Hidden Gem
Badlands National Park
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Trip length
- 2–3 days
- Budget
- $150–$600
- per person · excl. airfare
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
Hiking
Park entrance: $30 (Entrance - Private Vehicle) · source: NPS
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.
Highlights
- Striped rock spires
- Fossil beds & bison
- Sunset over the Wall
Photos
Photos via Wikimedia Commons under their respective licences.
Map
Trails (5)· Moderate
- View →Castle TrailRepresentative3.7 mi66 ft gainModerate~1.3 h
- View →Medicine Root TrailRepresentative2.1 mi85 ft gainModerate~0.7 h
- View →Cliff Shelf Nature TrailRepresentative0.4 mi102 ft gainModerate~0.2 h
- View →Door TrailRepresentative0.3 mi7 ft gainModerate~0.1 h
- View →Notch TrailRepresentative0.3 mi92 ft gainModerate~0.1 h
Getting there
- RAP Rapid City Regional · 38 mi
- DEN Denver Intl · 288 mi
- COD Yellowstone Regional (Cody) · 330 mi
Straight-line distances to nearby airports. Airfare and drive times are not included.
Permits & access
No permit required
Open hiking with no permit for day use; extreme heat in summer, no shade or water — check the official site.
Official permit & conditions ↗Last verified 7/24/2026