Badlands National Park is a small national park with some big adventures! There is so much to do in this stunning area full of dramatic rock formations, amazing views, and lots of wildlife.
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I lived in South Dakota for a while, and I love returning to the area to explore. I’m excited to share the best things to do in Badlands with you!
This article includes information on family activities, hiking, biking, winter activities, and so much more.
Keep reading (or if you want to fast-forward, click on the links below) to find the perfect activities for your specific interests!
The Top 8 Things To Do in Badlands
When you visit Badlands for the first time, you want to be sure to see all of the highlights! Combat your fear of missing out with this list of the top things to do in the park.
If you make it through this top eight list, you can relax knowing that you’ve had a well-rounded, complete tour of Badlands!
When you are ready for more detailed information on the top things to do, including driving directions and trip planning help, click over to this list of things you can’t miss on your first visit to Badlands.
Cliff Shelf Nature Trail
The Cliff Shelf Nature Trail provides a fun hiking experience over a short distance. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife sightings, majestic rock formations, and ponds.
There are plenty of benches along this trail if you want to stop and soak in the views along the way!
Panorama Point
Panorama Point provides stunning views of the badlands formations that make this park famous.
Roberts Prairie Dog Town
Prairie dogs can be found all over Badlands National Park, but one of the best places to guarantee a sighting is at the Roberts Prairie Dog Town!
The Notch Trail
The Notch Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Badlands! It’s famous for the big ladder that you’ll climb during the hike, but you’ll also get beautiful views as you hike among the rocks.
The Door Trail
Although the Door Trail is very short, it feels adventurous due to the “off-trail” experience you can have at the end. If you’re looking for a great hike without much of a time commitment, you’ll love this one!
Pinnacles Overlook
The Pinnacles Overlook provides long-range views of some of the park’s most spectacularly jagged badlands!
Saddle Pass
If you’re hoping for an adventurous trail, Saddle Pass is perfect for that! You can follow this trail up the badlands and enjoy magnificent views of the park from here.
Yellow Mounds Overlook
The Yellow Mounds Overlook is the most colorful part of Badlands.
For more trip-planning information (including driving directions) on each of these stops, check out this list of things you can’t miss on your first visit to Badlands.
How long does it take to see the top eight things in Badlands?
You can get to all of these activities in one day! If you’re hoping to dig a little deeper into the park, give yourself another day to hike a longer trail, explore a more remote area, or learn more about the park’s paleontology program.
If you’d like more help, I have a whole article devoted to helping you figure out how many days to spend in Badlands.
Traffic and crowding in the South Dakota Parks can be terrible.
Did you know that it’s common for parking lots to be full and sights to be packed with people, especially during the busy summer season?
Are you hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people?
Stay ahead of the crowds with this South Dakota National Parks Itinerary. You will see all the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
Badlands National Park has an adventure for every age and skill level! Now that we’ve covered the top 8 things to do in the park, it’s time to dig deeper into your own personal interests.
Things to Do in Badlands With Kids
Badlands National Park is a great destination for kids! Most hiking trails in this park are short and good for hikers of all ages. You’ll also find plenty of scenic overlooks, ranger programs, and opportunities for wildlife watching.
For starters, check out the Fossil Exhibit Trail, which is great for young kids because it’s short and mostly flat. Learn with your kids about the fossils that scientists have found in the Badlands with these interactive exhibits with tactile fossil recreations that you can touch!
If your kids are extra interested in fossils and paleontology, you won’t want to miss the Fossil Preparation Lab on your trip to the Badlands with your family—it’s a fully operational-fossil laboratory where you can watch paleontologists work at identifying fossils!
There’s no better activity for kids at any national park than becoming a junior ranger! You can grab a junior ranger activity book, which contains fun crosswords, mazes, drawings, and other activities, at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.
Of course, no trip would be complete without a couple of hikes, too! If you’re looking for some great kid-friendly hiking trails in Badlands National Park, check out this list of my favorite easy trails.
