Best Things To Do in Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park presents a dramatic tableau of nature's duality with its mesmerizing scenery set against a rugged desert backdrop that basks in scorching heat for several months each year. Known to the native Lakota as "mako sica" or "land bad," this region's fierce and formidable terrain has long captivated those drawn to its raw beauty, solitude, and rich geologic history.

Table of Contents

• A Photographer’s Playground
• Lace Up Your Hiking Boots
• Explore Scenic Drives
• Roberts Prairie Dog Town
• The Overlooks are Amazing
• Explore the Backcountry
• Meet the Artist: Rob Decker

Badlands is a visual symphony of vibrant buttes, towering pinnacles, and ancient spires. As the largest mixed-grass prairie in the United States, the park teems with wildlife like bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and bison. From fiery sunrises to electric sunsets, the skies here put on a show of their own. And whether you’re a casual walker or an ambitious adventurer, the park’s well-marked trails and vast backcountry ensure there’s something for everyone.

A Photographer’s Playground

Photographing the Badlands is a magical experience—especially during golden hour. The angled sunlight of early morning or late evening brings out the vivid layers in the sedimentary rock, casting dramatic shadows and highlighting the surreal terrain. For one of the best views, head to Panorama Point, where the landscape seems to stretch endlessly into the horizon, and the color palette shifts with every passing minute.

Lace Up Your Hiking Boots

Notch Trail is one of the most iconic hikes in the park. At 1.5 miles, it’s considered moderately strenuous—and not for the faint of heart! A dramatic wooden ladder adds to the thrill, and the trail concludes at a cliff with a breathtaking drop to the valley below.

Cliff Shelf Nature Trail is a gentler 0.5-mile loop through a fragrant juniper forest. Shaded and scenic, it offers a unique contrast to the open terrain found elsewhere in the park and provides lovely views of the valley.

Saddle Pass Trail is short but steep—just 0.7 miles with a 200-foot elevation gain. You’ll scramble up loose rock, but the reward is panoramic views of the White River Valley that are well worth the effort.

Door Trail is great for families or beginner hikers. This 0.75-mile boardwalk leads to a dramatic natural "door" in the Badlands Wall and opens to jaw-dropping views of jagged formations beyond. Follow the metal markers for more off-boardwalk exploration.

Castle Trail stretches 5 miles one way, making it the park’s longest trail. For those seeking a loop, the 4.7-mile Saddle Pass-Medicine Root combo offers views of rolling prairie and rocky outcrops, where wildlife like bighorn sheep are often spotted.

Explore Scenic Drives

Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) is the park’s main scenic route. Winding along “the Wall,” this 30-mile stretch of high ridges and deep valleys includes multiple overlooks and trailheads. Every bend reveals something new—towering formations, sun-drenched grasslands, or a bison in the distance.

Sage Creek Rim Road is a 25-mile gravel road through the park’s quieter western section. It’s less developed but incredibly rewarding, offering solitude and a high chance of spotting wildlife like bison, coyotes, and prairie dogs. Start near Pinnacles Overlook and finish near the tiny town of Scenic, South Dakota.

Roberts Prairie Dog Town

The Overlooks are Amazing

Yellow Mounds Overlook offers a jaw-dropping palette of lemony yellows, rusty reds, and dusty grays. These layers, formed over millions of years, are some of the most vibrant in the park—and make for amazing photos.

Pinnacles Overlook is a showcase of nature’s grandeur. With sweeping views of towering spires and dramatic cliffs, it’s one of the best places to take in the scale of the Badlands landscape.

Big Badlands Overlook is a top pick for sunrise. It overlooks layered rock formations that seem to glow in the morning light—and it’s usually blissfully uncrowded at that hour.

Explore the Backcountry

For true explorers, the Sage Creek Wilderness Area offers wide-open freedom. Badlands is one of the few parks where off-trail hiking is permitted. You can chart your own course through this rugged terrain—just be prepared with food, water, and some backcountry know-how. Start from Sage Creek Campground or Sage Creek Basin Overlook, and always register your trip in the Backcountry Log. Another remote option is the Deer Haven Wilderness Area, filled with quiet trails and solitude.

Click here to learn more about the Badlands National Park poster!

Meet the Artist: Rob Decker

Rob Decker is a nationally recognized photographer and graphic artist who studied under Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park when he was just 19 years old. With over 50 years of experience exploring America’s most scenic landscapes, Rob has dedicated his life to capturing the soul of our national parks through WPA-style posters.

Each of Rob’s posters is printed on 100% recycled paper using soy-based inks and produced locally in Colorado. He donates 10% of profits to organizations that help preserve and protect our national parks. When you purchase one, you’re not just decorating your home—you’re supporting a legacy of conservation and artistic excellence.

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