastern part of the park. Along the road there are numerous overlooks and trailheads from which you can explore the park on foot. There is everything to discover what you expect from great badlands. Beautiful colorful hills, hoodoos, vast expanses and much more.
Our rating: The drive along the Scenic Road is of course part of every visit to a national park. Here, too, it's just great to drive along between the bizarre and colorful ribbon hills. The Loop Road is definitely a must see , when you are here in the park.
Door Trail
Description: One of the easiest trails in the park might be the Door Trail. It leads from the parking lot over wooden planks to an observation platform. Starting from here, everyone is free to choose their own paths and roam through the badlands.
Trail length: 0.7mi roundtrip
Altitude difference: –
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Difficulty level: easy
Our rating: The trail was quite nice, but here was also by far the busiest. So if you are looking for peace and seclusion, you won't find it here. Nevertheless, it was fun to stroll through the badlands and go on a little discovery tour.
An important and always very fun part are the animals that you can observe in their natural habitat, especially in the national parks. Here at Badlands NP we were able to spot the animals shown below.