And lastly, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for bighorn sheep and buffalo as you drive through the park! But, for a fun, guaranteed wildlife sighting, stop by the Roberts Prairie Dog Town. This stop is always a hit with my young kids!
Things to Do in Badlands if You Love to Hike
Badlands National Park doesn’t have many longer hiking options, so you’ll mostly be limited to shorter trails if you’re looking for a traditional hiking experience.
However, Badlands has an open hike policy. This means that you are allowed to hike off-trail and explore parts of the park that don’t have official trails! If you love to hike, you may absolutely love the adventure of parking and hiking anywhere in the park. For more information on some of the best off-trail options, stop in at the visitor center and chat with a ranger.
If you prefer official trails, check out the Medicine Root and Castle Loop Trail. This hike has it all—prairie grass, rock formations, and frequent wildlife sightings! Solitude is abundant along this loop trail as well.
And be sure to hit all the hikes listed in this list of 8 things you don’t want to miss on your first visit to Badlands. Even though the trails are short, they are a great way to experience the best of the park.
Do you love to have a plan?
Get the inside scoop for your upcoming vacation —> this itinerary is the most detailed, epic, and easy-to-follow guide to the park!
Things to Do in Badlands if You Don’t Want to Hike
If hiking isn’t something you can do or want to do in Badlands, you can still see so many amazing things! Enjoying the park’s scenic drive and viewpoints, catching a ranger program, and wildlife watching are some of my favorite non-hiking activities in the park.
The Badlands Loop Road is a fantastic scenic drive to take through the park. This is the main park road, and you’ll love the views you can see from the car and from the many overlooks you’ll encounter along the way.
If you’re looking for another good scenic drive, I love the Sage Creek Rim Road. This road is a lesser-known dirt road that travels to a couple of nice overlooks and a prairie dog town. I also love driving on the road because we usually see bighorn sheep in this area of the park.
Regardless of where you go in the park, you’ll likely encounter some wildlife. Keep your camera out and ready! Bison, coyotes, deer, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs are the most popular animals to see in Badlands National Park!
Badlands has a wide variety of ranger programs offered during the summer months. From geology walks to observing the night sky or even interacting with informative exhibits, these ranger programs are sure to make your trip to the Badlands an unforgettable one!
Winter Activities in Badlands
Badlands in the winter is cold, snowy, and quiet! South Dakota winters can be quite harsh, but most things in Badlands National Park still stay open, weather permitting.
The Badlands Loop Road takes you through the North Unit of the park, which is where most of the best hiking trails and beautiful viewpoints are. Stop at one of the dozen pullouts along this road to take pictures of the snowy landscape and enjoy the peace and serenity that reigns during the winter.
You can also hike any of the park’s popular trails if they aren’t closed due to snow or ice, so I’d recommend checking some of the easier trails that are better for winter hiking, like the Window Trail, the Door Trail, or the Cliff Shelf Trail. If you decide to venture onto some of the steeper trails like the Notch or Saddle Pass, be aware that these trails get extremely slippery and dangerous when wet.
Some roads and trails close down when icy or if a big storm is blowing through — you can find out more about what to expect during the winter here.
Things to Do in Badlands if You Love Ranger Programs
Attending a ranger program at Badlands is the best way to learn about the park while experiencing its natural beauty at the same time! Most of these programs are offered daily from May through September.
The Geology Walk is a guided tour of the Door Trail hike with a park ranger. This tour focuses on the story of the rock formations and how they got there.
If you love fossils, join a Fossil Talk or head over to the Fossil Preparation Lab. Paleontologists have unearthed a wide variety of fossils in the park, and both of these programs showcase these fossils and how they contribute to the natural history of the area.
One of the most popular ranger programs at Badlands is the Night Sky Program because the park provides telescopes for you to look through with the park rangers. Study the night sky to spot constellations, planets, and if you’re lucky, you might get a glimpse of the International Space Station! Other evening programs are also available in addition to the Night Sky Program.
When you get to the park, stop in at a visitor center to get a ranger program schedule. You can get more details about each program here.
Wheelchair-Friendly Things to Do in Badlands
You’ll be able to enjoy many of the majestic badland views if you’re visiting Badlands National Park in a wheelchair!
This park has several fantastic trails that are wheelchair-friendly, such as the Window Trail, the first portion of the Door Trail, and the Fossil Exhibit Trail. You can find out more about all of these trails here.
The Cedar Pass Campground, the lodge, both visitor centers, the Bigfoot Pass Picnic Area, and most scenic overlooks in the park are accessible.
Most ranger programs are accessible as well. You’ll want to pick a ranger program that’s held at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the Fossil Exhibit, a scenic overlook, or the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater for wheelchair access.
You can find more information about accessibility in the park here.
Things to Do in Badlands With Your Dog
Badlands’s campgrounds, picnic areas, and dirt roads are all dog-friendly destinations in the park.
If you’re looking for fun things to do with your dog at Badlands, check out my detailed article about how to get the most out of your visit to this park with your dog!
High Adventure Activities in Badlands
Badlands National Park doesn’t have much by way of tours or activities in the surrounding area…you’ll need to drive into Rapid City for that. But, if you’re looking for a few adventurous activities in the park, try an off-trail hike, 4x4ing, or backpacking.
While you’re out hiking or camping, keep in mind that Badlands has an Open Hike Policy, meaning that you’re free to hike, climb, or scramble your way through the park! The formations are easier to climb up than down, and your safety is key—take a topographical map with you, bring plenty of water and supplies, and pick out the right hiking boots.
If you have a high-clearance vehicle, head over to the Sheep Mountain Table Road! This dirt road travels through the Badlands and leads to a gorgeous overlook.
Backpacking is a great way to explore Badlands and its natural beauty—the rock formations and prairie land of the park extend for dozens of miles, offering fantastic views for those who are willing to find them. Learn more about your options here.
Things to Do in Badlands if You Love to Bike
If you love to bike, you’ll find several great options in Badlands National Park. Biking is allowed on designated paved, gravel, and dirt roads but not on any trails. You can also take your bike to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, where there is a bicycle repair station.
One of the best roads for biking in the park, the Sage Creek Loop, is a fantastic option for both inexperienced and experienced bikers! This road spans 23 miles through expansive grasslands that are usually populated with lots of wildlife. This road is one of the easier biking roads at the park — it’s partially unpaved but relatively flat.
You can bike the Badlands Loop Road, which is the most popular road in the park. Keep in mind that this road is a narrow and windy road that stays busy with cars for most of the day. You’ll pass by many scenic overlooks and hiking trails along this route.
If you’re up for a big initial hill and a long ride, take your bike on the Northeast-Big Foot Loop that runs for 27 miles through the beautiful rock formations that the Badlands is famous for! This road is mostly unpaved and sometimes has goatheads (thorny plants) that are known to pop tires, so bring a spare tire just in case.
Finally, the Northeast Loop is another popular option. This trail starts from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, making it one of the easiest trails to access. You’ll climb up Cedar Pass before it flattens out and travels 17 miles on paved and unpaved roads.
For route information and driving directions for any of these routes, click here.
Things to Do Near Badlands
The area around Badlands National Park could easily keep you busy all summer long! You’ll find many incredible activities and points of interest within an hour or so of Badlands, so be sure to plan some extra time.
Most people visit many different national park sites during their time in the Rapid City area — this area is full of so many amazing parks! Check out Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and the Minuteman Missile Site while you’re here.
Wall Drug is a famous stop just outside of Badlands National Park. This store initially brought in travelers with the promise of free ice water, but now you’ll find restaurants, gift shops, and activities in this unique place. Be sure to get a donut while you’re here!
A few more of my favorite places to visit in this general area are Historic Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse, and the Mammoth Site.
Have a fantastic time working through this list of things to do in Badlands. Happy Trails!
More Badlands Trip Planning Information
South Dakota Parks Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to Badlands — the best airports and roads in the area.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Badlands? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
8 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit — the top 8 spots.
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners.
The Ultimate Badlands Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
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